Friday, July 12, 2013

Turning the World Upside Down! Or is it Right Side Up?

    These two chapters (Acts 17-18) record Paul's ministry in at least 9 places. In these 62 verses we cover a period of two years or more. Something to keep in mind when you are reading the scriptures is that sometimes we are on fast forward, moving past events very quickly, knowing this can deepen your understanding of certain passages.

Paul in Thessalonica (Acts 17:1-9)

    Here Paul was said to be among those who had turned the world upside down. What a complement.

Paul in Berea (Acts 17:10-14)

    The Bereans were said be more fair-minded because they searched the scriptures daily to see if what they were being taught was true. That is exactly what we are trying to accomplish with The Journey. We want every individual to look at the scriptures themselves to be sure that what is being taught is directly from God's Word and not man's opinion.

Paul in Athens (Acts 17:15-34)

    Here Paul encounter a completely different group. They were wholly given to the worship of idols and false gods. I like were it says Paul's "spirit was provoked within him". Does our spirit get provoked when we see the terrible spiritual condition of those around us?
    Notice that when working with the Jews he focused on teaching that Jesus was the Messiah. But among the gentiles he had to start with God being real, the creator of all things, and the sustainer of all things. It does very little good to try to prove to someone who Jesus is, if they don't believe in God.
    So he took a god they worshipped, the UNKNOWN GOD (in case they had missed one), and he taught them that it was the God of the universe, the one true and living God, that they were unknowingly worshipping and that Jesus, his son, was the resurrected one that can bring life to all who will believe. When we present salvation, how much do we talk about the resurrection? It seemed to be very prominent in the teaching and preaching of these early Christians.

Paul in Corinth (Acts 18:1-18)

    Notice that in some places Paul was actually getting to speak in the synagogue more times than usual, probably because the spread of Christianity was so strong that people's curiosity was at a high level. He spent a year and a half in Corinth (11), longer than anywhere else with the exception of Ephesus.

Paul in Ephesus (Acts 18:19-21)

    In this short visit he only worked with the Jews in the synagogue, but he will return.

Paul in Caesarea, Antioch, Galatia, Phrygia (Acts 18:22-23)

Apollos (Acts 18:24-28)

    Apollos is an interesting figure in the scriptures. It says that he was a great speaker and that he knew the scripture (Old Testament) very well, he was fervent in spirit, and taught accurately the way of the LORD. But he only knew the baptism of John. Now we don't know for sure, but it seems that he must have been converted under the ministry of John somehow, but he left the Jerusalem area before Jesus came on the scene. So seemingly he was preaching the LORD or the MESSIAH (the coming savior) just like John did and when people were converted he baptized them in the baptism of John.
    By the way, did you know that people have always gotten saved the same way. Yes, it is true. People of all ages have been saved by putting their faith in the Messiah, Jesus Christ. The only difference is that before the cross people put their faith in the one who would die for them and since the cross we have put our faith in the on who did die for us.
    Now, when Aquila and Priscilla heard Apollos, they took him aside and explained the way of God more accurately to him. Presumably letting him know that the Messiah had come and that he know could preach for people to put their faith in the one who came not the one who will come. Also that John pointed people to the authority of Jesus not his own authority and that he should not be baptizing people by John's baptism, but in the name of Jesus.
    Notice, following their conversation he preaches that JESUS is the CHRIST (Messiah). Keep all this in mind. It will matter in Tomorrow's Journey.

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