ACTS LESSON 40


    We will begin this lesson in Acts 18:18  "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."

    In the last lesson, we learned that Paul stayed in Corinth for one
and a half years and started the church there.  The Jews finally came
against him and tried to cause him trouble, but Gallio would not do
their dirty work for them. Now we read that Paul stayed there for a
while after this incident, then he leaves and goes to Syria.
Priscilla and Aquila had become very close to Paul. He had lived with
them while he was in Corinth. This is undoubtedly Paul that has shaved
his head for a vow. It seems this shaving his hair off was so that he
could take it to the temple when he goes to sacrifice.  Paul, to me,
is still fulfilling some of the Jewish customs, even though he is a
converted Christian.  Why he is doing this is a big question. I have
no idea, but I am sure he is doing what he feels is best at the time.

    Acts 18:19 "And he came to Ephesus, and left them there: but he
himself entered into the synagogue, and reasoned with the Jews."

    He left Aquila and Priscilla here at Ephesus, and Paul continues
on after stopping and preaching at the synagogue. It appears that Paul
has not completely given up on winning the Jews to Jesus, because here
he is, again, in their synagogue trying to make them understand. Two
years before this, Paul had been forbidden to go to Asia, but now it
seems that it is pleasing to God for Paul to go there.

    Acts 18:20 "When they desired [him] to tarry longer time with
them, he consented not;"

    We see, that Paul was set for Jerusalem.  He just stopped
momentarily here. They could not persuade him to stay longer (tarry),
because he had something he wanted to do in Jerusalem.

    Acts 18:21 "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."

    We see that Paul was determined to go to Jerusalem.  He possibly
was going to carry this hair he had cut off there. The feast, he
thought it was so important to get to, had to be one of the three
important feasts. It could have been Passover, Pentecost or Harvest.
This "I must by all means" indicates, that even if the weather is bad,
he will go anyhow.

    Acts 18:22 "And when he had landed at Caesarea, and gone up, and
saluted the church, he went down to Antioch."

    This does not specifically mention Jerusalem, but I believe he
went there at this time.  He went to Caesarea, which is not far from
Jerusalem. Then it says and gone up, Jerusalem is up from Caesarea.
It also says and saluted the church, I believe that is speaking of the
church at Jerusalem. Antioch would be down from Jerusalem, so all of
these things make me think he went to Jerusalem here.  He leaves
Jerusalem and goes to Antioch.

    Acts 18:23 "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."

    This is Paul going back and checking on the churches, after he had
spent a few months here. Paul had a great deal to do with the
formation of these churches. He was going back to make sure that they
were still worshipping in the way he established them.

    Acts 18:24  "And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria,
an eloquent man, [and] mighty in the scriptures, came to Ephesus."

    We see, here, a man who is highly educated, and particularly in
the Scriptures. We know that he is a Jew by birth, but a Christian by
choice. He has not received the fullness of the Holy Ghost, since he
has been baptized in the baptism of repentance only (John's baptism).
Ephesus was one of the cities on Paul's second journey where he stayed
and preached for a short time.

    Acts 18:25 "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."

    Apollos was from Alexandria, as we read several other times other
than in Acts. Paul speaks very highly of Apollos. You may read I
Cornthians 3:4-7, and I Cornthians 16:12, and Titus 3:13.  Many
expositors believe that he became one of the early bishops.  At any
rate, we know that he knew the Scriptures well, and that he believed
Jesus to be the Messiah. He not only knew that Jesus was the Christ
the very Son of God who came to be Saviour of the world, but he
proclaimed that good news to every one he saw.

    Acts 18:26 "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."

    Perhaps, the only truth about Jesus that Apollos knew was what he
had picked up from hearing other believers tell as they had come into
contact with him.  He knew the Scriptures so well, that he immediately
related what they told him about Jesus and he knew He was the Messiah.
The Word convinced him.  We see here, where Aquila and Priscilla tell
him more fully.  The Scripture here does not say so, but we can safely
assume they baptized him in the Christian baptism.

    Acts 18:27 "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:"

    It appears to me, from this verse above, that these believers in
Achaia knew very little of the Scriptures. They had received the grace
of God, but had not yet been taught in the Bible. The brothers of
Ephesus knew what a great Bible scholar he was and wrote a letter
recommending him as a speaker at Achaia. He appears, to me, to be a
teacher of the Word.

    Acts 18:28 "For he mightily convinced the Jews, [and that]
publickly, shewing by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ."

    There are thirty-eight or more specific Old Testament Scriptures
which prophecy the coming Messiah. When you join these prophecies with
the circumstances of Jesus' birth, life, crucifixion, entombment and
resurrection, there is no doubt left who He is.

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                          Acts 40 Questions


1.  Who went with Paul to Syria?
2.  What had Paul done in Cenchrea?
3.  Why had Paul done this?
4.  How long had Paul stayed in Corinth?
5.  Where did Paul leave Priscilla and Aquila?
6.  Who did Paul reason with here?
7.  Where had Paul been forbidden to go two years previous to this?
8.  Why was Paul in such a hurry to get to Jerusalem?
9.  When Paul sailed from Ephesus, he promised he would return under
    what condition?
10. Where did Paul land before he went by land to Jerusalem?
11. What does saluted the church indicate?
12. After he had his business in Jerusalem taken care of, where did he
    go?
13. What two areas did Paul go to when he left Antioch?
14. Why did Paul go back to these places?
15. What was the name of the Jew from Alexandria?
16. In verse 24, we read two attributes of the man, what are they?
17. Where did he come to minister?
18. How and of whom did Apollos speak to the people?
19. What was the only baptism he knew?
20. Name some other places you can read about Apollos?
21. What two people expounded to Apollos more perfectly of God?
22. Where did Apollos go to minister next?
23. How would the Christians there know to receive him?
24. How had the believers in Achaia believed?
25. What did Apollos minister to them?
26. How did Apollos convince them?


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