There's a Crack in Your Armor Perry Stone

Throughout the Book of Acts God warned Paul about specific trouble that would come his way, even leading to his arrest, but He also told him He would be with him and that Paul would one day stand before Caesar to testify. Paul was arrested and, as a Roman citizen, had the legal right to appeal his case to the highest ruler of the Roman Empire, Caesar himself. Thus, during a public testimony, Paul said, “I appeal to Caesar” (Acts 25:11). Up until this moment Luke, the writer of Acts, records the negative and often life-threatening situations Paul faced, many times at the hands of religious Jews who saw this former Pharisee as a traitor and one who was corrupting the original intent of the Law of Moses by ministering to Gentiles. Paul’s appeal to Caesar did two things. First, it removed him from many of the cities where his persecutors were lying in wait to have him assaulted or arrested, taking him to Rome where Roman citizens had the full protection of the law on their side. Second, Paul was give two years of total freedom in his own hired house, ministering to all who came to him, no one hindering him (Acts 28:30–31). The Lord used the negative circumstances, including the persecution, to bring Paul to a point where he would appeal to Caesar, which gave him the opportunity to fulfill God’s plan to preach the gospel to one of the most wicked Caesars in Roman history, Nero. Paul’s work among the Roman believers was not in vain, as there was church in Caesar’s house (Phil. 4:22). The lives of David and Paul should encourage believers, as these two men present evidence that despite the numerous battles, struggles, and discouragements, God always works behind the scenes for your way of escape (1 Cor. 10:13) or to