An Old Disciple, Acts 21

Verse 16: “certain of the disciples of Cæsarea, and brought with them one Mnason of Cyprus, an old disciple, with whom we should lodge.” Though Mnason was originally of Cyprus, he had a house or lodging in or near Jerusalem where the disciples could stay. The description “old disciple” might refer to his age, but could rather mean he had been a disciple for a long time.

Mnason accompanied a long line of many hospitable saints. Paul exhorted the Christians at Rome to be “distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality” (Romans 12:13). The Christians to whom Peter wrote needed to have “fervent charity among yourselves” and “use hospitality one to another.” By qualification, the bishops (elders, see Appendix J) must be given to hospitality (I Timothy 3:2; Titus 1:8). “Hospitality” (φιλοξενιαν, φιλοξενοι) is a friendly welcoming and kindness shown to guests, a generous cordiality extended to others. Christians demonstrate this again and again in the historical record of Acts. They fellowshipped together in their places; they travelled and stayed in our another’s homes as they did so. See Acts 1:13; 2:46; 9:19, 28, 43; 10:6, 48; 14:28; 15:33-34; 16:15, 34; 18:3, 20; 20:3, 6; 21:4, 7, 8-10, 17. Hospitality should resonate among members of the same spiritual family, and should not be forgotten toward strangers (III John, vs. 5-8). The Lord does not forget those who practice hospitality, even at the simplest level. “For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward” (Mark 9:41).

“…an old disciple…” Acts 21:16

“What is it then to be ‘an old disciple?’ Surely he is one that is eldest, in having learned, from the continued teachings of God the Holy Ghost, to think less of himself, and more and more of Jesus. He advanceth the farthest in this scriptural age, who is growing in grace, by growing in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. His every day’s experience brings him more acquainted with his own unworthiness, so as to endear the infinite merit of the Redeemer. He is truly “an old disciple,” who is old in this science, of being more out of love with himself, and more in love with Jesus. For it is impossible, in this progress of the divine life, but to make advances in this exact proportion; and as the blessed Spirit exalts Christ to the view, and brings him home to the heart, by so much our self-confidence lessens; and the more glorious he appears, the more lowly we become in our own eyes. This is one rule to ascertain the real age of a disciple.

“And there is another like it: as those who have long lived in a family, best know its government, and find themselves more at home in it; so the oldest disciples in Jesus’s household will best know how to improve a long and growing acquaintance with him, be coming to him for all they want, and making his glory the one great object of all their desire. And it will prove indeed that they are faithful to their Lord's interest, when they not only lay out every thing for his praise, but receive every thing that he lays out that it may be for his glory. My soul! what sayest thou to this statement of things, in respect of the real age of the believer in Jesus? Art thou ‘an old disciple’ of thy Lord?”

Robert Hawker (1753-1827)