What happens when persistence meets resistance? In Acts 18, Paul transitions from Athens to Corinth and eventually to Ephesus. Along the way, he encounters significant tension while preaching to the Jews in Corinth, leading to his bold decision to focus on the Gentiles.
We also take a detailed look at Apollos, an influential early Christian teacher mentioned in 1 Corinthians. Despite having limited knowledge of Jesus, his fervent faith and teaching prowess are undeniable. Learn how Priscilla and Aquila's gentle mentorship transforms Apollos' understanding and effectiveness, showcasing early church practices of correction and accountability.
The letters he later writes to the Corinthians and Ephesians stem from his deep connections and experiences in these cities, providing essential context for our study.
In Corinth, Paul faces tension as he preaches the message of Jesus to the Jews, who largely reject it. This leads Paul to declare his intention to focus on the Gentiles, symbolized by shaking off his garments. This act resonates with the earlier Gospel instructions about shaking the dust off one's feet when a town rejects the Gospel. Paul's response highlights a powerful lesson for us today: the importance of sharing the message but also recognizing when it’s time to move on when faced with outright rejection.
Paul's journey introduces us to Priscilla and Aquila, a dynamic husband-and-wife ministry team who significantly support his work. They meet in Corinth, where they share their trade as tentmakers and collaborate in spreading the Gospel. Their influence extends beyond Paul as they later mentor Apollos, a learned but incomplete teacher of the scriptures. This partnership underscores the value of collaborative ministry and the crucial role both men and women play in God's work.
The chapter also introduces Apollos, a passionate and knowledgeable teacher who initially only knows of John's baptism. Priscilla and Aquila discreetly guide him, expanding his understanding of Jesus' life and teachings. This mentorship and Apollos' receptive spirit illustrate the importance of humility and the willingness to accept correction. As believers, embracing guidance and deepening our understanding can greatly enhance our ministry's effectiveness. Acts 18 reminds us of the interconnectedness in the early Church and encourages us to support and learn from one another in our spiritual journeys.
What happens when persistence meets resistance? In Acts 18, Paul transitions from Athens to Corinth and eventually to Ephesus. Along the way, he encounters significant tension while preaching to the Jews in Corinth, leading to his bold decision to focus on the Gentiles.
We also take a detailed look at Apollos, an influential early Christian teacher mentioned in 1 Corinthians. Despite having limited knowledge of Jesus, his fervent faith and teaching prowess are undeniable. Learn how Priscilla and Aquila's gentle mentorship transforms Apollos' understanding and effectiveness, showcasing early church practices of correction and accountability.
The letters he later writes to the Corinthians and Ephesians stem from his deep connections and experiences in these cities, providing essential context for our study.
In Corinth, Paul faces tension as he preaches the message of Jesus to the Jews, who largely reject it. This leads Paul to declare his intention to focus on the Gentiles, symbolized by shaking off his garments. This act resonates with the earlier Gospel instructions about shaking the dust off one's feet when a town rejects the Gospel. Paul's response highlights a powerful lesson for us today: the importance of sharing the message but also recognizing when it’s time to move on when faced with outright rejection.
Paul's journey introduces us to Priscilla and Aquila, a dynamic husband-and-wife ministry team who significantly support his work. They meet in Corinth, where they share their trade as tentmakers and collaborate in spreading the Gospel. Their influence extends beyond Paul as they later mentor Apollos, a learned but incomplete teacher of the scriptures. This partnership underscores the value of collaborative ministry and the crucial role both men and women play in God's work.
The chapter also introduces Apollos, a passionate and knowledgeable teacher who initially only knows of John's baptism. Priscilla and Aquila discreetly guide him, expanding his understanding of Jesus' life and teachings. This mentorship and Apollos' receptive spirit illustrate the importance of humility and the willingness to accept correction. As believers, embracing guidance and deepening our understanding can greatly enhance our ministry's effectiveness. Acts 18 reminds us of the interconnectedness in the early Church and encourages us to support and learn from one another in our spiritual journeys.
Contact us at godsplanyourpart@gmail.com Thanks so much for listening to the show. We'll See you tomorrow. -Ryan and Jenny
Speaker 1:
Hey everyone, welcome to God's Plan, your Part, year 2, where this year we're reading through and studying the entire New Testament one chapter at a time. Thanks again for joining us in discovering God's Plan and your part in it.
Speaker 2:
Today we're looking at Acts, chapter 18. Essentially, paul is on quite a journey here. He's going to leave Athens, he'll end up in Corinth, he's in Corinth for some time and then he's going to go to Ephesus. Both Corinth and Ephesus end up getting pretty personal letters 1 and 2 Corinthians, as well as the book of Ephesians. So that is helpful context for what we're covering in these chapters today.
Speaker 1:
So some things that are sticking out to me in this chapter. There's obviously a little bit of tension that is rising with them being in Corinth. Paul is essentially telling the Jews that are there the message of Jesus. It's obviously, as you might imagine, not received super well, and Paul says something that really catches my attention. That was probably one of the first things that jumped out at me. In verse 6, he shook his garments and said to them your blood be on your own heads. I am innocent. From now I will go on to the Gentiles. So if you remember, back when we were in the gospels, there were several instances.
Speaker 2:
I think, one specifically is he sends out like the 72. He sends out the 12, then he sends out the 72. Right.
Speaker 1:
There's an instance in Luke where they talk about that. I think Matthew is also an instance where they talk about that, but it's essentially the same thing as shaking the dust off of your feet from any town that rejects you with the gospel message that you're bringing. And so it was really interesting to me that Paul is actually following that same exact instruction and he's just like listen, shaking off my clothes, like I'm done with you, guys. You've heard the message and if you, if you don't accept it, you don't accept God, I can't like it's not my fault if you, if you don't listen to what I'm saying. And I think that is like really powerful to us today, because I think there's like sometimes we get like a person in our mind that we're like I'm gonna win him over and it's like we will be Jesus to them, yeah and I think there's.
Speaker 1:
I think there's definitely an important part of like praying for people and seeking the lost. I think that's very important. However, there are times too when it's like, oh man, like they're just not coming to Jesus, they're not whatever. And I think there is times too when it's like, oh man, like they're just not coming to Jesus, they're not whatever. And I think there is a point when people like outright reject what you're saying, like God's not for me, I'm not doing this, but it's like I think there's almost a freedom in what Jesus was teaching too. Like you tell them, like you have a responsibility to do that, but if they reject your message, they reject me. So like shake the dust off and continue on.
Speaker 1:
And I think the Holy Spirit also does work too in the hearts of people who he has called and he will work in their heart. It's never what we do, it's always what he does. And if there is a prompting of the Holy Spirit, then, yes, they more than likely might come back and ask questions later. But the idea of just like it is not fully my responsibility to like make or break someone's eternity. It's their choice, not mine.
Speaker 2:
Ultimately, it is God that calls people to himself. And actually even in this chapter, God reveals to Paul that many will be called by his name in the city, and Paul has not even seen the fruits of that at this point in the story. He doesn't actually know that that will be the case, but God tells him hey, there's a lot of people in this city that belong to me. You can't change that.
Speaker 1:
Well, and he says like he has a vision, actually, after this instance happens. He's like listen, don't be afraid, don't stop doing what you're doing, like I will protect you and don't be fearful, because there are many people here who actually do believe. You just kind of have to, you have to find them. And so I think that's actually really encouraging as well. Um, because I think if I would have been opposed and reviled, like he was kind of like flying solo a little bit here, I would be very, I don't know, like super defeated, like I wouldn't want to keep doing this, but continuing to do what God instructs and then also looking for those fellow believers whom he will eventually run into and find.
Speaker 2:
So also when he comes into the city of Corinth he meets Priscilla and Aquila, who become kind of like a husband and wife ministry team that are pretty significant to the work of Paul, like he relies on them a lot. They're accomplishing a lot for the gospel. It appears that they are originally from Italy, from around Rome, and the emperor Claudius has kicked out all of the believers out of Rome, so now they are dispersed and so they are here in Corinth. Paul meets them in Corinth. Paul actually lives with them for a time because they are also tent makers, apparently, from what the chapter says, and they work together and they are actually very influential to Paul's ministry and they're actually pretty influential to other's ministry and they're actually pretty influential to other people's ministries, which we'll get to here in just a second. We'll talk about Apollos towards the end of the chapter. But it is worth mentioning that this is a husband and wife team, so this is like a man and a woman that are working hard to spread the gospel.
Speaker 2:
God is using men and women together to spread the message of the gospel and that is an important thing to recognize and call out. It is not only men who are doing things for the glory of God. At this point in time I feel like even to recognize that is a little bit like it is obvious from the text and it's been obvious like since we've been through the gospels. Like it is obvious from the text and it's been obvious like since we've been through the gospels, but it is good to highlight that from time to time.
Speaker 2:
So Paul ends up spending a year and a half in Corinth, which is pretty significant In his ministry times. He spends the most time in Ephesus that we know about and he spends the second most amount of time in Corinth, which helps kind of paint a picture of the letters to the Corinthians, because when he's writing in 1 and 2 Corinthians if you want extra credit you can go read those books you can tell that he has a lot of understanding of who these people are and what issues these people are dealing with. And he's very personal, to the point of calling out individuals by name, asking them to change the way that they're conducting themselves, the way that they're acting. When he does that it's not from some city far away, like he actually knows who these people are, he knows what they're dealing with and he knows how to pastor them and lead them to lives that honor Christ.
Speaker 1:
So I mean, as he's in the church or he's with the people in Corinth, I should say he is baptizing people. There's like a large number of people who are beginning to hear what he has to say and believing, and I think because of that there's like a large group of Jews that are like still very much against him. But I don't understand, like why is it in verse 12, it says but when Galio was pro-council of I believe it's Achaia, whatever that?
Speaker 2:
is.
Speaker 1:
Acacia, I? I said, but it probably Acacia is a wood, isn't it anyway? Um, why would they decide then that they should do something? Because it seems like Galio, or however you say, it has like absolutely no time for their nonsense?
Speaker 2:
I think it's actually just a way of dating what's going on. I think this is. Luke the doctor who's okay, so just giving you time frames, yeah he's giving you time frames because he he does that with the, the persecution under Claudius, like he's calling out that detail. He's calling out the pro councils uh and. And he's recording that these are real people and they had real reactions. And he also calls out Sosthenes, who ends up getting beat up well, and that was what's interesting to me too.
Speaker 1:
So like I had a question about that, so it's helpful to know that it's like a timestamp kind of deal. I think it's hilarious that he does like he hears their, their whole story and I wonder if he kind of has like pilot in the back of his mind, like dude, I don't have time for your nonsense. And he literally says word for word in the text. It says in verse 14, if it were a matter of wrongdoing or vicious crime, oh Jews, I would have a reason to accept your complaint. But since it's just a matter of questions about words and names and your own law, see to it yourselves. So I think that's actually really telling that they're just like they kind of know the whole skit that goes on and they're just like forget it. I'm not dealing with it, but why I don't understand what you were just about to like allude to. Is that sauce?
Speaker 2:
Sosthenes.
Speaker 1:
Sosthenes. That's a real cute one.
Speaker 2:
We don't claim to be experts in pronunciation.
Speaker 1:
Not at all, but anyway, why would they beat him? Like what's the desire to go after that guy instead?
Speaker 2:
Okay. So there's some interesting extra credit here, paul, some interesting extra credit here. Paul does refer to someone named Sosthenes. So 1 Corinthians 1.1 says Paul called by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus and our brother Sosthenes to the also should get our attention that Luke is calling out Sosthenes here in Acts 18.17, and then Paul is kind of alluding to him as a co-author in the same city.
Speaker 2:
So it's very possible I'm not saying it's 100%, but it's very possible that Crispus became a believer and then he was no longer allowed to be in charge of the synagogue, which would actually be in line with kind of Paul's message of like hey, you people don't believe. And then Sosthenes took over that synagogue and then Sosthenes came to faith as well. So again, I'm not telling you it's 100%. It's at least worth calling out that it's the same name in both places in the same city around the same time. So it is possible that this guy that gets beaten up by the folks that are pretty upset ends up becoming a co-author with Paul to complete the book of 1 Corinthians.
Speaker 1:
Well, I don't know if you wanted to speak to the next section at all. I feel like it's just kind of like traveling details in the next section of the chapter. If that is important, go for it.
Speaker 2:
Essentially this is Paul making his way to Ephesus?
Speaker 1:
and it is significant we're going to be in.
Speaker 2:
Ephesus for the next couple of chapters and it is where Paul spends a significant amount of time. So we see him doing quite a bit of ministry and then we're introduced to his work in Ephesus by being introduced to this guy, apollos. If you look in verse 24, now, a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. By being introduced to this guy, apollos, if you look in verse 24, now, a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was an eloquent man, competent in the scriptures, he had been instructed in the way of the Lord and, being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus, though he knew only the baptism of John.
Speaker 2:
Apollos is also going to be called out in 1 Corinthians. Uh, apollos is also going to be called out in first corinthians, and apollos is essentially like a good teacher, like he. He is, uh, teaching people. Well, the problem in corinth becomes that they're they're kind of developing this celebrity status and some people identify as followers of paul and other people identify as followers of apollos and paul's gonna be like, hey, knock it off, we all follow Jesus.
Speaker 1:
So just a little background for myself. I guess Apollos is very well versed in the scriptures.
Speaker 2:
Yes, like free Jesus, all of it, yep.
Speaker 1:
And his only like, not only, but one of his very few understandings of who Jesus was was the baptism of John.
Speaker 2:
So the baptism of repentance essentially Right yeah.
Speaker 1:
So, like, what's really cool about him is that he is putting the pieces together, yes, like off of one instance, which is actually pretty insane. And we actually know from a couple different allusions in different letters that he is putting the pieces together, yes, like off of one instance, which is actually pretty insane and we actually know from a couple different allusions in different letters that he actually is a pretty good teacher and he's teaching pretty sound things yeah.
Speaker 1:
But what's really cool, like when I think, when I was reading or listening to Apollos is like he understands, based off of this one event. So he has, like, if you imagine, like this massive circle and just put like a tiny little pinpoint into it. He is looking through that teeny, tiny little lens, understanding fully that Jesus is who he said he was solely based on the baptism of John and so he's like he's excited because he's like all these prophecies. It lines up with this guy not even really totally understanding all of the fulfillments that he's even done.
Speaker 2:
It's actually quite possible that he either does not know about Jesus' death and resurrection, or that he does not know about the falling of the Holy Spirit in Acts chapter 2, or he's completely unaware of that entire piece of the picture.
Speaker 1:
But just imagine, though, like having that amount of faith based on one thing.
Speaker 1:
Imagine the conversation, because we hear about this he, like he boldly speaks about who Jesus is. He's like trying to teach the people, and part of what's significant about this part of the chapter is that Aquila and Priscilla, after hearing him, take him to the side and say, like hey, like you understand who Jesus is, but we're going gonna give you more because you don't have the full picture. Imagine what he like, what his eyes were open to hearing the testimony of Aquila and Priscilla, who understand and know so many more like stories and evidences of who Jesus was, how much more powerful Apollos was in speaking to the crowds when he was corrected gently. Like you have this teeny tiny piece and you've got like the serious fire, but there's so much more. And like giving him that knowledge and understanding. I just think that's so cool like I don't know I I really appreciate that like guidance factor that this has, or like almost like that mentorship or, um, accountability piece that the early church had, and how well it was accepted. Because he continues on.
Speaker 2:
It apparently is very well received and it is in line with what Paul is going to teach later on about how leadership in the church is supposed to work. So you'll notice that we do have here this husband and wife wife team, uh, calling Apollos to the to the side and saying like, hey man, you actually don't have the full picture. It'd be, it would be amazing to know, like, exactly what Apollos's background is. We don't know what it is, but we do know that they're pulling him aside and saying, hey, you don't know the full picture. There's actually been a lot that has happened that you're not sure of.
Speaker 2:
We want to add this we want to firm up what you're teaching. This would not have been permitted in public because it is a husband and wife together. And so they pull them aside and they talk to him off to the side and they correct him, and he apparently receives the correction and continues to preach and teach and becomes very prominent in Corinth. I actually just want to read this little tidbit. This is 1 Corinthians 1.14.
Speaker 2:
Paul's correcting the church and saying some of you say I follow Paul, or I follow Apollos, or I follow Cephas that's Peter or I follow Christ. Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you or were you baptized in the name of Paul? I thank God that I baptized none of you except for Crispus we already talked about him and Gaius, so that none of you may say that you were baptized in my name. So he's calling them out for being loyal to different teachers instead of loyal to Christ, which remains a problem today. Like we tend to have our favorite preachers and teachers, we like to listen to their podcasts, we like to listen to their sermons, and we do end up in a difficult spot when we are more loyal to a prominent pastor or speaker or leader instead of Jesus himself. And we see this happening, this tension developing in Corinth between Apollos and Paul.
Speaker 1:
Well, I think something else to mention too, kind of like backpiling just a little to the instance of like giving that correction to Apollos, is like I, I don't know I guess I just really appreciate the humility that he had, yeah, and also for aquila and priscilla not not actually humiliating him in front of a lot of people or making it seem like, oh, this guy doesn't know what he's talking about, because he is like we said earlier, he only has this tiny little snapshot and by giving him more of the tools and knowledge, he is able to do so many more things under that new knowledge and like I think that's like, that's true of anything as an educator, like when, when you see your students like like those light bulb moments, when you know you're learning how to multiply and you're like, oh, it's just addition, over and over again.
Speaker 1:
I know this is like such a simple view, but when you have that understanding of how it all connects, I can't imagine what it would have been like to hear the stories and hear the background in order to make his ministry so much more effective. So I don't know. I just think this part is really cool and I feel like we should do a lot more of it these days.
Speaker 2:
So I think, just to play off of that, your part for today is to actually receive correction. And I think also yesterday when we looked at Acts 17,. The Bereans set a really good example for us in that they dug into the scriptures Like they heard something new. They dug into the scriptures to see if it was true or not, and once they knew that what the person was saying actually agreed with what scripture has already said, then they changed their beliefs and they went a new direction. They set a great example for us. And Apollos here sets a great example for us in that he receives the correction and changes his teaching to reflect what has happened with the Holy Spirit, with Jesus' life, death and resurrection, and the people doing the correcting do it in a spirit of love and unity. The person receiving the correction does it in a spirit of love and unity.
Speaker 1:
And out of, like, a serious knowledge of what scripture actually says, not what we feel, yep exactly, Exactly so.
Speaker 2:
I invite you to accept correction today. It is not easy to do. It has well fallen out of practice for many of us and maybe we should brush up on it. So that's the invitation, your Part, for today. We'll be back again tomorrow with Acts chapter 19. We'll see you then.
Speaker 1:
Thanks for joining today's episode of God's Plan, your Part, as always. Please consider partnering with us as we are a listener supported podcast that we hope to continue to grow with support from listeners just like you.
Speaker 2:
We've made it super easy to partner with us, and you can support us by following the link in our show notes or our description. You can support us with as little as $3 a month.
Speaker 1:
Every little bit of this helps so much, and we're so thankful for your support. With that in mind, here's today's reading.
Speaker 2:
Acts, chapter 18. After this, paul left Athens and went to Corinth and he found a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, recently from Italy, with his wife Priscilla. Because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to leave Rome and he went to see them and because he was of the same trade, he stayed with them and worked, for they were tent makers by trade and he reason to see them and because he was of the same trade, he stayed with them and worked, for they were tentmakers by trade and he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath and tried to persuade Jews and Greeks. When Silas and Timothy arrived from Macedonia, paul was occupied with the word, testifying to the Jews that Christ was Jesus. And when they opposed and reviled him, he shook out his garments and said to them your blood be on your own heads, I am innocent. From now on I will go to the Gentiles. And he left there and went to the house of a man named Titus Justice, a worshiper of God. His house was next door to the synagogue. Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed in the Lord, together with his entire household and many of the Corinthians hearing Paul believed and were baptized. And the Lord said to Paul one night in a vision. Do not be afraid, but go on speaking and do not be silent, for I am with you and no one will attack you or harm you, for I have many in this city who are my people. And he stayed a year and six months teaching the word of God among them.
Speaker 2:
But when Galio was proconsul in Acacia, the Jews made an united attack on Paul and brought him before the tribunal, saying this man is persuading people to worship God, contrary to the law. But when Paul was about to open his mouth, galio said to the Jews If it were a matter of wrongdoing or vicious crime, o Jews, I would have reason to accept your complaint. But since it is a matter of questions about words and names and your own law, see to it yourselves. I refuse to be a judge of these things. And he drove them from the tribunal and they all seized Sosthenes, the ruler of the synagogue, and beat him in front of the tribunal. But Galio paid no attention to any of this.
Speaker 2:
After this, paul stayed many days longer and then took leave of the brothers and set sail for Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila. At Senchre he had cut his hair for he was under a vow, and they came to Ephesus and he left them there, but he himself went into the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews. When they asked him to stay for a period of time, he declined. But on taking leave from them, he said I will return to you if God wills. And he set sail from Ephesus. When he had landed in Caesarea, he went up and greeted the church and then went down to Antioch. 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.
Speaker 2:
Now a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was an eloquent man, competent in the scriptures. He had been instructed in the way of the Lord and, being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus, though he knew only the baptism of John. 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. And when he wished to cross to Acacia, the brothers encouraged him and wrote to the disciples to welcome him. When he arrived, he greatly helped those who, through grace, had believed, for he powerfully refuted the Jews in public, showing by the scriptures that the Christ was Jesus.
Speaker 2:
Thank you so much for listening to today's episode of God's Plan your Part. Don't forget you can find us on just about every social media platform and YouTube. Let us know what you thought of today's episode and if you have any questions, go ahead and post them there. You can also reach out to us directly at godsplanyourpart at gmailcom, as always. If you don't have a Bible or if you'd like to use the one that we use, reach out to us via email and we'll be happy to send one to you. Thanks again for listening. We'll see you again tomorrow, thank you.