Now the brothers and sisters from there had heard the news about us and had come to meet us as far as the Forum of Appius and the Three Taverns. When Paul saw them, he thanked God and took courage. (Acts 28:15)
As Paul and Luke were on their final stretch to Rome, they were enthusiastically met by the believers from the surrounding areas. Most of these believers probably knew of Paul only from his letter to the Romans, and so they never met him in person. But Luke records for us that when they heard Paul was passing by, they journeyed out of their way just to meet him. And when Paul saw them, “he thanked God and took courage” (28:15). These believers were the fruit of the gospel.
Paul never met any of these people, and yet the gospel of Jesus Christ was working powerfully in their lives. The word of God had increased over several decades of preaching the gospel, and these believers around Rome were the evidence of it flourishing (Acts 6:7, 12:24, 19:20). This appears to be a reoccurring theme that Luke wants his readers to understand in the Book of Acts, that the gospel is the power of God, and it will accomplish what God has set out to do (Rom. 1:16). So then, we can put our confidence in his gospel.
If you’re trying to reach out to a friend or coworker, don’t be afraid to put God’s word to work. Share one key verse or one short account with that person, and then declare the powerful truth from it. The gospel (which is God’s word) has the power that mere human rationale does not. It’s the gospel and God’s word that reaches the depths of our heart and soul (Heb. 4:12). This is what Paul experienced as he made his way to Rome as he was greeted by the believers. Because God’s word doesn’t return void, Christianity has become a global phenomenon, and not just a regional religious sect. So continue to put God’s word to work, and you’ll see the eternal-profitable return.