How can we apply the welcoming spirit of Acts 28:14 today? Setting the Scene Acts 28:14: “There we found some brothers who invited us to stay with them for seven days. And so we came to Rome.” Paul and his companions, weary from shipwreck and travel, meet believers in Puteoli who immediately offer lodging, food, and fellowship. That hospitable embrace is the Bible’s picture of how Christ’s family functions. Why This Moment Matters • Hospitality is not a side note; it is gospel living in action. • The welcome strengthens Paul for the final stretch to Rome, where he will testify before Caesar. • Scripture records it to model how the church should receive one another (Romans 12:13; 1 Peter 4:9). Timeless Principles Drawn from the Passage 1. Spontaneous generosity—no prerequisites, no long vetting process. 2. Shared identity in Christ outweighs ethnic, social, or economic differences. 3. Hospitality is more than housing; it is encouragement, provision, and partnership in the mission. Living Out the Spirit of Welcome Today • Open our homes regularly: invite church visitors, college students, single adults, missionaries on furlough. • Practice “table fellowship”: meals that include Scripture reading or testimony naturally turn dinner into ministry. • Create space on the calendar as well as in the house—plan margins so invitations can be genuine, not hurried. • Meet travelers’ needs: airport pickups, spare bedrooms, loaner vehicles, laundry facilities. • Form welcome teams at church: first-time guests should encounter smiling greeters, clear signage, and personal escorts to children’s areas and seats. • Extend beyond the building: deliver care packages to hospitals, provide transitional housing for refugees, offer tutoring for newly arrived families. • Train the next generation: involve children in setting the table, praying for guests, and hearing missionaries’ stories. Scriptural Reinforcements • Romans 15:7—“Therefore welcome one another, just as Christ also welcomed you, to the glory of God.” • Hebrews 13:2—“Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some have entertained angels without knowing it.” • Matthew 25:35—“I was a stranger and you welcomed Me.” • 3 John 5-8—Gaius is commended for sending travelers “on their way in a manner worthy of God.” Motivations That Keep Hospitality Joyful • Gratitude: we are recipients of God’s lavish welcome (Ephesians 2:19). • Witness: a warm, Christ-centered home preaches louder than many sermons. • Unity: shared meals dissolve barriers and knit hearts (Acts 2:46). • Reward: “Whoever refreshes others will be refreshed” (Proverbs 11:25). Overcoming Common Barriers • Limited space? Use parks, cafés, church fellowship halls, or schedule staggered visits. • Tight finances? Simple meals, potlucks, or coffee and dessert still convey love. • Personality differences? Pray for genuine affection (Philippians 1:8) and remember hospitality is obedience, not performance. • Fear of inconvenience? Recall that Christ left heaven’s glory to dwell with us (John 1:14). Finishing Thoughts The saints at Puteoli turned a port city stopover into a sanctuary of refreshment. When we open doors, share resources, and speak life-giving words, we mirror that same welcome and make the gospel visible in our day. |
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