Reader’s Guide: “The Word for Today” Wednesday, August 7, 2013 Read – 2 Corinthians 8:16-24 In our reading for today Paul provides us with a bit of information that is important as we consider Luke’s story in the book of Acts. Paul tells us that Titus had been appointed to accompany Paul as he delivers the offering to the church in Jerusalem. Readers of Acts have been puzzled that Luke does not mention Titus in this final journey of Paul to Jerusalem. Was that because Titus was a Gentile and would have had the potential to place Paul in a more negative light than Luke wants to portray? This is not the first time Luke has omitted Titus from the story. We may remember that in the book of Galatians when Paul is giving his account of the Jerusalem conference, an event that Luke also tells about in chapter 15, Paul tells us that Titus accompanied him then as well and that the leaders in Jerusalem did not require Titus to be circumcised. We can only wonder what is going on for Luke in the way he has told these stories. Was he unaware of Titus? Does he use a different name for Titus, perhaps Trophimus? Both of these speculations are doubtful. We are left to ponder Luke’s motive in dropping Titus from his story. As we turn back to Paul’s letter to the Corinthians it is important to note why Paul thought it was important that representatives of the churches accompany him to Jerusalem – it was to insure that everything was “above board” – “for we intend to do what is right not only in the Lord’s sight but in the sight of others” (2 Corinthians 8:21). All Christian behavior, especially regarding the use of money, needs to be at the highest ethical standard. We do well to heed Paul’s words.