Paul is making some concluding comments and having finished his argument about legalism, he wants to be practical in terms of helping the Galatians become mature in their churches.

In seeking to build up the church, Paul addresses the vulnerability of the church to opposition. As Christians we should rejoice with those who rejoice and mourn with those who mourn. We should not seek to revenge opposition but be kind to those who persecute us.

Paul encourages his readers to believe that they have moved from a life in slavery to sin to living in God’s grace. He refers to baptism which clearly shows dying to the old life and rising up to new life. We need to count ourselves dead to sin.

Paul uses the imagery of slavery to show what was the old life but compares it to the freedom of the new life. We are obligated to please God in response to God’s generous love towards us. We choose to follow God.

On the basis of Paul’s argument until this point, he states that the Christian is living a new experience of God’s forgiveness. Paul uses the imagery of baptism and the sacrificial ritual of the Day of Atonement to explain Christ’s death on the cross. He defines what it is to be a Christian.

Paul explains the five steps of God working in our lives. He knew us before we were born, he gave us the opportunity of salvation. He calls us. He has justified us and he will glorify us. Nothing can separate us from God - he is in control. God works everything for our good.

God will judge everyone. There are two main ways of knowing God for everyone - creation and conscience. We are accountable to God. Salvation cannot be earnt; we all fail.

Paul gives his testimony to King Agrippa, Festus and others. They react against what he tells them but do not think he has done anything illegal but Paul has claimed the right to be tried by Caesar.

Paul, and his team, spend a long time in Ephesus. He speaks to the synagogue but then holds discussions with others in an educational setting. The gospel spreads out from Ephesus as people experience miracles and the power of the Holy Spirit.

Paul went to Philippi. He met Lydia at the place of prayer. She responded to the Gospel message. A slave girl disrupted Paul's work until he cast out the evil spirit from her in the name of Jesus, causing her owners to lose income. They took Paul and Silas to the magistrates, who beat and imprisoned them. Overnight God set them free through an earthquake. The jailer was saved and the magistrates escorted Paul and Silas out of the city.