Acts 18:12-28 (CLICK HERE FOR BIBLE VERSES)
Hi GAMErs,
Today’s passage is Acts 18:12-28. As usual, I encourage you to read the passage yourself first and see what you can glean with the Holy Spirit’s help, then read the GAME sharing below. Let’s go!
Acts 18:12-17 (NIV)
12 While Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews made a united attack on Paul and brought him into court.
13 “This man,” they charged, “is persuading the people to worship God in ways contrary to the law.”
14 Just as Paul was about to speak, Gallio said to the Jews, “If you Jews were making a complaint about some misdemeanor or serious crime, it would be reasonable for me to listen to you.
15 But since it involves questions about words and names and your own law–settle the matter yourselves. I will not be a judge of such things.”
16 So he had them ejected from the court.
17 Then they all turned on Sosthenes the synagogue ruler and beat him in front of the court. But Gallio showed no concern whatever.
On verses 12-17: In the past, in virtually every city where Paul preached the gospel, Paul faced persecution and harassment. But while Paul was in Corinth, the Lord said to Paul, “Do not be afraid…I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city” (see Acts 18:9-10). Here in verses 12-17 we see the Lord making good on His promise that no one would harm Paul. Some Jews start legal proceedings against Paul and bring him to court before the proconsul Gallio, all with the hope of having Paul imprisoned or otherwise punished. But nothing happens to Paul. In fact, in court, Paul doesn’t even need to speak to defend himself, for before Paul is able to speak, the proconsul Gallio dismisses the claims of Paul’s opponents and ejects them from the court.
What can we learn from this? God is true to His Word. When God promises anything to you, you can rest assured that it will happen.
Also, when God promises that you won’t be harmed, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you won’t go through trouble, but that the trouble ultimately will not harm you.
Acts 18:18-23 (NIV)
18 Paul stayed on in Corinth for some time. Then he left the brothers and sailed for Syria, accompanied by Priscilla and Aquila. Before he sailed, he had his hair cut off at Cenchrea because of a vow he had taken.
19 They arrived at Ephesus, where Paul left Priscilla and Aquila. He himself went into the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews.
20 When they asked him to spend more time with them, he declined.
21 But as he left, he promised, “I will come back if it is God’s will.” Then he set sail from Ephesus.
22 When he landed at Caesarea, he went up and greeted the church and then went down to Antioch.
23 After spending some time in Antioch, Paul set out from there and traveled from place to place throughout the region of Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples.
On verses 18-23: God guaranteed Paul’s safety in Corinth, and yet starting in verse 18 we see Paul setting sail again for other places where God did not guarantee Paul’s safety. Paul visits the churches in Syria (v18), Ephesus (v19), Caesarea (v22), Antioch (v22-23) and various locations throughout Galatia and Phrygia (v23), strengthening the disciples in each city. Paul’s love for the churches was so strong that he was willing to risk his own safety to see them and be with them.
What can we learn from this?
First, when you love someone enough, you’ll risk your own personal safety just to see them and to be with them. That’s what Paul did for these churches. That’s what Jesus did for us: He sacrificed His life just for the chance to be with us.
Second, obeying God’s calling and fulfilling His mission is more important than our personal comfort and convenience.
Acts 18:24-26 (NIV)
24 Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was a learned man, with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures.
25 He had been instructed in the way of the Lord, and he spoke with great fervor and taught about Jesus accurately, though he knew only the baptism of John.
26 He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately.
On verses 24-26: If there was one man we read about in the book of Acts that I wish had left some writings behind for us, other than Barnabas, it would be Apollos. I would have loved to experience for myself Apollos’ thorough knowledge of the Scriptures, his teaching about Jesus, and his passion for God. Yet notice here that early in Apollos’ ministry, Apollos, while knowledgeable in the Scriptures and teaching about Jesus accurately, was still seemingly incomplete in his knowledge about the Holy Spirit, for “he knew only the baptism of John” (v25). What exactly Apollos was missing is not certain, but what we do know is that after hearing Apollos speak in the synagogue, Priscilla and Aquila invite him to their home and supplement whatever it was that Apollos had been missing.
What can we learn from this? Notice that Priscilla and Aquila went out of their way to build a relationship with Apollos first before trying to correct him. First they invited him to their home, served him with hospitality and got to know him and then they “explained to him the way of God more adequately” (v26). Notice also that Priscilla and Aquila corrected Apollos privately rather than publicly.
What can we learn from this? We live today in a hyper-sensitive, easily triggered cancel culture where people feel the need to correct others whether they know that person or not. How much better is Aquila and Priscilla’s approach where correction was born out of a loving relationship rather than simply access to someone’s social media account. When there is someone in your life whom you don’t know well and whom you think you need to correct, be careful and thoughtful in your approach. Where possible, try to get to know them first, serving them and establishing a trust relationship before you correct them. Also, when correcting an individual, it is good to try to do it first privately rather than publicly.
Acts 18:27-28 (NIV)
27 When Apollos wanted to go to Achaia, the brothers encouraged him and wrote to the disciples there to welcome him. On arriving, he was a great help to those who by grace had believed.
28 For he vigorously refuted the Jews in public debate, proving from the Scriptures that Jesus was the Christ.
On verses 27-28: Apollos had a good reputation with the church in Ephesus, so much so that when Apollos wanted to go to the Greek province of Achaia (where the city of Corinth was located), the church in Ephesus wrote to the church in Achaia to welcome Apollos. There in Corinth Apollos debates other Jews, showing how the Scriptures point to Jesus as the Messiah that the Jews have been waiting for.
Just as Apollos was a great help to the church in Achaia on arrival, may it be said of you that you were a great help to others whenever you step foot into a new place. Instead of looking to be served, make it a point to serve others with what you have.
Lord, thank You that You are faithful to every promise You give me. Thank You that You loved me enough that You sacrificed Your own safety and security just for the chance to be with me. May I be a blessing to the people around me. In Jesus’ name, AMEN!
Copyright © 2022 Justin Lim. All rights reserved.
