Christ's command to his followers before his ascension to heaven was for them to be his

witnesses in Jerusalem, all Judea, in Samaria, and to the uttermost part of the earth.

Our Lord did not intend for the good news of his death and resurrection to stay local,

but instead it was to be taken globally.

In this third section of Acts, the adventure continues as the gospel is taken to the ends of the earth.

Let's join Scott Paui now for today's study.

The Lord Jesus said to his disciples that he would give them power to tread on serpents, that he would give them power over serpents.

Now, some people have mistakenly taken that as a command to go somewhere and find snakes and

handle snakes. I want you to know that is never commanded in Scripture.

In fact, I don't know about you, as far as I'm concerned, the only good snake is a dead snake.

But the reality is he was giving a promise of his protection, of his care.

And the idea is that no matter what comes against you, the Lord is greater than that.

We're in Acts 28, and we're seeing that vividly illustrated in the life of the Apostle Paul as he nears the end,

God takes care of him.

He protects him from danger in the shipwreck, from people, that's the barbarians that were on the island of Malita,

from circumstances like rain and cold, from Satan in the form of this viper fastening on his hand.

You see how God is protecting and taking care of him on every hand?

The Bible says in verse number five that Paul just shook off that beast into the fire.

These were superstitious people.

They thought when no harm came to him, it meant that he was a God.

No, no, Paul's not a God, but he knows God.

He knows and represents the true and living God.

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