Paul and Silas had seen many people come to faith in Thessalonica, but all was not roses. The unbelieving Jews were jealous and started a riot against Paul and Silas. When they couldn’t find them, they grabbed some other believers and made them pay a fine. There had been political accusations made against Paul and Silas and the situation was getting dangerous. That’s when some friends helped the two men escape.
Acts 17: 10 That very night the believers sent Paul and Silas to Berea. When they arrived there, they went to the Jewish synagogue.[1] Paul and Silas escape under the cover of darkness to the next town down the road. Proverbs 17:17, A true friend loves regardless of the situation, and a real brother exists to share the tough times.[2] These fellow believers truly did help Paul and Silas in tough times. We all need friends to help us through the hard times. But the best friend is Jesus.
John 15: 3 For the greatest love of all is a love that sacrifices all. And this great love is demonstrated when a person sacrifices his life for his friends. 14 “You show that you are my intimate friends when you obey all that I command you. 15 I have never called you ‘servants,’ because a master doesn’t confide in his servants, and servants don’t always understand what the master is doing. But I call you my most intimate friends, for I reveal to you everything that I’ve heard from my Father[3].
It was Jesus who loved us so much that He would die for us and pay the price for our sins. Then His resurrection gave us victory over eternal death. When we trust Him by following Him, we can count on His friendship here on this earth and eternity. Is Jesus your friend or do you see Him as a foe? He desires friendship and is only a prayer away.
To hear more about Paul’s second mission trip, listen here: https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/series/mission-trip-two-radio-show/harvest-in-the-battle
[1, 2,] Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188.
[3] The Passion Translation®. Copyright © 2017 by BroadStreet Publishing® Group, LLC.. All rights reserved.