What Was Paul Teaching Them?
“And when Gallio was the deputy of Achaia, the Jews made insurrection with one accord against Paul, and brought him to the judgment seat” (Acts 18:12).
Even when our motives are righteous and our intentions are pure and we are doing good, unbelievers may still report the contrary.
Therefore, it’s no surprise that in Achaia they made the following allegation against Paul.
“Saying, This fellow [persuades] men to worship God contrary to the law” (Acts 18:13).
Was this true? Can you recall what Apostle Paul was teaching?
However, as Paul was about to speak up for himself the Deputy of Achaia intervened.
“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” (Acts 18:14).
If it were a matter of wrong or wicked lewdness, Gallio may have been accommodating to the Jews.
As a result, he explains in his own words.
“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” (Acts 18:15).
Paul Couldn’t Visit a City and Not Do This!
Gallio refuses to be a judge of Jewish names and laws and words.
“And he [drove] them from the judgment seat” (Acts 18:16).
But they were not finished yet, for they made one final attempt to draw Gallio out of his comfort zone.
“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” (Acts 18:17).
However, Paul sensed that his time had come to depart so he left for Syria.
“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” (Acts 18:18).
Apostle Paul was a person of habits. Wherever he went he would locate and visit the local church. And he would preach the Word of God to the people.
So when he arrived at Ephesus and did a similar thing his actions weren’t surprising.
“And he came to Ephesus, and left them there: but he himself entered into the synagogue, and reasoned with the Jews” (Acts 18:19).
The Ephesians Received Paul’s Words
However, Ephesus was unlike many of the cities that Paul had visited. The Ephesians joyfully received his words.
Consequently, “they desired him to tarry longer time with them, [but] he consented not” (Acts 18:20).
“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” (Acts 18:21).
With his heart set on Jerusalem Paul sailed from Ephesus to Caesarea. And again, he did that which he had always done, he visited the local assembly.
“And when he had landed at Caesarea, and gone up, and saluted the church, he went down to Antioch” (Acts 18:22).
Paul Made A Circuit
But he wasn’t in a tarring mode. Therefore, he didn’t stay long there because soon after he greeted “the church” he departed to Antioch.
“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” (Acts 18:23).
Now, Paul was in a circuit-mode. He revisited all the churches, in order, that he had planted and established in the whole region.
What is the Significance of the Baptism of John the Baptist?
However, Apollos made a grand entry on the scene. He arrived in Ephesus and created quite a buzz about Jesus Christ.
“And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures, came to Ephesus” (Acts 18:24).
But even though he was an eloquent speaker and knowledgable in the Scriptures, his teachings were incomplete because he knew “only the baptism of John?”
“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” (Acts 18:25).
This brings us to the question: “What is the significance of the baptism of John the Baptist?”
They Expounded The Word More Perfectly
Nevertheless, in spite of Apollos’ limited knowledge of the things concerning the Kingdom of God, he was mighty in speech and bold as a hyena.
“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” (Acts 18:26).
Friends, let’s realize that those who are taught must teach. As a result, the husband-and-wife team of Aquila and Priscilla intervened.
They took Apollos under their wings and tutor him. Whom have you aided to understand the Word of God “more perfectly”?
This is very important because we never really know how the Lord God shall utilize such a person to further His kingdom.
Paul Preaches Jesus is Christ
Consequently, note below how the Lord God made full use of Apollos oratory skills. He
Additionally, he convinced unbelievers and their faith in God grew to believe His Word.
“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” (Acts 18:27).
Even though his activities may appear lofty, what He was doing was really simple.
He was preaching that Jesus is the Christ.
“For he mightily convinced the Jews, and that publickly, shewing by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ” (Acts 18:28).
In closing, as Christians, this too is all our calling. Let us teach and preach that Jesus is the Christ of God. And let us utilize the Scriptures as our chief authority.
