A look at Paul’s trials in Jerusalem will remind us where to find the strength to speak before unbelieving and unfriendly people. It’s one thing to know what to say about Jesus and how to say it, but there’s also the challenge of finding the strength and courage to proclaim truth in love. In this passage we see that the same Jesus who stood for Paul at the cross now stands by Paul in his trials. And we can expect Jesus to stand by us too. --- God can do amazing things through ordinary people who are empowered by the Holy Spirit. In the book of Acts, the Holy Spirit was given to all believers and the church was born. The church is God's chosen instrument in the world for sharing the good news about Jesus Christ. The book of Acts is all about the unhindered movement of God throughout the world as the gospel of Jesus Christ is proclaimed through the church. Empowered by the Holy Spirit, the early church was an unstoppable movement that proclaimed the Kingdom of God and Jesus Christ as the only way to eternal life. Today, the church empowered by the Holy Spirit is called to continue God's redeeming work in the world by fulfilling God's mission of making Jesus known to the ends of the earth.