Acts 21:1-6: a reflection

1When we had departed from them and had set sail, we came with a straight course to Cos, and the next day to Rhodes, and from there to Patara. 2Having found a ship crossing over to Phoenicia, we went aboard and set sail. 3When we had come in sight of Cyprus, leaving it on the left hand, we sailed to Syria and landed at Tyre, for the ship was there to unload her cargo. 4Having found disciples, we stayed there seven days. These said to Paul through the Spirit that he should not go up to Jerusalem. 5When those days were over, we departed and went on our journey. They all, with wives and children, brought us on our way until we were out of the city. Kneeling down on the beach, we prayed. 6After saying goodbye to each other, we went on board the ship, and they returned home again.

As Paul travels on toward Jerusalem, he stops for a week with the believers at Tyre. When it is time to leave, there is a touching scene: the whole community, with their wives and children, walk with Paul out of the city, and there on the beach they all kneel down together and pray before saying goodbye. Then they part, Paul to his ship, they returning home, having sent him off with prayer.

Notice the warmth of this Christian fellowship. Paul had known these believers only a week, yet in that short time a bond had formed; and when he left, the whole community, families and all, came out to see him off, and they knelt together on the beach to pray. Their parting was marked not by mere farewells, but by kneeling together in prayer, entrusting one another to God. This is the sweetness of Christian community: bound together quickly in love, praying together, sending one another off with prayer.

That is a picture of fellowship worth treasuring and practicing. In Christ, believers are bound together in a love that forms quickly and runs deep, a family that prays together and supports one another. And prayer marks such fellowship, at partings and at every point: kneeling together, entrusting one another to God. Do not neglect or take for granted the warm fellowship of God's people. Treasure it, and practice it: bind yourself in love to other believers, pray together with them, send one another off with prayer. The kneeling on the beach at Tyre is a picture of what Christian fellowship can be; seek and cherish such fellowship, and let prayer mark your life together with God's people.

Lord, when Paul left the believers at Tyre, the whole community, with their families, walked him out of the city and knelt together on the beach to pray before parting; their farewell was marked by kneeling together in prayer, entrusting one another to you. Thank you for that picture of the sweetness of Christian fellowship. In Christ, believers are bound together in a love that forms quickly and runs deep, a family that prays together and supports one another. Help me not to neglect or take for granted the warm fellowship of your people. Help me treasure it and practice it: to bind myself in love to other believers, to pray together with them, to send one another off with prayer. The kneeling on the beach at Tyre is a picture of what fellowship can be; help me seek and cherish such fellowship, and let prayer mark my life together with your people. Give me a heart for your family, and knit me together with them in love and prayer.