Daily Devotion in Acts 18

 

Daily Nugget:
The early church was blessed, but we have one thing that they did not. They were missing the completed Bible, as we have it today. We take the Scriptures for granted, but then, because they did not have the completed Bible, there were many Christians that did not know all that God had done and was doing.

One such man was Apollos (Acts 18:24). He knew the Old Testament very well but only knew of the teachings of John the Baptist (Acts 18:25). It seems that Apollos may not even have known about the crucifixion of Christ, His resurrection, Pentecost, and the workings of the Holy Ghost.

However, this man took what he did know and spoke about the things of God, boldly and diligently. Soon, two other disciples, Aquila and Priscilla, heard the zealous preacher and discerned that much of the happenings after Christ’s resurrection were unknown to Apollos. They took the preacher aside and explained what the man of God had not learned. Perhaps their updates to events helped the preacher tie together what he knew about the Old Testament and what he had learned from John the Baptist. Educated and updated, Apollos was a more powerful influence for the cause of Christ.

There is so much we can do ourselves, as did Apollos. We can read the Bible for ourselves and use what knowledge and discernment God gives us to tell others about God’s way to Heaven. We can be a godly influence in this world.

However, we all need fellowship, support, and discipleship from other Christians. The interaction with other believers can help us understand more about the things of God. Good preaching can speak to our hearts and allow us to grow spiritually and be more useful, knowledgeable Christians. That is one reason a believer must be around God’s people in a local church.

Throughout the Bible, Christians have helped other Christians. The disciples went from place to place, expounding on what God had given them to the others. Because of teachers and preachers, the body of Christ has been strengthened. God gives us all gifts to help other Christians (Romans 12:6-8). Staying home and missing what God has impressed on His ministers for you is depriving yourself of all you can be for Christ!

Today’s Thought:
“With only one stick of firewood, the fire will soon go out.” — Author Unknown

Words to Understand:
Blasphemed: swear; curse; taking the Lord’s name in vain without respect
Insurrection: a revolt

Today’s Reading:
Acts 18
1 After these things Paul departed from Athens, and came to Corinth;
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.