Security

When Paul travelled up to Jerusalem for the last time with an offering from the Gentile churches to support the church in Jerusalem, he took eight men with him (Acts 20:4-6).

• Sopater of Berea
• Aristarchus of Thessalonica
• Secundus of Thessaloncica
• Gaius of Derbe
• Timothy
• Tychicus
• Trophimus
• Luke.

I don’t think that they were there for the glory. Rather, he was carrying a significant amount of money, most likely in gold coins. This made it a dangerous journey.

At the time, there was no police protection. If someone beat Paul up, and took his coins, there was no police force to track them down and restore what was stolen. The money so carefully collected would be gone forever.

Paul took eight men with him for protection, not so he could beat up the potential thief, but to provide weight of numbers for safety. When several people stand together in unity, praying for protection, it would be a bold person that would take them on.

More at Defence and War.