The Companions

"...when a plot was formed against him by the Jews as he was about to set sail for Syria, he decided to return through Macedonia. And he was accompanied by Sopater of Berea, the son of Pyrrhus, and by Aristarchus and Secundus of the Thessalonians, and Gaius of Derbe, and Timothy, and Tychicus of Asia..." Acts 20: 4

Out of this group of companions, Timothy is the only one that is given a great deal of press in The Scriptures. Still, five more names are listed along with Timothy's and should not go unnoticed.

Paul had no death wish. When the Jews plotted against him, he could have easily walked into the trap. He chose to avoid it. If martyrdom awaited him, it would just have to wait.

From my experience in fraternity life at Baylor University, I pass on this piece of counsel. Everyone wants to march in the parade, but few are willing to build the float. From my friend, David Lane, I submit to the reader, "Success has a thousand fathers, but failure is an orphan." Both of these observations may seem a bit pessimistic about the human spirit, but in truth they are just realistic. Many want credit for a success, they just don't want to pay the price for it.

The Companions of Paul were men who had to know they were not marching in a victory parade, but they were more likely courting death, every step along the way. They had seen Paul beaten, jailed, mocked, scorned, stoned and threatened with more. They walked with him anyway. Companions, indeed.

The Wisdom of God is revealed through Solomon in Proverbs 18: 24 b. "There is a friend who sticketh closer than a brother." KJV

New International Version
One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

New Living Translation
There are "friends" who destroy each other, but a real friend sticks closer than a brother.

English Standard Version
A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

New American Standard Bible
A man of too many friends comes to ruin, But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

King James Bible
A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
A man with many friends may be harmed, but there is a friend who stays closer than a brother.

International Standard Version
A man with many friends can still be ruined, but a true friend sticks closer than a brother.

NET Bible
A person who has friends may be harmed by them, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
There are friends who are friends, and there is a friend that is closer than a brother.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Friends can destroy one another, but a loving friend can stick closer than family.

Jubilee Bible 2000
The man that has friends must show himself to be a friend, and there is a friend that sticks closer than a brother.

King James 2000 Bible
A man that has friends must show himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticks closer than a brother.

American King James Version
A man that has friends must show himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticks closer than a brother.

American Standard Version
He that maketh many friends doeth it to his own destruction; But there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.

Douay-Rheims Bible
A man amiable in society, shall be more friendly than a brother.

Darby Bible Translation
A man of many friends will come to ruin but there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.

English Revised Version
He that maketh many friends doeth it to his own destruction: but there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.

Webster's Bible Translation
A man that hath friends must show himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.

World English Bible
A man of many companions may be ruined, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

Young's Literal Translation
A man with friends is to show himself friendly, And there is a lover adhering more than a brother!

No matter how you say it, friends are rare. Solomon found one. Paul found six. If you are ever graced to find someone who will walk with you when people are plotting against you, thank God for them. They are not a dime a dozen. Paul paid a great deal more than a dime to find a half-dozen. He had the scars to prove he was a man worth following. The Companions had taken their share of hits, and stayed the course.

Jim Cymbala, pastor of the praying Brooklyn Tabernacle in New York City urges pastors to stop looking for sharp people to be their followers. He says, "Sharp people will cut you every time." Wise words.

"He was accompanied." This is the only time this word is used to describe this kind of specific action. It referred to one who was following behind, or beside another. It has the weight of a follower who is so close that they are clearly identified with the one who is in the lead. The Companions would not have to take a bullet for Paul, but before a rock hit him, it would have to bounce off them. Close enough.

Jesus saved his highest praise for a Roman Centurion who knew the difference between being "IN" authority and "UNDER" authority. The soldier knew that his power came from being under the authority of Rome. He could tell Jesus was under the authority of God. The Companion that wants to take all the credit for what God does through the leader reveals more about themselves than they want people to know.

Many times people associate with leaders in hopes that some of their "juice" will drip on them, and they can get through life without having to be squeezed themselves. These people are not life-giving, but life-sucking. When life gives their leader lemons, they won't help make lemonade. They will let the leader get squeezed, along with the lemons, and steal the credit for what comes out, and then ask the leader for more sugar.

The Companions of Paul had nothing to gain by following him. They had found all they needed in Jesus. With that they had something to offer Paul, companionship. Consistent companionship with Jesus leaves a person full of Jesus, not full of themselves. The fullness of Jesus satisfies a person's deepest need for acceptance, and turns their greed and need for more into a satisfaction that Jesus is enough.
What Jesus brings to them spills over onto those they follow. This is God's gift to leaders.

Paul needed The Companions to be full of Jesus, more than he needed them to follow him. The Companions needed to be full of Jesus, before they followed Paul. Jesus has what people need, and persistent prayer leads them to consistent companionship with Him. This kind of prayer prepares them to be The Companion who are life-giving, not life-sapping. TALK LESS! PRAY MORE!