FRIENDSHIP
“And from there, when the brethren heard about us, they came to meet us as far as Appii Forum and Three Inns. When Paul saw them, he thanked God and took courage” (Acts 28:15 NKJV).
Paul is on the final stages of his trip from Israel to Rome that included a shipwreck and other difficulties. On his way to Rome, some friend come to meet him. These friends were of the highest caliber and give us some lessons on what friendship consists.
The concern of friendship – “When the brethren heard about us.” Paul friends in Rome proved their friendship by coming to meet him when they heard he was on his way to Rome. How they heard is a mystery, but they heard and then took action to go and meet Paul. To be friend means you are concerned about your friend. Indifference says you are not a friend, for he “who has friends must himself be friendly” (Prov. 18:24).
The cost of friendship – “They came to meet us.” Friendship costs especially if the person being befriended is in troubling circumstances. The friends of Paul paid a price to be Paul’s friend. Paul was a prisoner and prisoners did not hold much respect by many in society. To be a friend of Paul would not help one’s reputation, and respect, but could result in shame and ridicule. Yet these people were willing to pay that price to be a friend of Paul.
The consequences of friendship – “When Paul saw them, he thanked God and took courage.” These friends help strengthened Paul’s faith. No one is your friend who hinders your faith. With some people we thank God when we see them for they are comforting, others we thank God when they leave for they are discomforting. A true friend brings comfort. Courage and encouragement are all consequences of true friends.
(Adapted from Butler Daily Bible Reading)
Soli Deo Gloria (To God Alone Be The Glory)
Quotation of the Week
“He is your friend who pushes you nearer to God!”
Anonymous
Word Study
Meet
In acts 28:15 we read, “And from there, when the brethren heard about us, they came to meet us as far as Appii Forum and Three Inns. When Paul saw them, he thanked God and took courage!” (NKJV)
Meet is the Greek word apantesis (ἀπάντησις = ap-an'-tay-sis). It is made up of two words: “apo” which means from, and “antao” which means to come opposite to, to meet especially face to face. Thus the word means to meet, a friendly encounter. It describes a meeting especially a meeting of two who are coming from different directions.
In Greek culture apantesis had a technical meaning denoting a ceremonial meeting of a dignitary, king, or a famous person. It describes people rushing to meet the one who was coming. In papyrus usage it spoke of an official delegation going forth to meet a newly appointed magistrate, or other dignitary, upon his arrival in their district. In the Septuagint, apantesis does not have such a technical status, but carries the sense of going out to meet someone. In the New Testament the word also carries the idea of going out to meet someone.
Hearing about Paul’s imminent arrival, and eager to meet him, the believers in Rome sent an entourage to meet Paul. Paul’s entrance to Rome was more like a victor’s triumphal entry than a prisoner’s march. He had long desired to see the Christians of Rome. Now at last God was bringing him to Rome. He was grateful for the warm reception; he thanked God and took courage. This tells us that even mature, spiritual believers need the inspiration and strength which can be derived from Christian fellowship with other believers.
Prophecies Fulfilled by Jesus
Old Testament Prophecy – That His friend would betray Him for 30 pieces of silver (Psalm 41:9; Zech. 11:12-13)
New Testament Fulfillment – Matt. 26:14-15; 27:3
Bible Facts
Ocean currents anticipated (Psalm 8:8). Three thousand years ago the Bible described the “paths of the seas.” In 1855 Matthew Maury (the father of oceanography), after reading Psalm 8, researched and discovered ocean currents that follow specific paths through the seas. Utilizing Maury’s data, marine navigators have since reduced by many days the time required to traverse the seas.
Bible Quiz
According to Proverbs, what kind of a person will have the king for a friend?
**Answer to last week’s trivia: Who was to be named Zacharias, after the name of his father, until his mother intervened? John the Baptist (John 1:59-60).
That’s in the Bible
"Bosom buddy (close friend)”
“Now there was leaning on Jesus’ bosom one of His disciples, whom Jesus loved” (John 13:23 NKJV).
The Jews, Persians, Greeks, and Romans reclined around the table while they ate their meals. They leaned on the left arm and ate with the right. This posture indicates that John was reclining at Jesus’ right so that by leaning backward John’s position was “on Jesus’ bosom.” On each couch there were two or three persons; and the head of one of them came near to the bosom of him who reclined above him on the same couch. The person here mentioned was John. This beloved disciple has one of the most honored positions at the feast, along with the person on the left.
Did You Know – Christian History
John Herschel was born March 7, 1792 in Slough, Buckinghamshire. He was an English polymath, mathematician, astronomer, chemist, inventor, and experimental photographer, who also did valuable botanical work. The only child of astronomer William Herschel, John surpass his rivals in math and science. At Cambridge, he placed first in math, and at twenty-one, he became the youngest person admitted to the Royal Society.
With techniques learned from his father, John built some of the largest telescopes in the world. Through these scopes, he compared stellar magnitudes by contrasting them with the moon’s image. He logged over 1,200 new examples of double stars. By observing their rotations, he could calculate their masses and prove that Newton’s laws applied to distant stellar bodies. John also cataloged many nebulae (gas clouds and galaxies) and showed that most consisted of faint stars. He made calculations of the density of the Milky Way and tried to determine its structure. Further, Herschel was able to duplicate the daguerreotype photography process within a week and then create a completely new photographic processes afterwards.
Men like John Herschel help negate the notion that great scientists cannot be genuine Christians. His faith fired him with zeal for educational reforms in South Africa. Regarding the Bible, Herschel said, “All human discoveries seem to be made only for the purpose of confirming more and more strongly the truths that come from on high and are contained in the sacred writings.” Upon his death on May 12, 1871, Sir John Herschel was laid to rest in Westminster Abbey alongside Sir Isaac Newton.
A Little Humor
A priest was taking a tour of Biblical sites, when he came to a beach and saw a boat and a sign advertising, “TAKE A BOAT RIDE TO THE EXACT PLACE WHERE JESUS WALKED ON WATER!!!” Inquiring about it, he learned that the ride there was free, so he went. After viewing it, he said to the captain of the boat, “Ok, I’m done, let’s go back now.” “That’ll be $35 to go back.” The priest, shocked by the charge, exclaims “no wonder Jesus got out and walked.”
Thought Provoking Church Sign
“How tragic that people pay a high price for being lost when salvation is free!”
