Acts 28:15-16 (ESV Strong's)
And the brothers there, when they heard about us, came as far as the Forum of Appius and Three Taverns to meet us. On seeing them, Paul thanked God and took courage. And when we came into Rome, Paul was allowed to stay by himself, with the soldier who guarded him.
Celebrate God’s Sovereign Work
To really understand the above passage we have to read a couple of previous verses. In chapter 27 we see quite an ordeal as Paul is taken to Rome to appear before Caesar. It is such an ordeal that it would be natural for Paul to rehearse the story to those who meet him in Rome. Paul did not worry about getting to Rome, however. He was not worried about circumstances or situations. Here is why. First, Paul was promised to be in Rome by prophecy:
Acts 21:10-14 (ESV Strong's)
While we were staying for many days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. And coming to us, he took Paul's belt and bound his own feet and hands and said, “Thus says the Holy Spirit, ‘This is how the Jews at Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.’” When we heard this, we and the people there urged him not to go up to Jerusalem. Then Paul answered, “What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be imprisoned but even to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” And since he would not be persuaded, we ceased and said, “Let the will of the Lord be done.”
During the ship wreck in chapter 27, Paul was again given a message by God about the trip. Right in the middle the ship wreck, here is what God told him:
Acts 27:21-25 (ESV Strong's)
Since they had been without food for a long time, Paul stood up among them and said, “Men, you should have listened to me and not have set sail from Crete and incurred this injury and loss. Yet now I urge you to take heart, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship. For this very night there stood before me an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I worship, and he said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before Caesar. And behold, God has granted you all those who sail with you.’ So take heart, men, for I have faith in God that it will be exactly as I have been told.
Paul lived on promises. Paul knew that God was trustworthy and someone to be trusted. Paul knew he could trust the promises of God. When Paul arrived at Rome he would recount God’s promises to him. God had directed him to Jerusalem. Jerusalem would direct him to Rome. God had Paul on a mission. God had him right where He wanted him and that was a reason to rejoice. When God puts us were He wants us and we have gone through amazing circumstances for that to happen, we ought to “thank God and take courage.”
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