We come to the end of an epic journey!  We began our investigation of Acts back on January 20th of this year.  Our text today represents the final few verses.  The most remarkable feature of the end of the story of Acts is that it doesn't.... end that is!  One would expect the story to build in intensity and come to conclusion by drawing all of the pieces together into a grand climax.  Instead the narrative ends rather abruptly, with Paul continuing to do as he as always done - sharing the good news of the Kingdom of God and teaching people about Jesus.  The strong implication of this is that actually the story really is not yet finished!  The narrative of Acts comes to a finish, but the story continues!  We too are witnesses as was Paul along with the other characters we have met along the way.  The journey that began with the Ascension of Jesus will continue until the Return of Jesus!  We therefore are privileged to stand alongside these characters in the same role as representatives of the risen Jesus in this world!  May we take this to heart!
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We embark with Paul on his journey to Rome in today's text.  We savor the story as an accurate and compelling tale but don't have time to pay attention to the details!  Instead we ask 2 questions: what do we learn about God; and what do we learn about Paul?  With each question we ask how we can respond to what we learn.  About God we observe that He is both sovereign (in control) and involved.  We take great comfort in the observation of both of those realities in this story especially as we consider our own crises either past or present!  About Paul we observe that he is both a servant and a leader.  We see his servant leadership lived out in 4 ways: a) he uses his past experience and learned wisdom (e.g. previous seafaring experience) to offer wisdom in the crisis; b) he continues to hear God's voice in the midst of the crisis; c) he cares for the basic needs of others (offers bread etc.); d) he prays for healing of the sick. We observe that all 4 of these items are things we should also be challenged to live out in the context of our lives, whether in crisis or not! 
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In our chapter today Paul gives a defense before King Agrippa.  The Roman governor, Festus, is also in the room but this speech from Paul is specifically designed for Agrippa who knows and understands Old Testament history.  Agrippa knows about the prophecies that were made about the Messiah that was to come and so he will know exactly what Paul is talking about as he claims that those prophecies were fulfilled in Jesus who has been raised from the dead.  Festus has no knowledge of this history and therefore considers Paul to be 'mad'.  In response to this, Paul makes the claim that the words he is speaking are both 'true' and 'reasonable'.  We respond to this story by once again observing the example of Paul who had learned to give a clear defense of his faith and to make it appropriate for his audience.  We who are followers of Jesus ought also to learn to speak about our faith in true and reasonable ways that are suitable for the people with whom we share.
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In this chapter we come across 3 characters or sets of characters who each respond differently to the revelation of God through Jesus.  The chief priests and leaders of the Jews continue to respond with animosity to Paul and his teaching and they employ aggressive and devious tactics to continue to try to destroy him.  We challenge our own hearts as we realize that these are the religious teachers who had become so engrossed in their own practice of religion that they didn't actually have room for Jesus. Festus is brand new to the idea of Jesus and to the history of Jewish faith.  Unlike his predecessor, Felix, he comes across as an honest investigator.  And so we encourage anyone who does not know Jesus to be like Festus - ask questions and pursue truth.  Paul, of course, has already wholeheartedly responded to the revelation of God through Jesus (see Acts 9), but here in this chapter we observe him participating fully in the work that God is doing.  He puts a bold foot forward in appealing to Caesar!  As followers of Jesus we take courage and also a challenge to be discerning as Paul was to know when to act and in what way as we participate with God in the work He is doing in our lives. 
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As Paul is falsely accused before the governor Felix and then given the opportunity to speak for himself, we observe that he chooses some words that are clear, concise and honorably presented to the governor.  At the end of his speech it is unmistakably clear that there are no substantive charges against him whatsoever.  And yet Paul continues to submit to the authorities and remains in captivity.  Our response to this story is to take a challenge from the example of Paul who always, and especially in this situation, was ready to give a clear answer for the hope that he had because of his relationship with Jesus.  So we too, as followers of Jesus ought always to be ready to give an answer for the hope that we have and to do it with gentleness and respect for those with whom we speak.  Secondly we note Paul's claim to do everything he can to live with a clear conscience before God and man.  He lived what he spoke about.  He was, or at least sought to be authentic so that his actions matched his words.  This does not happen by means of 'trying harder to be a better person' but rather by hearing and applying the words of Jesus who called us to 'love the Lord your God with all you heart, soul, mind and strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself'.  May it be!
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As we continue to follow Paul following his arrest in Jerusalem, we see him displaying great courage and passion.  What we discover though, is that his courage and passion is not enough.  If it were not for the gracious intervention of Jesus, Paul's life would certain have been taken from him.  We respond to this story by first of all taking courage from Paul's example.  His passion and courage come from the deepest part of his being - he is fully convinced of the life-changing power of Jesus.  And so we seek to know God more through his Word so that we too might be deeply and fully convinced of our faith.  At the same time we give praise to God for the gracious intervention of Jesus in this story and give thanks to Him for the times in our experience when Jesus has also come close to us!
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As predicted by his friends, Paul encounters significant opposition as he enters the city of Jerusalem.  As the story unfolds, we observe Paul engaging some shrewd tactics which seem to be designed primarily to gain him the attention of his Jewish opponents so that he would have the opportunity to speak.  In the midst of significant opposition we see him boldly proclaiming the clear testimony of his life-changing experience of meeting Jesus on the road to Damascus.  We respond to this story by hearing and seeking to apply the words of Jesus who encourages his followers to be 'shrewd and snakes and innocent as doves'. 
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We notice a change of tone and emphasis in this 3rd Journey of Paul.  Last week we paid attention to the variety of people whose lives were transformed by the Good News of Jesus.  This week we see Paul take time to invest deeply in people, particularly in the city of Ephesus where he spends more than 2 years building up the believers and ensuring that all the Jews and Greeks in the province of Asia have the opportunity to hear the word of the Lord.  His emphasis is to teach the whole message of Jesus to the believers and equip them (especially the elders of the church) to be 'equippers' of others.  We respond to this story by noticing Paul's particular instructions to these elders that they should 1) 'Keep watch over yourselves'  and 2) 'all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers.'  Though he is speaking directly to elders here, we may apply it to all of us - we have all received the commission from Jesus - our first responsibility is to guard our own hearts, but then also to intentionally invest in the people around us so that they heard the whole word of God. 
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We listen together to a large portion of Scripture today as we follow Paul and his friends for the entire length of this 2nd journey.  In particular we are paying attention to the people in the story.   We look for those who are influenced by and respond to the Good News about Jesus.  Some of those people also become key 'influencers' for the kingdom of God as it grows and expands!  How do we respond to such a story?  We celebrate once again the transforming power of the simple story of Jesus as we see it taking effect in such a diverse group of people; we challenge our own hearts to know that we have responded to this Good News; and we also challenge ourselves to be carriers of this message to others in our own circle of influence!
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The event described in these verses is of monumental significance in the process of the spread of the Gospel from Jerusalem to the 'ends of the earth'.  What is at stake is the fundamental principle of the Gospel.  Some believers come to Antioch and are putting forth an argument that in order for Gentiles to be saved they must first be circumcised and obey all of the Law of Moses.  Paul & Barnabas see the error in this teaching and come into 'sharp dispute' with these brothers.  Together they determine to appoint a delegation to take the matter to Jerusalem  so that the Apostles and elders of the church there may give counsel and wisdom on this issue.  As we observe this story we celebrate that the decision of the council preserves the truth that salvation is by grace through faith in Jesus - nothing can be added to that message!  We also take note of the grace-filled way in which this dispute between brothers is conducted and seek to observe and learn how we might more clearly be able to conduct our own disputes and debates with a similar balance of grace and truth!