Acts 21:16 There went with us also certain of the disciples of Caesarea, and brought with them one Mnason of Cyprus, an old disciple… The slight obscurity attaching to the rendering of this verse diminishes in nothing its interest and instructiveness. Whether the verse purports to say that the disciples of Caesarea journeying with Paul and his companions brought them to Mnason as their host, when they arrived at Jerusalem; or that, picking up Mnason himself at Caesarea, who afterwards became the host of Paul at Jerusalem, they rendered him also the help of their escort thither, - does not alter its special significance. This lies in the fact that Mnason's name, as soon as mentioned, is dispatched with two remarks, never again to be referred to in the sacred history; and yet those two remarks are felt to be worth more than two volumes. Wherein, then, we may ask, does their special significance hide? I. THEY ARE TIDINGS OF A MAN WHO HAS RECEIVED CHRISTIAN LIGHT, AND HAS BEEN FAITHFUL TO IT "EVEN TO OLD AGE?" II. THEY ARE TIDINGS OF A MAN WHO RECEIVED CHRISTIAN LIGHT AT THE RIGHT TIME TO RECEIVE IT - SO SOON AS IT CAME, AND WHEN HE WAS YOUNG. III. THEY THEREFORE FIX THE DESCRIPTION OF A MAN WHO MUST IN CONSEQUENCE HAVE NOW STORES OF THE BEST KIND OF EXPERIENCE AND STRENGTH. IV. THEY PROCLAIM A MAN WHOSE CHARACTER HAS A CERTAIN AND AN INDISPUTABLE VALUE, AS A SPEAKING TESTIMONY TO CHRIST HIMSELF AND HIS TRUTH. V. THEY MAKE A CERTAIN PROMISE BOTH FOR THE CHURCH AND THE WORLD - THE PROMISE OF A MAN WHOSE COMPANY, FRIENDSHIP, HOSPITALITY, AND VERY COUNTENANCE GIVEN TO A FELLOW-CREATURE WILL BE A HUNDREDFOLD PROFITABLE. - B. Parallel Verses KJV: There went with us also certain of the disciples of Caesarea, and brought with them one Mnason of Cyprus, an old disciple, with whom we should lodge. |
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