And from thence we fetched a compass, and came to Rhegium: and after one day the south wind blew, and we came the next day to Puteoli, where we found brethren. Acts 28:13,14
The port city of Puzzuoli is on the southeast coast of Italy, some 250 km from Rome. In the time of the apostle Paul’s visit, as our text relates, it was known as Puteoli. The unflattering name means ‘to stink’, and was given to the city because of the nearby sulphur springs. The smell did not prevent Puteoli from being prosperous, though, because it had an excellent harbour. According to Bible-History.com, Puteoli was the great emporium for the Alexandrian grain ships, and other ships from all over the Roman world. It also was the main hub for goods exported from Campania, including blown glass, mosaics, wrought iron, and marble. The Roman naval base at nearby Misenum housed the largest naval fleet in the ancient world. Apart from the smell, it was a good town. Certainly Paul and his companions were glad to arrive there. But it was not the city’s prosperity or scenery or society that delighted them. No, it was the presence of a company of Christians. We know the feeling, don’t we?
The presence of other believers in Puteoli probably came as a surprise to Paul and his companions. The Christians in Puteoli must have heard about the missionary’s arrival by ship, and they made it a point of contacting him. They were also hospitable because they also made it a point of entreating Paul, and his Roman captors, to spend a week in the city. We are not told of all that happened during that week. But it would be hard to imagine Paul’s presence there without some Gospel meetings and without some ministry meetings with the saints in that city. And because they were there an entire week, it is fairly certain that Paul would have met with the local Assembly to break bread. How it must have lifted the heart of the faithful old missionary to have such a wonderful visit with the Lord’s people in an unexpected place! God also give us a thrill when we encounter Christians in unexpected places, or in when we visit someplace and gather with the local Christians. It doesn’t matter that we had never met those people before, or that their names are totally unknown to us. What matters is that they are the Lord’s people, and that we are brothers and sisters in Christ. There is a bond that is greater than any fraternities or links of earth, a bond that spans time and eternity, a bond that represents the love of Christ that has saved us and has made us one in Him. Sometimes, it’s a Christian who we bump into at a store or in a mall; or maybe a person who we identify as a Christian some place we happen to be. For example, we might encounter someone giving out Gospel tracts, or be greeted by a bright smile as we hand out a tract, and for a few minutes, we share sweet fellowship that lifts both of our souls.
Wherever we find brethren, we rejoice at the kindness of God in bringing us together. -Jim MacIntosh