³⁰And when Paul wanted to go into the assembly, the disciples would not let him. ³¹Also some of the Asiarchs who were friends of his sent to him and repeatedly urged him not to venture into the theater.

The value of Christian fellowship cannot be overestimated. During Paul’s stay in Ephesus and due to the gospel’s reception, he made many friends in Asia, people who cared for him. Seeing the riot forming and two of the Christians being dragged into the theater, Paul naturally, like a protective parent, desired to go in and defend them. These were his spiritual brothers, and their predicament was a direct result of their partnership with him in the gospel. He felt responsible for them.

Yet the believers prohibited him from going in. They knew the people and culture of Ephesus, and they understood the situation well. Paul would not escape alive if he entered the riotous gathering. It would be easy to label his response as an impetuous, knee-jerk reaction, but we must be careful of such judgments. He was passionate for those travel companions whom he was mentoring. Paul was human just like the rest of us—his spiritual insights, his profound understanding, and the extremely important work God had assigned him did not undermine his human passions.

Some today equate the Christian lifestyle with asceticism, considering monkhood as the pinnacle of spirituality, rejecting all human passions in service of austere, abstemious isolation. Such was not the apostle Paul, one of the greatest servants of the Lord. He was a passionate man who acted in the service of Christian community.

Yet community goes both ways. Paul’s friends came to his rescue, preventing him from what his passions were dictating. The ones warning Paul were “Asiarchs,” the Greek term indicating they were officials (either religious or political) of Asia. The gospel had a far-reaching impact, even into the upper levels of Ephesian society! And God sent such friends to protect Paul from a more adverse result. In the following verses, there is no indication that Paul acted contrary to their advice, so we take it the apostle did not go into the assembly. Though Paul was driven in his personal mission—willing to face severe opposition and persecution and climb over any barrier to preach the gospel—he was not beyond listening to the counsel of Proverbs: “Without consultation, plans are frustrated, but with many counselors they succeed” (Prov. 15:22). How much more can we accomplish today when Christians act in fellowship, listening to and protecting and warning one another.

Lord, thank You for the fellowship of my brothers and sisters in Christ.