Today's Daily Bread

PAUL ENCOURAGED BY ROMAN CHRISTIANS

Date : Wednesday, December 10, 2025
Passage : Acts 28:11~22
Keyverse : 15  
11
After three months we put out to sea in a ship that had wintered in the island - it was an Alexandrian ship with the figurehead of the twin gods Castor and Pollux.
12
We put in at Syracuse and stayed there three days.
13
From there we set sail and arrived at Rhegium. The next day the south wind came up, and on the following day we reached Puteoli.
14
There we found some brothers and sisters who invited us to spend a week with them. And so we came to Rome.
15
The brothers and sisters there had heard that we were coming, and they traveled as far as the Forum of Appius and the Three Taverns to meet us. At the sight of these people Paul thanked God and was encouraged.
16
When we got to Rome, Paul was allowed to live by himself, with a soldier to guard him.
17
Three days later he called together the local Jewish leaders. When they had assembled, Paul said to them: "My brothers, although I have done nothing against our people or against the customs of our ancestors, I was arrested in Jerusalem and handed over to the Romans.
18
They examined me and wanted to release me, because I was not guilty of any crime deserving death.
19
The Jews objected, so I was compelled to make an appeal to Caesar. I certainly did not intend to bring any charge against my own people.
20
For this reason I have asked to see you and talk with you. It is because of the hope of Israel that I am bound with this chain."
21
They replied, "We have not received any letters from Judea concerning you, and none of our people who have come from there has reported or said anything bad about you.
22
But we want to hear what your views are, for we know that people everywhere are talking against this sect."
After three months on Malta, their journey continued, finally reaching Rome. To their surprise, some brothers and sisters—fellow Christians—were there to meet them, having traveled long distances to welcome Paul. After such trials, seeing these people led Paul to thank God and be greatly encouraged. Paul was such a great apostle, but he too needed the encouragement of Christian fellowship and hospitality. Let us take such opportunities to bless and encourage others, as well as to receive such hospitality.

The Roman authorities seemed to be thankful for Paul, as they did not put him into prison but instead allowed him to live on his own, just with a guard. Paul immediately reached out to the local Jewish leaders, to share his reason for being arrested. But more importantly, he wanted to share with them the hope of Israel that he found in the gospel of Jesus. They had not heard anything about Paul yet, so it was the right time to engage them. Jesus had told Paul clearly what his plan for him was in Rome (23:11), and Paul wasted no time in testifying. Prayer: Father, thank you the encouragement of Christian fellowship and hospitality. Help me to be one quick to encourage others, and grateful to receive love. Help me to act on opportunities you present to me daily.
One Word: Give and receive encouragement