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there we found brothers and sisters

Acts 28:11-16 (JDV)

Acts 28:11 After three months we set sail in an Alexandrian ship that had wintered at the island, with the Twin Gods as its figurehead.
Acts 28:12 Landing at Syracuse, we stayed three days.
Acts 28:13 From there, after making a circuit along the coast, we reached Rhegium. After one day a south wind sprang up, and the second day we came to Puteoli.
Acts 28:14 There we found brothers and sisters and were invited to stay a week with them. And so we came to Rome.
Acts 28:15 Now the brothers and sisters from there had heard the news about us and had come to meet us as far as the Forum of Appius and the Three Taverns. When Paul saw them, he thanked God and took courage.
Acts 28:16 When we entered Rome, Paul was allowed to stay by himself with the soldier who kept him.

there we found brothers and sisters

I took a number of mission trips where I was alone, or had maybe one companion with me, until I reached my destination. It was such a comfort to find an entire church, or group of churches — greeting me when I arrived. We know from the last chapter of his epistle to Romans that there had already been many missionaries working in Rome, so there was already an established church there at this point in the narrative of Acts.

So, if Paul was not going to Rome to plant or establish a church, what was his mission? He had been commissioned as an ambassador to the highest levels of government, representing the kingdom of God in general, and the mission of the church of Christ in particular.

How comforting it must have been for him to arrive in Rome after such a long and arduous trip to find fellow believers there to greet him!

Thank you Lord, for the fellowship of kindred minds!

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