BEN F. VICK, JR.
Paul was traveling toward Rome, but he had been through a great deal before arriving. He was: (1) almost killed in Jerusalem; (2) he was a prisoner in Caesarea for two years; (3) he endured a storm and suffered a shipwreck. How discouraging it must have been! How depressed one might have felt! How low could one get? He had appealed to Caesar. Now he was soon to be before him. Luke records:
After three months we sailed in an Alexandrian ship whose figurehead was the Twin Brothers, which had wintered at the island. And landing at Syracuse, we stayed three days. From there we circled round and reached Rhegium. And after one day the south wind blew; and the next day we came to Puteoli, where we found brethren, and were invited to stay with them seven days. And so we went toward Rome. And from there, when the brethren heard about us, they came to meet us as far as Appiiforum and Three Inns. When Paul saw them, he thanked God and took courage. (Acts 28:11-15)
From Rhegium, Paul and company sailed to Puteoli, approximately 200 miles. Luke states that this was accomplished in one day. The reason? “The south wind blew.” The inspired historian tells us that they found brethren there and were invited to stay seven days. The text does not tell us, but I wonder if they stayed in order to break bread on the Lord’s day as they had done in Troas (Acts 20:6-7). It must have been refreshing to Paul and others traveling with him to be with the brethren after an arduous journey through seas, storms, and a shipwreck. The missionaries traveled on toward Rome. As they traveled, the brethren heard about them and met them at Appiiforum and Three Inns, which as the crow flies, was about 70 miles from Puteoli.
The text tells us, “When Paul saw them, he thanked God and took courage.” All of us from time to time go through rough times in which we are unable to be with our brethren in Christ. How true that was of Paul and Luke. It was a pure delight to see those of like precious faith. These brethren had heard that Paul and company were traveling to Rome; they intercepted them at Appiiforum and Three Inns. They wanted to see them. As Onesiphorus later refreshed Paul, so undoubtedly, these brethren who met him revived his spirit. Paul was thankful to God for them. He thanked God for their coming. I do not know if they knew Paul personally. Nothing indicates that they did. But they were brethren. They wanted to be with Paul; he desired to be with them.
It is difficult for me to understand why some brethren, when times are tough, or when they have been through rough days, why they hesitate to be with their brethren. After the loss of a loved one, our brethren can encourage us. After a prolonged illness, our brethren can strengthen us. After some tragedy, they can support us. When we are down, they can lift us up.
And by the same token, as brothers and sisters in Christ, we should be more like these brethren who came to meet Paul and Luke. The text does not tell us how far they traveled to meet Paul. Any distance at all would have taken time and effort on their part. What about us? What measures do we expend, what time do we give to encourage our brethren? Some are shut-ins and cannot get out. Are we as those brethren who came to see Paul?
Paul thanked God for these brethren. Do we pause to thank God for our brethren who care about us? These brethren cared. When was the last time you thanked God for your brothers and sisters in Christ? Paul wrote to the brethren at Philippi, “But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God.” (Phil. 4:18.)
On a very personal note, I am thankful to God for my brothers and sisters here and other places who have encouraged me in so many ways over the years. Through sickness and in health, the church here has been so good to me. I have appreciated the cards, calls, food, prayers, and expressions of concern for my well-being in the last couple of years. I am so grateful for your patience and steadfast love while I was having difficulty breathing, my hip surgery, blood clots, and my dental surgery in recent days. God has been good to me.
The text does not end there. Luke records that Paul “took courage.” Oh, how we need courage today. Remember: “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” (2 Tim. 1:7.) Through difficult times, we need to take courage. Paul was about to appear before Caesar. He did not know at that time what the outcome would be, but he took courage. Though he was an inspired apostle, he did not know what the future held for him. Inspiration did not make one omniscient. He only knew what had been revealed to him (1 Cor. 2:9-14).
What was it that caused Paul to take courage? It was that he knew that God was with him. Before the shipwreck, an angel of God appeared to him, “Saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee.” (Acts 27:24.) In Paul’s last letter, as he was looking back, he stated that the Lord stood with him and strengthened him (2 Tim. 4:17). Jesus promised to be with those who do his will (Matt. 28:18-20). Paul, with confidence, wrote, “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.” (Heb. 13:5-6.)
He took courage in seeing his brethren. They had traveled some distance to see and encourage Paul. Aaron and Hur held up the hands of Moses as Joshua fought Amalek. Preachers and elders need the encouragement of brethren as they strive to do God’s will. Luke, who labored with Paul, was a big encouragement to him. In Paul’s second imprisonment in Rome, he wrote that last epistle to Timothy in which he said, “Only Luke is with me.” Luke, the beloved physician, must have been a great encouragement to Paul. We all need encouragement, especially preachers and elders. Paul was strengthened by his brethren.
May God help us to encourage our brethren.