Acts 28:7-16: a reflection

7Now in the neighborhood of that place were lands belonging to the chief man of the island, named Publius, who received us and courteously entertained us for three days. 8The father of Publius lay sick of fever and dysentery. Paul entered in to him, prayed, and laying his hands on him, healed him. 9Then when this was done, the rest also who had diseases in the island came and were cured. 10They also honored us with many honors; and when we sailed, they put on board the things that we needed. 11After three months, we set sail in a ship of Alexandria which had wintered in the island, whose figurehead was “The Twin Brothers.” 12Touching at Syracuse, we stayed there three days. 13From there we circled around and arrived at Rhegium. After one day, a south wind sprang up, and on the second day we came to Puteoli, 14where we found brothers, and were entreated to stay with them for seven days. So we came to Rome. 15From there the brothers, when they heard of us, came to meet us as far as The Market of Appius and The Three Taverns. When Paul saw them, he thanked God and took courage. 16When we entered into Rome, the centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard, but Paul was allowed to stay by himself with the soldier who guarded him.

As Paul nears the end of a long and hard journey toward Rome, fellow believers come out to meet him on the road; and when he sees them, he thanks God and takes courage. When Paul saw the brothers who had come to meet him, the account says, he thanked God and took courage. Paul had endured a long, difficult journey, including shipwreck and hardship, and was going to Rome as a prisoner facing an uncertain future. But when the brothers, fellow believers, came out from Rome to meet him on the road, the sight of them renewed his spirit: he thanked God and took courage. The company and welcome of fellow believers strengthened him for what lay ahead. This shows the courage renewed by the company and welcome of fellow believers. The company of fellow believers can renew our courage. Thank God for those who come to meet you on the road. Christian fellowship strengthens us for what lies ahead. We are not meant to walk the hard road alone.

Notice the effect the brothers had on Paul. Paul was worn by a long and hard journey: shipwreck, hardship, months of difficulty, and now approaching Rome as a prisoner facing an uncertain future. He might well have been discouraged, weary in spirit. But then fellow believers, hearing he was coming, traveled out from Rome to meet him on the road. And the simple sight of them, coming to meet and welcome him, changed something in Paul: he thanked God and took courage. Their company and welcome renewed his spirit and strengthened him for what lay ahead. This holds a truth about the value of Christian fellowship. We are not meant to walk the hard road alone; and the company, welcome, and presence of fellow believers can renew our courage in a way that is real and needed. When we are weary, discouraged, facing hard things, the simple presence of brothers and sisters who come to meet us, to be with us, to walk alongside us, can lift our spirits and strengthen us, as it did Paul's. This encourages us both to value such fellowship for ourselves, drawing courage from the company of fellow believers, and to be such company for others, coming out to meet and strengthen those who are on a hard road. We do well to draw courage from the company of fellow believers, and to be such strengthening company for others, thanking God for it. Draw courage from the company and welcome of fellow believers. Thank God for those who come to meet you on a hard road. Be such strengthening company for others who are weary. We are not meant to walk the hard road alone.

That is worth taking to heart, for the company of fellow believers can renew our courage, and we do well both to draw on it and to be it for others, as the brothers renewed Paul's courage. We can try to walk the hard road alone; but Paul, worn by his journey, saw the brothers come to meet him and thanked God and took courage. Fellowship strengthens. When you are weary on a hard road, draw courage from the company of fellow believers; and be such company for others, coming to meet and strengthen them. Draw courage from the company and welcome of fellow believers, and be such strengthening company for others on a hard road, thanking God for it, as when Paul neared the end of a long and hard journey toward Rome fellow believers came out to meet him on the road, and when he saw them he thanked God and took courage; for Paul had endured a long, difficult journey including shipwreck and hardship and was going to Rome as a prisoner facing an uncertain future, but when the brothers came out to meet him the sight of them renewed his spirit, so that he thanked God and took courage, their company and welcome strengthening him for what lay ahead, which holds a truth about the value of Christian fellowship, that we are not meant to walk the hard road alone and the company, welcome, and presence of fellow believers can renew our courage in a way that is real and needed, since when we are weary, discouraged, and facing hard things the simple presence of brothers and sisters who come to meet us and walk alongside us can lift our spirits and strengthen us as it did Paul's, which encourages us both to value such fellowship for ourselves and to be such company for others, coming out to meet and strengthen those on a hard road, so that we do well to draw courage from the company of fellow believers and to be such strengthening company for others.

Lord, as Paul nears the end of a long and hard journey toward Rome, fellow believers come out to meet him on the road; and when he sees them, he thanks you and takes courage. When Paul saw the brothers who had come to meet him, the account says, he thanked God and took courage. Paul had endured a long, difficult journey, including shipwreck and hardship, and was going to Rome as a prisoner facing an uncertain future. But when the brothers, fellow believers, came out from Rome to meet him on the road, the sight of them renewed his spirit: he thanked you and took courage. The company and welcome of fellow believers strengthened him for what lay ahead. Show me the effect the brothers had on Paul. He was worn by a long and hard journey, and now approaching Rome as a prisoner facing an uncertain future. He might well have been discouraged, weary in spirit. But then fellow believers, hearing he was coming, traveled out to meet him on the road. And the simple sight of them, coming to meet and welcome him, changed something in Paul: he thanked you and took courage. Their company renewed his spirit and strengthened him for what lay ahead. This holds a truth about the value of Christian fellowship. I am not meant to walk the hard road alone; and the company, welcome, and presence of fellow believers can renew my courage in a way that is real and needed. When I am weary, discouraged, facing hard things, the simple presence of brothers and sisters who come to meet me can lift my spirit and strengthen me, as it did Paul's. This encourages me both to value such fellowship for myself and to be such company for others. Take that to my heart. When I am weary on a hard road, help me draw courage from the company of fellow believers, Lord, thanking you for those who come to meet me; and help me be such strengthening company for others who are weary, coming to meet and strengthen them, for we are not meant to walk the hard road alone.