ACTS of the Apostles, Part 2

Tuesday, October 11

ACTS of the Apostles, Part 2

Learning How to be Daring and Dynamic

Read Acts 28:11-16

Focus Verse: Acts 28:15

The brothers there had heard that we were coming, and they traveled as far as the Forum of Appius and the Three Taverns to meet us. At the sight of these men Paul thanked God and was encouraged.

Luke tells us the story how he was on the ship with Paul when it left Malta and sailed up to the Italian peninsula. He actually described the adventures in grand detail with the eastern Mediterranean ports-of-call, wind directions, and even mentioned places of safety and danger for ships.

The ship went from Syracuse to Italy and then landed at Puteolia. It is there that Paul and Luke find some Christians. In their next landing, they will be met by Christians, but here we are told in Acts 28:14 that they “found some brothers”, that is, followers of Christ. Upon learning of their common faith, the Christians of Puteoli take them in, and Paul and Luke are given not just lodging but a loving place to call home on their journey. The hospitality truly helped refresh Paul and Luke for their next trip. Scripture reads, “So,” and that is a BIG two-letter word there, “So, we went to Rome.” In other words, the love and acceptance and attention of the Christians at Puteoli gave Paul and Luke what they needed to send them to where God wanted them to go.

In Acts 28:15, Paul and Luke are sent on by the hospitality of those believers and continue their journey towards Rome. As they make the journey by land to the capital of the Empire, they would journey to Neapolis and then turn on the Via Appia, “The oldest, straightest and most perfectly made of all the Roman roads.” That’s where Roman Christians came to meet them. Some came forty-three miles to the Forum of Appius, a sort of ancient “rest stop.” Others came 33 miles to the Three Taverns rest stop. But, the thing to note is that the kindness of those Christians to welcome Paul and Luke, to meet them where they were and cheer them on, is something we should learn from.

Is there someone in your life that needs some encouragement? Sometimes God calls us to leave our comfort zones and take journeys to meet people where they are, at their place in life, at their point of need. This was an important lesson for me. We need to practice being BOTH- a safe haven of hospitality and source of strength and encouragement. What a difference we can make for our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ.

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank you for the grace and strength you give us daily. May we extend that same grace and strength to others on their journey of life. May we be cheerleaders for them to keep on keeping on as they travel the paths you send them on. Let us be the encourager you want us to be at just the right place and time…never too late or too early…always at just the right time! Amen