Daily Devotional for Tuesday, April 4

Paul on the Way to Troas

And there accompanied him into Asia Sopater of Berea; and of the Thessalonians, Aristarchus and Secundus; and Gaius of Derbe, and Timotheus; and of Asia, Tychicus and Trophimus,” Acts 20:4

Traveling with Paul would have been quite eventful. His journeys were filled with heights and frights. The heights included hearing deep theological discussions and preaching, seeing people come to faith in Jesus and witnessing miracles firsthand. The frights of threats were from upset townsmen and the Jewish leaders who dogged Paul’s steps. Sopater, Aristarchus, Secundus, Gaius, Timothy, Tychicus, Trophimus, and Luke traveled with Paul for some time. These men were likely representing their churches with their part of the offering to the suffering saints in Jerusalem. Travel was long and hard and usually done in small bands. As Paul and company headed back to Jerusalem, they retraced their steps to skirt a death threat by some Jews then traveled in two groups to Troas.
Paul was able to spend the Feast of Unleavened Bread with the Philippian believers. When he and Luke set out for Troas, it took them twice as long as the same journey in the reverse direction in Acts 16, probably due to adverse winds.
This journey was Paul’s last active missionary journey. He communicated with the new churches from prison and continued to encourage and teach them, but this trip concluded his face-to-face contact with the many friends he made along the way. If you have ever taken a mission trip, you know the bond a mission team makes in their journey. Day after day, the group experiences joys and challenges, laughs and conflicts together. Throughout Paul’s ministry, he purposely worked alongside others. He invited others into his ministry and brought them along. He had several sons of the faith. These travel companions could have been more than church representatives. Some may have been called by God to further the kingdom. What better teacher and mentor than the apostle Paul?

THOUGHT: Who can you bring along to teach and mentor as you journey?

Kelli Reynolds