So glad you can join me for today's encouragement from Our Daily Bread.

Dave Brannon wrote today's reading, and he titled it,

Speak to the People About Jesus.

In Acts 21, Paul had gone to the temple for the Jewish purification ceremony.

But some agitators, who thought he'd been teaching against the law, sought to take his life.

Roman soldiers quickly got involved and arrested Paul, found him, and carried him from the temple area,

with the mob shouting, get rid of him.

How did the apostle react to this threat? He asked the troops commander

if he could speak to the people. When the Roman leader granted permission, Paul, bleeding and bruised,

turned to the angry crowd and shared his faith in Jesus. That was 2,000 years ago,

an old Bible story that we might find hard to relate to.

More recently, a man named Peter was arrested

while visiting a jailed friend who believes in Jesus

in a country where believers are regularly persecuted. Peter was tossed

into a dark prison cell and blindfolded during interrogations. When the blindfold was removed,

he saw four soldiers with guns pointed at him. Peter's response? He saw it as a perfect opportunity to share his faith. Paul and this modern

day Peter point out a hard, vital truth. Even if God allows us to experience tough times,

even persecution, Our task remains.

Preach the gospel.

He will be with us, and he will give us the wisdom and power to share our faith.

The scripture reading for today's devotional is from Acts chapter 21 verses 27 through

chapter 22 verse 1.

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