Friends

Today’s reading: Acts 27:1-20

“—we docked at Sidon, Julius was very kind to Paul and let him go ashore to visit with friends so they could provide for his needs.” - Acts 27:3‬

In this verse we see two words that are rarely used in the New Testament.

“Very kind” is philanthrōpōs (looks like a college major) and it is “used to describe what it means to be truly human, or humane, or civilized” (Witherington).

“Provide for his needs” is a compound of two words that appears only here in the New Testament and speaks to them meeting Paul’s financial needs.

Paul receives a double portion of grace. One from a fellow Roman citizen and one from a group of Christians (“friends”) to whom we are just now being introduced.

Do you have friends like these, who would do anything to carry you through?

or

Do you push people away so often that you’ve never allowed anything like this to happen?

Pride and doubt often work in tandem to keep us insulated and isolated from others.

Seek Christian community.

Be open to grace.

Receive it.