We boarded a ship from Adramyttium about to sail for ports along the coast of the province of Asia, and we put out to sea. Aristarchus, a Macedonian from Thessalonica, was with us. – Acts 27:2

Today's Scripture Reading (May 18, 2024):  Acts 27

For me, one of the most significant passages of the Book of Acts occurs very early in Luke's tale of the emerging first-century Christian Church. Luke says that

They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved (Acts 2:42-47).

The phrase that I find so intriguing is that these Christians "enjoyed the favor of the people." If there is a significant difference between the contemporary church and the emerging one in the first century, this might be it. In the first century, the church found favor with the secular community. They were supported even by non-believers, and maybe we need to ask why that often doesn't seem true of the contemporary church. Not only is Luke's statement not true with today's church, but the modern church often seems to take its conflict with the surrounding culture as a badge of honor. After all, didn't Jesus say the world would hate us because of our faith?

The problem is that, too often, the world does not hate us because of our Christian faith but because of our ignorant actions toward the surrounding community. In other words, we are not hated because we believe in Jesus but because of our hate, which is directed outward toward the community; hate when it should be love.

The favor of the surrounding culture is not an artifact that is present at the beginning of Luke's story but dissipates as the tale progresses. It is present throughout the story. So, as we approach the end of the tale, we find that Paul is arrested, and even though the officials judging Paul have found no fault in him, they are preparing to send him as a prisoner to Rome. The problem is that Paul, as he had done several times before, has made an appeal to be judged by Rome, as was his right as a Roman Citizen. Because of the plea, he cannot be released.

What seems critical in the story is that Paul has made enough of an impact on those holding him that they are allowing Aristarchus from Thessalonica and Luke to travel with him. Paul was not being forced to make this journey alone as many others would have been; he had found the favor of his captors and would be allowed to be accompanied by his friends as he made what amounts to his next missionary journey.

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: Acts 28