Acts 21:17 And when we were come to Jerusalem, the brethren received us gladly.
A Network of Comfort
Just recently I met a young missionary family who had been in a country that is very hostile to the gospel and to those giving the gospel. I thought about their situation. Here they were in the United States traveling from church to church telling people about their ministry, raising support, and staying in the homes of other people day by day. When I met them, the church we were both in treated them very warmly and kindly. That is as it should be, because the more hostile the world is to the gospel, the more hospitable God’s people should be to those who share it.
In Acts 21, Paul is on his way to Jerusalem where he is quite certain he is going to face difficulty, imprisonment, and persecution. But before Paul encounters all these things, we find an entire network of people he may not have even known giving him comfort and encouragement along the way.
For instance, Acts 21:4 says, “And finding disciples, we tarried there seven days.” Pau l and his group found these disciples when they stopped in Tyre. The Bible says about these disciples, “And when we had accomplished those days, we departed and went our way; and they all brought us on our way, with wives and children, til we were out of the city: and kneeled down on the shore, and prayed.” Men, women, and children who may not have even known them saw Paul and his group to the dock and prayed with them. They were concerned about these travelers as if they themselves were traveling.
Verse 8 says, “And the next day we that were of Paul’s company departed, and came unto Caesarea: and we entered into the house of Philip the evangelist.” This evangelist had concern for Paul and provided knowing hospitality. Those of us who travel in gospel ministry should be the ones providing hospitality to those who come by our home, church, or town because what goes around certainly comes around.
Verse 16 says, “There went with us also certain of the disciples of Caesarea, and brought with them one Mnason of Cyprus, an old disciple, with whom we should lodge.” Here is an old believer showing his pattern of good works to the younger by giving hospitality to Paul and his brothers.
Verse 17 sums up the hospitality of God’s people in contrast to the hostility of the world when the Bible says, “And when we were come to Jerusalem, the brethren received us gladly.” I Peter 4:9 says, “Use hospitality one to another without grudging.” We are not just to give hospitality, but to do it gladly because we want to. This is a matter of thinking, not wealth. Use what you have from the heart. God’s children are to be a network of comfort to those in God’s Family.