TUESDAY - August 18

Read. Acts 18:18-28

18 After Paul stayed in Corinth for some time, he said good-bye to the brothers and sisters. At the Corinthian seaport of Cenchreae he had his head shaved, since he had made a solemn promise. Then, accompanied by Priscilla and Aquila, he sailed away to Syria.19 After they arrived in Ephesus, he left Priscilla and Aquila and entered the synagogue and interacted with the Jews. 20 They asked him to stay longer, but he declined. 21 As he said farewell to them, though, he added, “God willing, I will return.” Then he sailed off from Ephesus. 22 He arrived in Caesarea, went up to Jerusalem and greeted the church, and then went down to Antioch.

23 After some time there he left and traveled from place to place in the region of Galatia and the district of Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples.

24 Meanwhile, a certain Jew named Apollos arrived in Ephesus. He was a native of Alexandria and was well-educated and effective in his use of the scriptures. 25 He had been instructed in the way of the Lord and spoke as one stirred up by the Spirit. He taught accurately the things about Jesus, even though he was aware only of the baptism John proclaimed and practiced. 26 He began speaking with confidence in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they received him into their circle of friends and explained to him God’s way more accurately. 27 When he wanted to travel to Achaia, the brothers and sisters encouraged him and wrote to the disciples so they would open their homes to him. Once he arrived, he was of great help to those who had come to believe through grace. 28 He would vigorously defeat Jewish arguments in public debate, using the scriptures to prove that Jesus was the Christ.

Reflect. Paul and Priscilla and Aquila travel to Ephesus. Priscilla and Aquila were not new to Ephesus, and had already been there doing business and sharing the love of Jesus. In v.23 Paul leaves on this third missionary journey. Priscilla and Aquila remain in Ephesus to support the church. 

• A new teacher, Apollos, arrives in town. When Apollos begins to preach, you notice that he comes from a different tradition than the what the people in Ephesus knew. In v.26, we learn that Priscilla and Aquila take in Apollos, and begin to teach him the message of the Holy Spirit and baptism that we find in the rest of Acts. This is not a conversion moment for Apollos; instead, this is a discipleship moment where he grows in his understanding of faith. 
• Who has been a Priscilla or Aquila in your faith? Who are the people who have taught you what it means to be a follower of Jesus? Have you done this with someone else? Who are the people in your life right now that could use a Priscilla or Aquila? What can you do to share God’s love with them?
  

Pray. Take a moment to give thanks for the people in your life who have cared for your spiritual health. If they are still living, ask God to bless them. If they are no longer living, give praise for the legacy that they have left in your faith. Ask God to help you be this to someone else. 


COMMUNITY PRAYER LIST

Doug. Bobby. Collier. Glenn. Adam.  Mary.  Clyde.  Linda. Betty Carolyn. Jeff. Albert. Richard. Lois. Ross. Tiny. Donald. Bill. Barbara. Andreas. Helen. Bonnie Brenner. Baker Family. Robert McKenzie Family. Kibler family. Carolyn Harlow. Jeremy. Jeff Green. Lyric. Earl Graves. Mickey Huff. Huff & Welch families. Helen Leigh. Paul Huffman. Schools, Teachers, Staff, Parents, Students. Church regathering plans. Layman family. Charlene Withrow. John. Brandon Casteel. Dirk Orr. Smith family.