Sons of Encouragement

by Francine Rivers

  One confessed to committing murder. Paul said he had also, and told how God had forgiven, reclaimed, and set him on a new path.

  Another declared his innocence. Once I had thought myself innocent and above reproach. I told him all men are sinners in need of grace.

  An earthquake came around midnight and shook the foundations of the prison house. Stone grated against stone, and dust billowed around us. Men screamed in fear. The prison doors burst open. The chains around our ankles fell off as though unlocked by invisible hands.

  “What’s happening?” Men cried out, confused, afraid to hope.

  “It is the Lord’s doing!” Paul answered. “Stay as you are. Only trust in Him!”

  Running steps approached, and I caught sight of the jailer. He looked around frantically, saw opened cells in horror, and drew his sword. When he removed his breastplate, we knew what he meant to do. Death by his own sword would be preferable to crucifixion for dereliction of duty. He thought we had all escaped!

  “Stop!” Paul shouted. “Don’t kill yourself! Do no harm to yourself! No one has left! We are all here!”

  Lowering his sword, the jailer shouted for torches. Guards ran toward our cell, filling it with torchlight. The jailer fell on his knees before us.

  “Get up!” Paul told him. “We’re not gods that you should worship us. We came with a message of salvation.”

  A prisoner called out. “They speak of a god who died and rose again.”

  “And still lives,” another joined in.

  “Come out of here!” The jailer beckoned, shaking, his eyes wide with fear. “Come out!”

  He led us out of the prison and took us to his house in the compound. He called for water, salve, and bandages. A woman hovered, several children clutching at her. She kept her arm around them as she spoke to the jailer. “I feared for you, my husband. The gods are angry. They shook the foundations of our house!”

  “It’s all right now, Lavinia. Hush! These men serve a god of great power.”

  “He is the only God!” Paul said. “There is no other.”

  The jailer stared at us. “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”

  “Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ,” Paul told him, “and you will be saved.”

  I smiled at the woman and children. “Along with everyone in your household.”

  “The earthquake that brought your freedom is proof of His great power.” The jailer took the basin of water from a servant and washed our wounds himself. “Tell me about this God who can open prison doors and remove chains.”

  The jailer—whose name, we learned, was Demetrius—and his family believed everything we told them. We baptized them. Not even a dungeon could shut out the light of Jesus Christ!

  Food was prepared, and we broke bread together.

  “How can I return you to the prison when you’ve brought us life? I will send word to your friends. I’ll get you out of the city. They can meet you with supplies. . . .”

  For a moment, I was tempted. Thankfully, Paul declined. “We will not flee. We obey the law. God can rescue us from the false accusations that put us in prison.”

  Guards took us back to our cell.

  A few hours later, Demetrius returned. “I sent word to the magistrates and told them what happened last night, of the earthquake. They felt it, too. When I told them about the cell doors opening and your shackles falling away, they said to let you go. You are free to leave Philippi.”

  “Free to leave?” I said. “Or ordered to leave?”

  “They want you out of the city.”

  Disappointment filled me. We had accomplished so much. But there was still so much to do. The Lord had saved this man and his household, and now, unknown to him, Satan was using him to silence us.

  Paul put his hands on his knees. “We’re not leaving!”

  “You have no choice!” Guards waited outside to escort us out of the city.

  “They have publicly beaten us without a trial and put us in prison—and we are Roman citizens. So now they want us to leave secretly? Certainly not! Let them come themselves to release us!”

  Demetrius blanched. “You’re Romans? You should have said something!”

  I smiled wryly. “They never gave us the chance.”

  Demetrius sent the message. He returned with the officials. The man who had ordered us flogged stood pale-faced with fear of retribution. “I beg your forgiveness. Had we known you were Roman citizens, we would never have allowed anyone to lay hands on you let alone seen you beaten in the marketplace!”

  “Please believe us!”

  “You judged us without trial, based on false accusations,” Paul said. “And now you banish us from Philippi.”

  “No, no, you misunderstand us!” The chief magistrate spread his hands. “Crispus, Pontus, and the others swayed me with their accusations. They are still furious over their slave girl. And they have cause. The girl is worthless now.”

  What would happen to the poor girl? I wondered. “If she’s worthless, tell her owners to sell her to Lydia, the merchant who sells purple cloth.” She would free the girl.

  “There will be trouble if you remain in Philippi,” said another.

  They insisted. “We cannot promise your safety if you remain here.”

  “We accept your apology,” Paul told them.

  “And you will leave.” Clearly, they wanted us gone as soon as possible.

  Paul nodded. I wanted to argue, but he gave a look that silenced me. “As soon as we meet with others of our faith.”

  We went to Lydia’s house, where we found Luke and Timothy. They had been praying all night. “God has answered your prayers,” I said, laughing despite the discomfort of my wounds.

  Luke checked the dressing. “More needs to be done.” When he added salt to prevent infection, I passed out.

  Paul roused before I did and asked that the believers gather. When they all arrived, we gave them what instructions we could in the little time we had. “Be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power,” Paul said.

  I promised we would write to them.

  Paul and I, with Luke and Timothy, left Philippi late that afternoon.

  Of all the churches I helped plant over the years, the Philippian believers suffered the greatest hardships. Some lost their lives; many, their homes and businesses. Yet, they remained steadfast. Though impoverished by persecution, God made them rich in faith and love.

  May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ continue to sustain them until the day Jesus returns.

  FIVE

  We traveled through Amphipolis and Apollonia and on to Thessalonica. We found a synagogue and stayed with Jason, a Jew who had accepted Christ in Jerusalem years before during Pentecost. We did not want to be a burden to him. Paul found work as a tentmaker; I wrote letters and documents. Every Sabbath, we went to the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews. We showed them proofs through the Scriptures that Jesus is the Messiah of God, the Christ whom God sent to fulfill the Law and ransom us from sin and death, but few believed.

  The greatest number of new believers came from among the God-fearing Greeks who followed the teachings of the Torah. They embraced Christ with zeal and spread word through the city about Jesus. Many Jews became incensed as the number of believers grew. Finding troublemakers in the agora, they formed a mob and descended upon Jason’s house, expecting to find Paul and me there. Paul worked just outside the city, and I was off somewhere helping an official write a letter. So they grabbed Jason along with a few others and dragged these poor men before the city authorities.

  It happened just as it had in Philippi!

  They accused Jason and the other believers they’d seized of causing chaos, when it was they who stirred the city into confusion. They claimed we taught Jesus was a king like Caesar and that we encouraged the people to rebel against Rome!

  I found friends of my father and arranged for bond to be paid. Jason and the others were set free. But the trouble was far from over.

  Jaso
n insisted Paul and I leave the city. “The Jews are intent upon killing Paul. They despise you, too, Silas, but see you as a Greek. They see Paul as a traitor to his race and a priest of apostasy. Every word he speaks is blasphemy to their ears, and they will stop at nothing to kill him if he remains here. You must go. Now!”

  “I’ll go with you,” Timothy said, packed and ready.

  “You will stay here with Luke.” Paul remained adamant despite Timothy’s plea. “We will meet later.” I knew Paul feared for the boy and did not want to put him in danger, and he entrusted him to Luke.

  We left under cover of darkness and headed for Berea. We went straight to the synagogue there. I expected more trouble, but we found the Berean Jews open-minded and open of heart. They listened and then examined the Scriptures to see if what we said was true. The body of Christ grew rapidly in Berea as Jews and prominent Greeks, both men and women, embraced Christ.

  Luke and Timothy arrived, eager to help. On their heels came some of the Thessalonican Jewish leaders, who had taken such offense to our teaching. They intended to destroy the church. “You must head south,” the Berean believers told us.

  Paul did not want to leave. “We cannot abandon these lambs, Silas.”

  I feared for his life. Luke and Timothy joined in my efforts to persuade him, but Paul protested. “It is stubbornness and pride that brings these Thessalonicans after me again. I will not give in to them.”

  “Is that not pride speaking, Paul?” Harsh words, I knew, but sometimes that was the only way to get through to Paul. “Do not give sin an opportunity. If we leave, they will disperse, thinking this flock cannot survive without a shepherd.”

  “Will they?”

  “The seed has taken root in them, Paul. They know the truth and the truth has set them free. The Holy Spirit and the Scriptures will guide them. We must go for their sake as well as yours.”

  The more difficult parting took place at the coast. We had only enough money for two passages to Athens. “You’ve been ill. Luke must go with you.”

  “You know the respect and love I have for Luke, Silas, but I chose you.”

  “The wound on your back continues to fester. You need a physician more than a coworker.”

  “I’ll be fine!”

  “Yes, you will, with the proper care God wants you to have.”

  “But—”

  I lost patience. “Don’t argue! Why must you always argue, even with those who believe as you do! Now, bridle your tongue, and get on that boat!”

  He laughed. I was immediately ashamed at my loss of temper. “There are other lost sheep, Paul. Think of them. And don’t forget God called you to be His chosen instrument to bear His name before the Gentiles and kings and people of Israel. You cannot remain here and let them kill you. Kings, Paul! That’s what the Lord told Ananias! Perhaps one day you’ll speak before Caesar, and God willing, the emperor will listen. You must go now. God wants it so!”

  He wept.

  I embraced him. “You are by far the more persuasive preacher among us.” I did not speak from flattery. When I drew back, I gripped his arms. “Your life must not end here.”

  “What of you and Timothy?”

  “We’ll go back to Berea and live quietly. We will teach and encourage our brothers and sisters and join you later.”

  Paul embraced Timothy. The boy wept.

  “Come, Paul!” Luke said. “We must go!”

  I held firm to Timothy’s shoulder as the two men boarded the ship. “God will watch over him, Timothy. We’ll stay until they leave the harbor. Just in case our good friend decides to jump ship.”

  Timothy gave a broken laugh. “He might. He worries about me.”

  “You must learn to stand without him, Timothy. He is called to spread the Good News. Others are called to remain behind and teach.”

  He looked up at me. “Not yet.”

  “Soon.” God had told me so.

  Life would never be easy for Paul.

  Nor for anyone who traveled with him.

  While we waited for word from Paul and Luke, Timothy and I found work to support ourselves and met with believers each evening. I taught; Timothy encouraged.

  We received frequent letters from Paul and Luke about their progress in Athens. Our friend had not gone into hiding.

  “I spoke in the synagogues, but the Athenian Jews have hearts of stone. I now preach in the public square, where people are more willing to listen.”

  But Athens grieved his spirit.

  “I cannot turn right or left without coming face-to-face with an idol that promotes debauchery and licentious behavior. The people flock to these gods.”

  He met a few Epicurean and Stoic philosophers in the marketplace.

  “Athenians crave new ideas, and the message of Christ intrigues them. They invited me to speak on the Areopagus before the council. I went, praying the Lord would give me the words to reach the hearts of these people. God answered my prayer when I saw an altar with the inscription, ‘To an Unknown God.’ Jesus is the Unknown God. All but a few thought me a babbler proclaiming a strange deity. They laughed when I told them of Jesus’ resurrection. Yet, a few are saved. You will meet Dionysius when you come. He is a member of the council. Another believer is Damaris, a woman of good reputation. We hold meetings in Dionysius’s house daily. He lives near the Areopagus.”

  The next letter came from Luke.

  “We have moved south to Corinth.”

  He did not say why, but I imagine Paul was driven out of town again, either by the Jews or members of the council.

  “We met two Jews expelled from Italy by Emperor Claudius’s edict. Priscilla and Aquila are tentmakers and have invited Paul to join in their business. I am staying with them as well. Paul is exhausted, but I cannot stop him from working. When he isn’t sewing hides together, he is in the synagogue debating with the Jews and Greeks. He needs help. I am a doctor, not an orator. Come as soon as you can. We have great need of both you and Timothy.”

  I had earned barely enough for my passage, but when the Bereans heard of Paul’s need, they raised funds to pay for Timothy’s passage. Timothy wrote a beautiful statement of faith to encourage them. “If we die with Him, we will also live with Him. If we endure hardship, we will reign with Him. If we deny Him, He will deny us. If we are unfaithful, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny who He is.” I made a copy to give to Paul.

  Later, Paul used these same words to encourage Timothy when he was shepherd to the flock in Ephesus, a place of such evil practices we all thought it the throne of Satan himself.

  Timothy’s words encourage me now.

  We all must face persecution because of the evil that grips this world. Yet, Jesus Christ is Lord! I know this: our future is secure! I know this, too: Christ reigns in our hearts, minds, souls. Our lives are living testimonies of the truth of Jesus Christ, crucified, buried, and raised.

  One day, Jesus will return, and the days of tribulation will be over.

  Come, Lord Jesus. Come soon.

  “Can you not rest awhile, Silas?”

  His heart leaped at the sound of Diana’s voice. He turned and saw her in the doorway. “What are you doing here?”

  “Epanetus sent me.” She looked embarrassed. “I don’t know why he thought I might be able to get you to leave this room.”

  “Is Curiatus with you?”

  “He’s in the garden.”

  Silas put the reed pen in its case and rose.

  “Are you in pain?” She came a step closer.

  He held up his hand. “No. I get stiff from sitting so long.”

  “Sitting too long isn’t good for anyone, Silas.”

  The caring in her voice made his heart drum. He sought a way to build walls. “I’m old.”

  “You are no older than my husband would have been had he lived.”

  He looked at her then. There had been no wistfulness in her voice, no sorrow. “How long ago did he die?”

  “Five years.”
/>   They looked at each other for a long moment, silent. She gave a soft gasp. He felt the heat climb into his face. “I’m sorry,” he said roughly.

  She held his gaze.

  He swallowed hard and avoided her gaze. “We should join the others.”

  It was an easy voyage to Athens, though I, not being much of a sailor, spent most of it with my head over the gunwales.

  We met Priscilla and Aquila and liked them immediately. They had accepted Christ within hours of meeting Paul in the synagogue. “Paul is very persuasive.” They proved good friends to their mentor.

  Luke returned to writing his history and giving care to those in need, especially Paul, who suffered chronic pain. The beatings had taken a toll on his body, and his vision was impaired. He could no longer write, except in large letters. “I need a secretary now more than ever,” he told me. I was honored to serve in that capacity.

  Timothy quickly found work in Corinth, as did I. We made enough to support ourselves and Paul. This proved a great blessing, for Paul was able to dedicate himself to preaching. We assisted him by instructing those who accepted Christ.

  Letters arrived from Thessalonica, filled with attacks against Paul’s integrity and the message we preached. Several beloved brothers had been killed for their faith in Christ, and their friends and relatives now questioned Paul’s teachings. They had expected the Lord to come before anyone died. A few took advantage of the confusion, and proclaimed Paul a liar who preached only for profit.

  I had never seen Paul so hurt by accusations. How he grieved! I was more angry than Paul. Who taught with more risk to their lives than Paul? No one!

  Tears streamed down his cheeks. “Such is the work of Satan!”

  I felt defeated. All our work! All our prayers! The converts forgot all the sound teaching and listened to lies!

  “We must go back and confront these false teachers before they turn our brothers and sisters away from Christ!”

  I felt like flotsam, moving back and forth on the tide. If Paul wanted to go, I would go. If Paul wanted to stay, I would stay. I had come on this journey to stand beside him no matter the risk. If left to myself, I might have gotten on the first ship sailing for Caesarea!