Acts 18

Devotional by Emory Cothen

Read Acts 18

Acts 18

Paul in Corinth

18 After this Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. 2 And he found a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to leave Rome. And he went to see them, 3 and because he was of the same trade he stayed with them and worked, for they were tentmakers by trade. 4 And he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and tried to persuade Jews and Greeks.

5 When Silas and Timothy arrived from Macedonia, Paul was occupied with the word, testifying to the Jews that the Christ was Jesus. 6 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.” 7 And he left there and went to the house of a man named Titius Justus, a worshiper of God. His house was next door to the synagogue. 8 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. 9 And the Lord said to Paul one night in a vision, “Do not be afraid, but go on speaking and do not be silent, 10 for I am with you, and no one will attack you to harm you, for I have many in this city who are my people.” 11 And he stayed a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.

12 But when Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews made a united attack on Paul and brought him before the tribunal, 13 saying, “This man is persuading people to worship God contrary to the law.” 14 But when Paul was about to open his mouth, Gallio said to the Jews, “If it were a matter of wrongdoing or vicious crime, O Jews, I would have reason to accept your complaint. 15 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.” 16 And he drove them from the tribunal. 17 And they all seized Sosthenes, the ruler of the synagogue, and beat him in front of the tribunal. But Gallio paid no attention to any of this.

Paul Returns to Antioch

18 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 Cenchreae he had cut his hair, for he was under a vow. 19 And they came to Ephesus, and he left them there, but he himself went into the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews. 20 When they asked him to stay for a longer period, he declined. 21 But on taking leave of them he said, “I will return to you if God wills,” and he set sail from Ephesus.

22 When he had landed at Caesarea, he went up and greeted the church, and then went down to Antioch. 23 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.

Apollos Speaks Boldly in Ephesus

24 Now a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was an eloquent man, competent in the Scriptures. 25 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. 26 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. 27 And when he wished to cross to Achaia, the brothers encouraged him and wrote to the disciples to welcome him. When he arrived, he greatly helped those who through grace had believed, 28 for he powerfully refuted the Jews in public, showing by the Scriptures that the Christ was Jesus.

Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. The ESV text may not be quoted in any publication made available to the public by a Creative Commons license. The ESV may not be translated in whole or in part into any other language.

Devotional

Acts 18 marks the transition of Paul’s second missionary journey to his third. In this chapter that describes significant change in Paul’s life and mission, there are lessons to be learned that stand the test of time. Obedience despite circumstances reflects that our faith is in a God greater than our circumstances. As you read through Acts 18, notice the key figures in the early church who were united by a commitment to Christ and the scriptures and, not to be overlooked, to one another. 

Too often, our objectives in life are formed from the comparisons we make to the world around us. Yet, we can look to the examples set by Paul and others in the local church and build our lives on the things pleasing to God. Amid trials and persecution in the emergence of the Christian faith, believers in Acts 18 were committed to God’s Word, listening to God’s call, and spending time with God’s people. Simple but profound objectives that give the believer a wildly different lifestyle than what the unbelieving world understands.

Paul’s mission in life was clear: He wanted all to know that Jesus is the Messiah and he is worthy to be worshipped. In the new year, we have an opportunity to impact the world around us by living our faith and sharing it with those around us. 

If we are called to know God’s Word, obey God’s call, and spend time with God’s people, how can you orient your time and your resolutions this year to better reflect that?

18 thoughts on “Day Eighteen | The Book of Acts”

  1. Everyday we walk out of our doors there are opportunities for us to share God’s Love. That’s why it’s ESSENTIAL for us to start our day talking to God and asking Him what opportunities He has for us today. Then we need to be sensitive to who He puts in our path, it could be a perfect stranger 🙏🏾❤️

  2. Being sensitive to the Holy Spirit is vital in our daily walk with Jesus. We must be open to move when we need to and sometimes to stay where we are. Paul understood that he cold remain where he was because God assured him he would be free from harm so he stayed, but when the time came to leave he was also ready to go. I also see the significance of mentioning that Priscilla and Aquila were tent makers and because they were of the same trade he stayed with them. Finding common ground to build a relationship is the first step in bringing people closer to Christ. I pray to be more aware of the Holy Spirit working around me and to respond to what I am called to do.

    2. Thank you David.

      “Trust and obey, for there’s no other way to be happy in Jesus than to trust and obey…” I think that’s how it goes…

      …for also mentioning that one must be ready/equipped to move…

      …and the finding common ground…. I remember when we used to do Sunday night visitations and use either EE, FAITH or LOM presentations – but the key was to find common ground through conversations…and then one from a group of 3 would speak their Evangelistic Testimony and the Lord would do the rest…

      Thank you all for your encouragement!

  3. A daily commitment to reading and spending time in the Word of God is the perfect way to live out those objectives. I find that it’s during these times spent reading and praying that I gain a better awareness of how to live out God’s calling on my life and who to invest in. Circumstances in life will cause us to be tempted to avoid one, if not all, of these objectives. But just like Paul and the other believers in this chapter, we can rely on His Spirit to maintain focus, creating in us an endurance to the end.

  5. I just pray for the grace to love God and to sincerely live for HIM this year and beyond. I pray to know where God is at work around me, so that I can join HIM to fulfill HIS purpose in Jesus Name…🙏

  7. To me, one of the strongest statements in this chapter is found in verse 26: “when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately”. They didn’t say, “that’s the Pastor’s job”. No, they took what they knew and invested it into another Believer, who then took that knowledge and passed it on to others. THAT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY as Believers!

  8. Daily, I will be intentional to spend time in God’s word, pursing his call on my life, while in relationship to the people God places in my life.

  9. I am currently studying Genesis 11 for Sunday’s lesson about the Tower of Babel. God is aware at all times who is doing what and why. We need to ask the Lord to make us aware of people who are lost and wandering in their own imaginations and purposes. Just like the confusion that followed the Lord’s action at the Tower of Babel, people are still confused about who God is. I pray the Lord will bring someone in my path today who is away from God, and seeking answers, and bring them to a saving knowledge before it’s too late!

  10. I am drawn to the verses in Acts where people are known as “worshipers of God.” I want to have a testimony that qualifies me to be known in this same way.

  11. Thank God Apollos was receptive to the instructions and knowledge shared with him by Aquila and Priscilla. Pray for softened hearts that they may be ministered to today. Amen🙏🏾

  12. Durell, your words & comments were spot on. Stay in the Word of GOD; listen to what HE is saying, & keep close accounts (pray often) to HIM. HE’s waiting to hear from us. The Bible is GOD’s Voice in print for our benefit. Happy reading everyone.
    For HIS Kingdom

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