June 7: Christian Fellowship.
Encouraging Fellow Believers.
The brothers and sisters in Rome had heard we were coming, and they came to meet us at the Forum on the Appian Way. Others joined us at The Three Taverns. When Paul saw them, he was encourages and thanked God.--Acts 28:15, NLT
IT WAS WITH A HEAVY HEART that Paul went forward to his long-expected visit to the world's metropolis. How different the circumstances from those he had anticipated! How was he, fettered and stigmatized, to proclaim the gospel?...
At last the travelers reach Appii Forum, forty miles from Rome. As they make their way through the crowds that throng the great thoroughfare, the gray-haired old man, chained with a group of hardened-looking criminals, receives many a glance of scorn and is made the subject of many a rude, mocking jest.
Suddenly a cry of joy is heard, and a man springs from the passing throng and falls upon the prisoner's neck, embracing him with tears and rejoicing, as a son would welcome a long-absent father. Again and again is the scene repeated....
As the warmhearted disciples eagerly flock around their father in the gospel, the whole company is brought to a standstill. The soldiers are impatient of delay, yet they have not the heart to interrupt this happy meeting; for they, too, have learned to respect and esteem their prisoner....
Few realize the significance of those words of Luke, that when Paul saw his brethren, "he thanked God, and took courage." In the midst of the weeping, sympathizing company of believers, who were not ashamed of his bonds, the apostle praised God aloud. The cloud of sadness that had rested upon his spirit was swept away....With firmer step and joyful heart he continued on his way.--Acts of the Apostles, 448, 449.
And I want you to know, my dear brothers and sisters, that everything that has happened to me
here has helped to spread the Good News. For everyone here, including
the whole palace guard, knows that I am in chains because of Christ.
And because of my imprisonment, most of the believers here
have gained confidence and boldly speak God's message without fear.
--Philippians 1:12-14, NLT
Encouraging Fellow Believers.
The brothers and sisters in Rome had heard we were coming, and they came to meet us at the Forum on the Appian Way. Others joined us at The Three Taverns. When Paul saw them, he was encourages and thanked God.--Acts 28:15, NLT
IT WAS WITH A HEAVY HEART that Paul went forward to his long-expected visit to the world's metropolis. How different the circumstances from those he had anticipated! How was he, fettered and stigmatized, to proclaim the gospel?...
At last the travelers reach Appii Forum, forty miles from Rome. As they make their way through the crowds that throng the great thoroughfare, the gray-haired old man, chained with a group of hardened-looking criminals, receives many a glance of scorn and is made the subject of many a rude, mocking jest.
Suddenly a cry of joy is heard, and a man springs from the passing throng and falls upon the prisoner's neck, embracing him with tears and rejoicing, as a son would welcome a long-absent father. Again and again is the scene repeated....
As the warmhearted disciples eagerly flock around their father in the gospel, the whole company is brought to a standstill. The soldiers are impatient of delay, yet they have not the heart to interrupt this happy meeting; for they, too, have learned to respect and esteem their prisoner....
Few realize the significance of those words of Luke, that when Paul saw his brethren, "he thanked God, and took courage." In the midst of the weeping, sympathizing company of believers, who were not ashamed of his bonds, the apostle praised God aloud. The cloud of sadness that had rested upon his spirit was swept away....With firmer step and joyful heart he continued on his way.--Acts of the Apostles, 448, 449.
And I want you to know, my dear brothers and sisters, that everything that has happened to me
here has helped to spread the Good News. For everyone here, including
the whole palace guard, knows that I am in chains because of Christ.
And because of my imprisonment, most of the believers here
have gained confidence and boldly speak God's message without fear.
--Philippians 1:12-14, NLT
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