May 02, 2023 – Tuesday
Acts 18:27-28 NIV
27 When Apollos wanted to go to Achaia, the brothers and sisters encouraged him and wrote to the disciples there to welcome him. When he arrived, he was a great help to those who by grace had believed. 28 For he vigorously refuted his Jewish opponents in public debate, proving from the Scriptures that Jesus was the Messiah.
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Yesterday Paul was in Corinth. He left with Pricilla and Aquilla sailing for Syria, landing in Ephesus. There he taught and reasoned alone with the Jews in the synagogue. From there he sailed to Caesarea, traveled to Jerusalem from there, then to Antioch. After spending some time there, he traveled throughout the region of Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples. The believers in Ephesus wanted Paul to stay, but he could not as we see from his travels.
While Paul could not stay, 24 Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was a learned man, with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures. 25 He had been instructed in the way of the Lord, and he spoke with great fervor and taught about Jesus accurately, though he knew only the baptism of John. 26 He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately.
Then we come to our verses for today, 27 When Apollos wanted to go to Achaia, the brothers and sisters encouraged him and wrote to the disciples there to welcome him. When he arrived, he was a great help to those who by grace had believed. 28 For he vigorously refuted his Jewish opponents in public debate, proving from the Scriptures that Jesus was the Messiah. We are not told why Apollos wanted to go to Achaia, but we may ascertain he was guided by the Holy Spirit. That is because once there he was a great help to those who by grace had believed. They needed help because there were Jewish opponents to the faith, who most likely did their best to refute Jesus as the Messiah. We can say that as Apollos vigorously refuted his Jewish opponents in public debate, proving from the Scriptures that Jesus was the Messiah. Just as Paul used scripture to prove Jesus was the Messiah, Apollos used scripture to do the same. He was able to do this because He was a learned man, with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures.
It is always good for those of us who are believers to have scripture laid out before us showing the truths of Jesus as the Messiah and as the Son of God. Having made the choice to follow Jesus, to believe in the grace He grants to anyone who will believe, we always appreciate those who can defend the myriad opponents of Jesus and those who follow Him. Believing in Him and His Grace is a great step in faith. It is to be cherished and strengthened whenever and however possible.
Making the choice to believe separates us from those who do not believe and demand evidence beyond God’s word and all the archaeological findings. Nonetheless we are blessed to believe without having personally seen Jesus as He told Thomas in John 20:29, 29 Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed. This brings me to Psalm 40 of David, verse 4, 4 Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, who does not look to the proud, to those who turn aside to false gods. I believe!
Bottom Line: Choosing to believe Jesus is the Son of God and that we receive grace through His sacrifice on the cross is the most important decision of our lives. I am writing about all those in the New Testament who chose to believe then, just as we do now.
Prayer: Almighty God, You have sent many to show us the truth of Your Son Jesus as the Messiah and as the One who paid the price for our sins. Your gift of Grace is a gift we neither deserve nor could earn. Thank You for Your incredible patience and boundless mercy. – In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
RileyD, nwJ
Riley D. Driver – Pastor
Calvary Chapel of Dayton
in Beavercreek