These chapters are the accounts of Paul going through trials and avoiding the clutches of the religious leaders trying to get rid of him using Roman law, spanning a period of two to three years.

The events in the chapters are still contemporary and relevant to our present day situations, such as situations involving corruption and false allegations.

Paul even had to use Roman law to plead his cause and eventually this lead to preaching of the Gospel to the Romans many times, though there was not much response to it.

From these chapters, we can get two main lessons:

1. A Testimony of a Clear Conscience (Acts 23:1, Acts 24: 15-16, 24-25)

There is power in a life and testimony of a person with a clear conscience in the face of accusations and harmful plots. When speaking the truth, there is no need to memorize or rehearse it have a consistent testimony.

There are two aspects of a clear conscience. One vertical to God and one horizontal, towards man.

Conscience towards God involves our relationship with Him and cultivated by the Holy Spirit. (John 16:8)

1. We recognize sin quickly
2. The Holy Spirit trains us quickly in our conscience, reminding us of righteousness
3. The Holy Spirit trains us quickly in our conscience of the end time judgement and the way to live in the Holy Spirit, to avoid shipwrecking of faith (1 Timothy 1:18-19)

We need to do daily housekeeping of our lives and hearts with the Holy Spirit (Psalm 139: 23-24, 1 John 1:9)

Conscience towards men is to be blameless on our part before men and putting things right. (Psalm 15: 2-3)

Blameless is not the same as being faultless. Being blameless is putting right things that we are aware of as best we can. (Philippians 2: 15-16) We get to become a testimony to shine in the world. We tell the truth and live a consistent, principled life. We live our lives for eternity and the things of God. We have to be ready at all times with a cultivated, clear conscience.

2. Trust In God’s Plan and Purposes

There is a sovereign will of God in our lives that is over our lives. But God also gives us the choice to what we want to do with our lives even when we do know what He wants us to do.

Paul gave up promotions and opportunities in being a Pharisee when he encountered Jesus. It wasn’t an easy life following what Jesus called Him to do.

Paul had full confidence in the resurrection life and hope of Christ even in adversity. (1 Corinthians 15: 16-19) Whatever God promise or prophesied is fulfilled in the resurrection. Resurrection was everything to Paul. (Acts 21: 10-14) We affirm for God’s will to be done, fully dependent in full trust and hope in Him.

Paul was ready to glorify God no matter what came his way. (Philippians 1: 19-21)
We are called to trust in any human authority or anything else other than God.(Psalm 20:7, Isaiah 31:1)

Christians should shine as lights with a clear conscience before others, looking to God for everything.

How we handle the seasons of our lives points to His resurrection power of God in our lives. Our lives speaks louder than our words and when we do so, people will recognize God is with us. We may be even be a link to someone coming to know the Lord.