Overcoming hate

 by David Long

Read Acts 21:8. Most read over that verse and miss how such could happen (Paul staying in Phillip's house). Phillip was one of the seven chosen to help with the Grecian widows. Stephen was also one of the seven but Paul (then Saul) had killed him. Phillip had been run out of Jerusalem by Paul who was persecuting Christians. If any one had a reason to distrust Paul, it would have been Phillip. But now look at those two men. In Acts 21:8 you have Phillip helping the man who at one time hated him and Paul staying in the house of the man, he once would have killed. Now they both would lay down their lives for each other. How does that happen? Politics won't do it. No political party will do it. Man-made religions won't do it. Only the gospel of Christ does it!