During their time in ‘Akká, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá was the shield for his beloved Father. He prepared the pilgrims to meet Bahá’u’lláh, met with public officials, managed the day-to-day affairs of the family and worked assiduously to make the lives of the Bahá'ís in ‘Akká as comfortable as possible. Much of the respect increasingly shown the Bahá'ís was the result of the sterling qualities manifested by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá.