Introduction
Acts 18:18–28: After leaving Corinth, Paul travels to Ephesus and Caesarea before returning to Antioch in Syria. He then journeys on to Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening the believers. The reading concludes with an account of the ministry of Apollos, who is mentioned as a coworker of Paul in 1 Corinthians 1:12, 3:4–6, 4:6, and 16:12.
Today’s Key Verse: Acts 18:25a GNT
[Apollos] had been instructed in the Way of the Lord, and with great enthusiasm he proclaimed and taught correctly the facts about Jesus.
Read
18 After this, Paul left Athens and went on to Corinth. 2 There he met a Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, for Emperor Claudius had ordered all the Jews to leave Rome. Paul went to see them, 3 and stayed and worked with them, because he earned his living by making tents, just as they did. 4 He held discussions in the synagogue every Sabbath, trying to convince both Jews and Greeks.
5 When Silas and Timothy arrived from Macedonia, Paul gave his whole time to preaching the message, testifying to the Jews that Jesus is the Messiah. 6 When they opposed him and said evil things about him, he protested by shaking the dust from his clothes and saying to them, “If you are lost, you yourselves must take the blame for it! I am not responsible. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.” 7 So he left them and went to live in the house of a Gentile named Titius Justus, who worshiped God; his house was next to the synagogue. 8 Crispus, who was the leader of the synagogue, believed in the Lord, together with all his family; and many other people in Corinth heard the message, believed, and were baptized.
9 One night Paul had a vision in which the Lord said to him, “Do not be afraid, but keep on speaking and do not give up, 10 for I am with you. No one will be able to harm you, for many in this city are my people.” 11 So Paul stayed there for a year and a half, teaching the people the word of God.
12 When Gallio was made the Roman governor of Achaia, Jews there got together, seized Paul, and took him into court. 13 “This man,” they said, “is trying to persuade people to worship God in a way that is against the law!”
14 Paul was about to speak when Gallio said to the Jews, “If this were a matter of some evil crime or wrong that has been committed, it would be reasonable for me to be patient with you Jews. 15 But since it is an argument about words and names and your own law, you yourselves must settle it. I will not be the judge of such things!” 16 And he drove them out of the court. 17 They all grabbed Sosthenes, the leader of the synagogue, and beat him in front of the court. But that did not bother Gallio a bit.
Reflect
How do you envision Paul strengthening the believers as he traveled throughout the Mediterranean basin? Where or to whom do you turn for strength and encouragement? How do you envision Apollos’s encounter with Priscilla and Aquila? In what ways do members within your community of faith play a role in instructing others in the faith?
Pray
Dear Jesus, keep my faith strong. In moments of weakness, encourage me with your Word. Help me to proclaim your message boldly and to be an instrument of your grace. Amen.
Tomorrow’s Reading
Acts 19:1–20: Paul travels to Ephesus.
