On Seeing the Brethren

Beaten, under arrest, and bound with two chains, Paul addressed the crowd which was intent on killing him. Once the authorities learned that Paul was a Roman citizen, though, the tribune unbound him and commanded the chief priest and all the council to meet. As Paul defended himself, a great clamor arose, and the dissension became violent. Only by the skin of his teeth was Paul saved by soldiers. The matter was far from over, however, as the Jews made a plot and bound themselves by an oath neither to eat nor drink till they had killed Paul.

To thwart this plan, Paul was taken by night with an escort of 200 soldiers, 70 horsemen, and 200 spearmen to Caesarea to be turned over to Felix, the governor. Paul was kept in custody for two years at Caesarea until Felix was succeeded by Festus who offered to let Paul stand trial in Jerusalem, according to the wishes of the Jews. Knowing how perilous this would be, Paul appealed to Caesar. Before arriving at Rome, Paul would make a defense before King Agrippa and be shipwrecked at Malta. As the journey continued, brethren from Rome, when they heard of Paul’s coming, came as far as the Forum of Appius and Three Taverns to meet him.

What was Paul’s reaction? "On seeing them Paul thanked God and took courage" (Acts 28:15).

One does not have to endure the ordeals Paul suffered to appreciate the brethren. Bound by a common love for the Lord, and a genuine concern for one another, we are constantly being refreshed in the bosom of God’s family.

I, as the apostle Paul, thank God and take courage.

John Gibson