Daily Devotional Monday 25th May 2020
by William Moody
Acts 18:18–28
Paul Returns to Antioch
18 After this, Paul stayed many days longer and then took leave of the brothers1 and set sail for Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila. At Cenchreae he had cut his hair, for he was under a vow. 19 And they came to Ephesus, and he left them there, but he himself went into the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews. 20 When they asked him to stay for a longer period, he declined. 21 But on taking leave of them he said, “I will return to you if God wills,” and he set sail from Ephesus.
22 When he had landed at Caesarea, he went up and greeted the church, and then went down to Antioch. 23 After spending some time there, he departed and went from one place to the next through the region of Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples.
Apollos Speaks Boldly in Ephesus
24 Now a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was an eloquent man, competent in the Scriptures. 25 He had been instructed in the way of the Lord. And being fervent in spirit,2 he spoke and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus, though he knew only the baptism of John. 26 He began to speak boldly in the synagogue, but when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately. 27 And when he wished to cross to Achaia, the brothers encouraged him and wrote to the disciples to welcome him. When he arrived, he greatly helped those who through grace had believed, 28 for he powerfully refuted the Jews in public, showing by the Scriptures that the Christ was Jesus.
(ESV)
Paul travels on. This was the end of his second missionary journey and the beginning of his third. One of his main works was to strengthen believers (v23). Evangelism has to be followed up by good teaching.
We also read here of Aquila and Priscilla being involved in helping a believer called Apollos (v24-25). Apollos’ strengths included a thorough knowledge of the Old Testament scriptures, he had instruction in the truth about the Lord Jesus and he spoke with great fervour.
How do you measure up to these qualities? Pray about this.
Apollos had a weakness in his knowledge. He had been converted either through John the Baptist or one of John’s disciples (v25b). He had not known the benefit of the fuller teaching by Jesus and His apostles. Aquila and Priscilla recognised this weakness and sought to help (v26). The result was a better equipped preacher (v27-28).
Like Apollos have you a teachable spirit and like Aquila and Priscilla are you willing to help teach others?
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