|  | | April 16 | | | | | And they came and besought them, and brought them out, and desired them to depart out of the city. And they went out of the prison, and entered into the house of Lydia: and when they had seen the brethren, they comforted them, and departed. | | | | Acts 16:39-40 | | | | Notice that Paul and Silas comforted the brethren. This poses an interesting question: Up until the time Paul and Silas landed in prison, all they had seen in Macedonia were women. Who, then, were these brethren?
I suggest they were the prisoners who, in the dungeon with Paul, were converted by him when they heard his songs of praise. Paul’s mindset concerning himself was, ‘Go ahead. Beat me. Throw me in prison. I’ve been looking for some men to work with — now I can begin a jail ministry!’
But his mindset concerning others seemed to say, ‘I am a Roman citizen and I’ll be watching you, so you had better watch your step with my brothers,’ (Acts 16:38).
When you and I come to the point where we can say, ‘I don’t care what happens to me — but when it comes to my brothers and sisters, I’ll go to the wall for them and do whatever I can to cover and protect them,’ that’s maturity. Most of us protect ourselves and figure whatever happens to others is God’s will. Paul did just the opposite.
No wonder the Lord used him so mightily. |
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