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The scene is a graphic and touching one. Paul's nephew was taken with his great secret into the presence of the chief captain who, with the frankness and affability of a true gentleman — noticing no doubt the shyness of the youth for the first time in the presence of a man of rank — took him by the hand, drew him gently into a quiet corner, and having thus put him at his ease, invited his confidence. The conduct of this Roman aristocrat towards a young Jew is not without its bearing on the Church today. Let us take each act and draw out the lessons.

I. HE TOOK HIM BY THE HAND. Young men want taking by the hand, not by the hair, not by the neck, not by the shoulders. Understand this —

1. Literally. What an amount of good a little more hand shaking would do. It would be more effectual than many sermons and many prayers. Young men impervious to expostulation or appeal might easily be won by the kindly pressure of a hand. Yet how sadly seniors stand aloof, satisfied with a nod, or a "Good morning," or even with less. They are willing to put their hands anywhere rather than into those of their young brothers — ready to undertake all the work of the Church, which would lose nothing, but gain much, if some of it were entrusted to younger hands.

2. Metaphorically. To take one by the hand means —

(1)  Welcome.

(2)  Brotherliness.

(3)  Encouragement.

(4)  Confidence.These are all that young men want; let them be ungrudgingly rendered, and the Church of the next decade will have different results to show. The cry is, How to retain our young men? The answer is simply — Take them by the hand.

II. HE WENT ASIDE WITH HIM. It would do no harm, but much good, if young men were taken aside into —

1. The homes of the elders of the Church. Thousands of useful lives are thrown away through the friendlessness of young men plunged into city life. They know no one, they have nowhere to go, no one cares for them, and so they wander into the haunts of sin. What a blessing if their senior brethren would ask them home occasionally for a social hour!

2. The official meetings of the Church. They would then see its inner working, and thus be trained for more effective service. As a rule young men know nothing, and consequently care nothing, for the machinery of the Church, and so eventually lose all interest in its work.

III. HE ASKED HIM, WHAT IS THAT THOU HAST TO TELL ME? Young men should be asked —

1. About their temporal interests. This need not be done obtrusively or so as to excite suspicion of curiosity. But many a young man is yearning for someone to open a conversation which shall lead to a statement of difficulties, or a request for advice.

2. About their souls. How helpful to a youth when wandering into the ways of sin or on the brink of making the great decision, for some older brother to say, "Would you like to have a talk on religious matters?"

3. About the welfare of the Church. Young men sometimes fail to fall in with existing or projected schemes, because they have schemes of their own. The Church would do no harm if it were to draw them out, even though their projects should be declined.Lessons:

1. Young men are the hope of the Church — a trite saying but fatally disregarded.

2. Let the Church make the most of its young men.

(J. W. Burn.)

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KJV: And when Paul's sister's son heard of their lying in wait, he went and entered into the castle, and told Paul.

WEB: But Paul's sister's son heard of their lying in wait, and he came and entered into the barracks and told Paul.