How does Acts 28:14 connect with Hebrews 13:2 on hospitality? The Two Key Verses Acts 28:14 – “There we found some brothers and were invited to stay with them for seven days. And so we came to Rome.” Hebrews 13:2 – “Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it.” What Happens in Acts 28:14? • Paul, after shipwreck and months of hardship, reaches Puteoli in Italy. • Local believers immediately “invite” (literally, “call alongside”) Paul and his companions. • They host the apostle for an entire week before his final march to Rome. • Their home becomes a place of rest, refreshment, and spiritual encouragement. Hebrews 13:2—A Standing Command • “Do not neglect” shows hospitality is not optional but ongoing. • “Strangers” covers both fellow believers we have not met and true outsiders. • The mention of “angels” recalls Genesis 18–19 (Abraham and Lot) and reminds us God often works unseen through ordinary hospitality. Connecting the Dots • The Puteoli believers obey Hebrews 13:2 years before it was even penned—proving God’s timeless expectation. • Paul arrived as a “stranger” to them; they welcomed him purely because he belonged to Christ (Galatians 6:10). • Their seven-day welcome strengthened Paul for the strategic witness he would soon bear in Rome (Acts 28:30-31). • Just as Abraham’s meal hosted angels, the Puteoli church unknowingly hosted the greatest missionary of the era, advancing God’s plan far beyond their coastal town. Broader Scriptural Thread • Romans 12:13 – “Share with the saints who are in need. Practice hospitality.” • 1 Peter 4:9 – “Show hospitality to one another without complaining.” • 3 John 5-8 – Gaius is praised for welcoming traveling servants of the gospel. • Matthew 25:35 – “I was a stranger and you invited Me in.” Christ counts every act of hospitality to His people as service to Himself. Why Hospitality Matters Today • It proves the reality of our faith (James 2:15-16). • It refreshes weary servants and fuels gospel advance, just as in Acts 28:14. • It knits believers together across backgrounds, fulfilling John 13:35. • It positions us to experience unexpected blessings—sometimes far greater than the cost of a meal or a spare room. Simple Ways to Live This Out 1. Keep space in your schedule and home for unplanned ministry moments. 2. Treat visiting believers as family the moment they walk through the door. 3. Partner with missionaries and traveling workers just as the Puteoli church did. 4. Remember: every welcome offered to God’s people is a welcome offered to Christ Himself. |
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