Fervent prayers were shared during Sunday evening's service in the Avenue Centre. After some worship songs, the pastor, Rev. Peter Richmond, who had led harvest celebrations at Bethel Baptist Church, Pembroke Dock, that morning, continued his series of talks on the book of Acts.

After his two-year imprisonment without conviction, Paul was brought by the new Roman governor, Festus, to Herod Agrippa II, the Jewish king who married his own sister but was a man of great mental acumen, and an expert in the affairs of the Jews.

The pastor said: "Paul was happy to explain to Agrippa, because he would understand. Paul shared in great detail his amazing testimony from being a Pharisee to becoming an Apostle to the Gentiles.

"Paul, like all obedient Christians who share their faith find people respond to the good news of the gospel as individuals - and not always favourably.

"Festus, a rationalist, called Paul mad. Many who deny the supernatural consider real Christians fanatics and crazy.

"Agrippa knew and mostly believed the Old Testament scriptures. He had to agree with Paul's conclusion, but he avoided committing himself, and ended the session. He was not going to have his lifestyle upset.

"Still, they both agreed that Paul was innocent of any crime: Agrippa said to Festus, This man could have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar.

"But if Paul had been set free, he would soon have been murdered. Instead he continued on an all expenses paid trip to Rome with the army of the Roman Empire for his protection.

"Christians should be like Paul, calm and peaceful even when unfairly exploited under a false accusation, undergoing prolonged delays, facing an uncertain future.

"Christians should be like Paul, taking every opportunity to witness with urgency and not give up if reactions are rejected in one way or the other."

This Sunday's service is in the Avenue Centre at 6 pm. Visit http://www.hesed.co.uk">www.hesed.co.uk or telephone 01646 681805 for details.