Following the general statements of the last episode, Paul gives detailed teaching about the practicalities of serving God. It should be done with humility, faith and love. He lists several gifts of the Holy spirit to build up the church.

Following on Jesus' teaching, Paul also encourages the Christian community to ‘love your neighbour as yourself’. Our neighbour is people in the church community who need help which we can give. He introduces a sense of urgency in the light of the Second Coming of Jesus and the question of how we have used our opprtunities.

Paul uses several stories form the Old Testament to illustrate God’s choices which divided the nation right from the beginning. God chooses to show mercy to some and also chooses who to use for his purposes.

Paul explains that Jesus is the culmination of the law. He outlines the process of sharing the gospel and comments on the response of the Jews and Gentiles at that time.

After receiving a kind welcome in Malta there is an openness to the Gospel which comes about by miracles of healing.

After two years in prison, the Governor changes and Festus decides to re-try Paul in Caesarea. Paul, as a Roman citizen, appeals to Caesar and will be sent to the Supreme Court in Rome. King Agrippa II and his sister visit Festus.

The Roman commander organises a debate between Paul and the Sanhedrin to clarify the situation. It causes more problems as the High Priest and Paul get angry and the Sanhedrin argues with itself - between the Pharisees and the Sadducees. Paul is taken back into prison.

Paul is alone in Athens. He engages with the Jews in the synagogue and the Epicureans and Stoics in the marketplace. He introduces them to new ideas about God, the afterlife and Jesus.

Paul and his team visits Thessalonica where there is open opposition from the Jews. He moves on to Berea where they are more receptive until men come from Thessalonica to disrupt the mission. Paul moves on to Athens but Silas and Timothy stay to strengthen the church.

As the Jewish believers travelled further, following the persecution, they found Jews to spread the gospel but they also began to speak to non-Jews. The church in Antioch spontaneously grew and the need for leadership was noted by the Jerusalem church. They sent Barnabas and he sent for Paul to join him.