We found brethren there

And landing at Syracuse, we stayed three days. From there we circled round and reached Rhegium. And after one day the south wind blew; and the next day we came to Puteoli, where we found brethren, and were invited to stay with them seven days. And so we went toward Rome. And from there, when the brethren heard about us, they came to meet us as far as Appii Forum and Three Inns. When Paul saw them, he thanked God and took courage. – Acts 28.12-15

The trip to Rome was rough to say the list. The suffered calm seas where they could not move, storm, illness, lack of food, a shipwreck, and even a snake bite for Paul. They finally landed on the Italian peninsula and began their journey and passed through several towns. One day they cam to the town of Puteoli. There they found a wonderful blessing and surprise – ‘there we found brethren’ Paul writes.

Those words really touch my heart. I love the feeling when you are somewhere, anywhere, and you come across ‘the brethren.’ It may be a group of believers or maybe only one or two but it is always a joy in the dark world we live in.

We have not travelled a lot, but when we do the greatest joy is to find believers where we go. Have you ever been somewhere and meet someone and just ‘know’ that they were ‘brethren? I love it when that happens, I love it when there is just something about the family of God that we can often recognise each other. We we at one of the magnificent viewing points in the Wicklow Mountains one day when we saw a family coming up the hill. There was something about them, we chatted for a moment, and asked are you all Christians? They were and said they were going to ask the same. I was passing by a bus stop in Naas one day and a couple asked a question about the bus service. As we chatted that wife said ‘you’re a Christian, aren’t you?’ Mary was looking for cupcake papers in the supermarket one day and asked a worker from Poland where they were. His English was broken and he tried to help but suddenly said to Mary ‘you Christian?’ He eventually became a part of our church and we still have contact though they have moved way.

There is something about the family God. I can’t explain it – but one of the great joy of the family life is recognising another. I can’t imagine the joy Paul  and and other felt when they found these Christians after all they had been through. They stayed and fellowshipped for a whole week before they resumed their journey.

There is nothing quite like ‘finding brethren there.’