TUESDAY - September 22

Read. Acts 28:11-16
11 After three months we put out to sea in a ship that had spent the winter at the island. It was an Alexandrian ship with carvings of the twin gods Castor and Pollux as its figurehead. 12 We landed in Syracuse where we stayed three days. 13 From there we sailed to Rhegium. After one day a south wind came up, and we arrived on the second day in Puteoli. 14 There we found brothers and sisters who urged us to stay with them for a week. In this way we came to Rome. 15 When the brothers and sisters there heard about us, they came as far as the Forum of Appius and the Three Taverns to meet us. When Paul saw them, he gave thanks to God and was encouraged. 16 When we entered Rome, Paul was permitted to live by himself, with a soldier guarding him.

Reflect. The original voyage to Rome was marked by disaster, this one is much more successful. They make swift progress to the most important city in the world. Paul must have been feeling the weight of this journey. He had requested a hearing by the emperor and now he is nearing the end of this journey as a prisoner. 

• v.14-15 tell of how they encountered other believers in Puteoli. Puteoli was about 120 miles from Rome and was a major seaport, considered the port of entry for Rome. The church is already established in Puteoli and the fellow believers here that Paul has arrived. We even forget that Paul is a prisoner as we read about the other Christians welcoming him and inviting him in. This event of meeting fellow Christians along the way has a powerful message. William Barclay, in this Daily Study Bible Series writes of the significance:
  • The Christian is never alone. (i) He has the consciousness of the unseen cloud of witnesses around him and about him. (ii) He has the consciousness of belonging to a world-wide fellowship. (iii) He has the consciousness that wherever he goes there is a God. (iv) He has the certainty that his Risen Lord is with him. 
• How does the thought that you are never truly alone affect you? Have you thought of this before? Does this bring you comfort? 

Pray. Loving one, I give you thanks for the community of believers that have come before me and are around the world. Help heal the divisions we see in the church, so that we can more fully come together to celebrate your presence. Amen. 

COMMUNITY PRAYER LIST

Doug Lawson. Bobby Roberts. Collier. Glenn Ethridge. Adam Funderburk.  Mary Reber.  Linda Harmon. Betty Carolyn Ward. Jeff. Albert Rasanke. Lois Robinson. Ross Henley. Tiny & Donald Creasman. Bill and Barbara Buchanan. Bonnie Brenner. Baker Family. Robert McKenzie Family. Kibler family. Carolyn Harlow. Jeff Green. Earl Graves. Mickey Huff. Huff & Welch families. Helen Leigh. Paul Huffman. Schools, Teachers, Staff, Parents, Students. Church regathering plans. Layman family. Charlene Withrow. Brandon Casteel. Dirk Orr family. Smith family. Crowder family. Lillard family. Family of Floyd Eaton. Family of Eddie Rynes. Robertson Family. Harmon Family.