Day 132, Acts 18:19-19:41
We return to the narrative of the acts of the early church. Today’s reading covers several years in which much is happening.
Leaving Corinth, Paul and his team (including Pricilla and Aquila), arrive in Ephesus (across the Aegean Sea to western Turkey). He leaves Priscilla and Aquila there, and sails on to Caesarea and then travels to Jerusalem. After a short stay in Jerusalem he returns to his home base of Antioch before returning by land into Turkey (Galatia and Phrygia).
Meanwhile, Apollos (an Egyptian Jewish believer) arrives in Ephesus, where Priscilla and Aquila demonstrate biblical leadership by welcoming him into their home and filling the gaps in his knowledge of Jesus. Apollos also demonstrates great character by receiving their correction and then going westward across the Aegean Sea to pass on his equipping and confront the Jewish opposition to the early church.
There are several lessons for us here: in the early church, men and women worked together in leadership (teamwork was the norm). Also, it was common for leaders to be sent from one place to another, with the support and recommendation of the community of believers sending them. This shows us that equipping and commissioning were actively practiced in these church families. There were no passive consumers in these churches!
While Apollos is in Corinth, Paul reaches Ephesus by land. There he meets a group of 12 believers who have not yet received the Holy Spirit or been baptized in the new relationship with God that Jesus offers. Once this missing piece is completed, the kingdom of God is extended in that city through Paul’s teaching in the synagogue. But again, the Jews reject The Way (which was the identifying name for followers of Jesus at that time). So Paul and the believers leave the synagogue and set up a ministry school in the hall of Tyrannus. This is so successful that Paul remains there for two more years, and much of the region is filled with the truth of the good news.
This leads to multiple supernatural events, as well as more persecution! The seven sons of Sceva are beaten up by demons, many secrets are confessed and repentance is demonstrated publicly. Then Demetrius (a local business owner who is threatened by the growth of the church) foments a protest which becomes a tumultuous riot. It takes the city mayor to step in and calm things down! Meanwhile Paul has sent Timothy and Erastus into Macedonia (where there are already congregations in Thessalonica and Philippi), as Paul prepares to join them on his way to Jerusalem again.
See how much activity there is. Notice how many changes are initiated by God through the Holy Spirit, confirmed by the families of believers. This is a true reflection of God’s intent for the Church, the body of Christ. That we work together and obey God fully.
Have a great day!
Mark.