August 24, 2014
Morning Service

Acts 18

 

            As children of God we have many questions to ask our Heavenly Father.  The Apostle Paul said, “1Co 13:12  For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

Now I know in part, but soon I will understand it all.  Until that time comes God has given to us what we need to be pleasing to him, and walk as obedient children.  The Bible.  It is our responsibility as Ministers of the Gospel to continually point people to the Lamb of God Who takes away the sins of the world.  One way we do this is to encourage people to read their Bibles.  The Bible reveals to you Who Jesus Christ really is.  It also helps us to understand what His expectations are for our lives.

 

Remember the words of encouragement:

1.       Heb 11:6  But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

2.      Rom 10:17  So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

So, the more we hear, and read the Word of God the greater our faith will be.

 

This is why as we study the Book of Acts, and see the early church in action, this should build our faith, and give us great confidence in our relationship with God.  We have already seen 7 distinct examples of people becoming Christians.  Today we will see the 8^th example.  Paul told the Corinthian church, while instructing them to flee from the things of the world, “these things are for us an example”.  God expects us to learn from the examples that the Bible gives us.

 

Today we are ready for chapter 18:

 

Act 18:1-28  After these things Paul departed from Athens, and came to Corinth; 

·         As Paul’s custom was, in every city he would find a synagogue and preach that Jesus was the Christ.  Some believed, and some didn’t.  And the Jews that didn’t would stir up trouble for Paul, and his company, and he would have to leave town.

·         In Athens Paul had a wonderful opportunity to tell them about Almighty God, and that how Jesus would be the Judge of all mankind.  He also told them of Jesus’s resurrection.  This was always the great point of interest.  This just wasn’t being done.

·         And now Paul is entering Corinth.  Now Corinth was the most prominent city in Greece.  A large city, a wealthy city, and wholly given to worshipping the goddess Venus.

(2)  And found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, lately come from Italy, with his wife Priscilla; (because that Claudius had commanded all Jews to depart from Rome:) and came unto them.  (3)  And because he was of the same craft, he abode with them, and wrought: for by their occupation they were tentmakers.  (4)  And he reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks.  (5)  And when Silas and Timotheus were come from Macedonia, Paul was pressed in the spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus was Christ.  (6)  And when they opposed themselves, and blasphemed, he shook his raiment, and said unto them, Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean: from henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles.  (7)  And he departed thence, and entered into a certain man's house, named Justus, one that worshipped God, whose house joined hard to the synagogue.  (8)  And Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house; and many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized. 

·         And here is our 8^th example of people becoming Christians. 

·         And many of the Corinthians hearing, believed, and were baptized. 

·         Paul will end up writing two letters to this church. 

·         Clement, a leader in the Church at Rome, also wrote a letter to this church.

(9)  Then spake the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision, Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace:  (10)  For I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city.  (11)  And he continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.  (12)  And when Gallio was the deputy of Achaia, the Jews made insurrection with one accord against Paul, and brought him to the judgment seat,  (13)  Saying, This fellow persuadeth men to worship God contrary to the law.  (14)  And when Paul was now about to open his mouth, Gallio said unto the Jews, If it were a matter of wrong or wicked lewdness, O ye Jews, reason would that I should bear with you:  (15)  But if it be a question of words and names, and of your law, look ye to it; for I will be no judge of such matters.  (16)  And he drave them from the judgment seat.  (17)  Then all the Greeks took Sosthenes, the chief ruler of the synagogue, and beat him before the judgment seat. And Gallio cared for none of those things.  (18)  And Paul after this tarried there yet a good while, and then took his leave of the brethren, and sailed thence into Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila; having shorn his head in Cenchrea: for he had a vow. 

·         We find that this Sosthenes, later becomes a Christian, and is with Paul when he writes to the Church at Corinth.

·         Now Paul is going back into Syria where his home fellowship is, Antioch.

·         Much speculation concerning his vow, and the shaving of his head.

(19)  And he came to Ephesus, and left them there: but he himself entered into the synagogue, and reasoned with the Jews.  (20)  When they desired him to tarry longer time with them, he consented not;  (21)  But bade them farewell, saying, I must by all means keep this feast that cometh in Jerusalem: but I will return again unto you, if God will. And he sailed from Ephesus. 

·         The feast, probably the Passover.

·         I will return, he does, and spends 3 years with them.

(22)  And when he had landed at Caesarea, and gone up, and saluted the church, he went down to Antioch.  (23)  And after he had spent some time there, he departed, and went over all the country of Galatia and Phrygia in order, strengthening all the disciples. 

·         Galatia, and Phrygia are in Turkey, so Paul has left Syria, and now is in Turkey.

(24)  And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures, came to Ephesus.  (25)  This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John.  (26)  And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly.  (27)  And when he was disposed to pass into Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him: who, when he was come, helped them much which had believed through grace:  (28)  For he mightily convinced the Jews, and that publickly, shewing by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ.

·         Apollos, mighty in the scriptures, knowing only the baptism of John.  John’s baptism was repentance unto the coming of the Messiah, and the Christian baptism is for washing away past sins, unto the receiving of the Holy Spirit, in the name, or authority of Jesus Christ.

·         We will see this more clearly in the chapters to come.

This chapter shows us the actions, and travels of Paul.  The 8^th conversion example, and the introduction to Apollos.  It also speaks of Ephesus, a city in which Paul will write another letter to.

 

Through much danger, and hardships is this gospel message being delivered.  Others have suffered so that we could have this knowledge of salvation that is for all mankind.  Let us not take it lightly, but thankfully.

 

Almighty God, thank you for the families of these children.  Help us to recognize that only by serving You will we have happiness in this life.  And thank You for the Scriptures.