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Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Acts 18:23-28 The Third Missionary Journey

And having spent some time there, he left and passed successively through the Galatian region and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples.  Now a Jew named Apollos, an Alexandrian by birth, an eloquent man, came to Ephesus; and he was mighty in the Scriptures. This man had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit, he was speaking and teaching accurately the things concerning Jesus, being acquainted only with the baptism of John; and he began to speak out 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.  And when he wanted to go across to Achaia, the brethren encouraged him and wrote to the disciples to welcome him; and when he had arrived, he greatly helped those who had believed through grace,  for he powerfully refuted the Jews in public, demonstrating by the Scriptures that Jesus was the Christ.

Here, Paul had recently left Ephesus hoping to return and made his way to Galatia where Apollos emerges.  He was an evangelist like Paul who preached
boldly for the gospel of Jesus Christ.  Paul and his converts spend time with him, strengthening him, and making him more knowledgeable concerning his teaching, especially concerning baptism.  Apollos only knew of the baptism of John which was a baptism for repentance.  From Paul, he would learn of the baptism of the Spirit which leads to eternal life.  He also perfected his knowledge about forgiveness by grace apart from works which Paul will later expound in his letter to the Romans.

Daily Prayer:  Lord, let our lips be quick to tell others about Your saving grace, the forgiveness of sins and eternal life which is the good news of the gospel.  Let not the adversary draw us back, but by Your Spirit, make our words be fluid and bold.  In Jesus name I pray Amen.

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