From Acts to Revelation Part 50 – Apollos

From Acts to Revelation

Part 50 – Apollos

Pastor Bruce A. Shields

House of Faith Church | www.PS127.org | www.TruthDigest.org

INTRODUCTION

Last week we saw Paul, who had been traveling with his friends from his tent making job, stopped in many places, preaching and teaching the Word of God.

He leaves again for Jerusalem, so that he can make it there in time for the Passover feast, where he will be able to speak to many about the true meaning of the Passover, and how everything in scripture points to the need for Jesus the Christ.

He leaves Aquila and Priscilla behind, where they continue to teach others a deeper understanding of Jesus.

It is at this time they meet Apollos, who is a man who has been introduced to Christ, and preaches of Him, but has a limited knowledge.

Aquila and Priscilla see an opportunity to teach, and encourage Apollos, so that he may become more proficient in his teaching and preaching, knowing the full Gospel of salvation through the grace of God, and about the Baptism of the Holy Spirit.

SCRIPTURE REFERENCE

Acts 18:24-28

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.

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.

I.       APOLLOS

a.      We know from scripture that Paul held Apollos in high esteem. However, here, Apollos is just starting his ministry, and his knowledge was greatly limited respecting Grace, and the Baptism of the Holy Spirit.

b.     Apollos did speak with great fervor, and taught about Jesus accurately, with respect to what he DID know.

II.    THE BAPTISM OF JOHN

a.      Apollos only knew of the Baptism of John

b.     The Baptism of john only addressed repentance, and the water Baptism

c.      He knew nothing of god's Grace, nor the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

III. APOLLOS SPOKE BOLDLY

a.      Apollos spoke the Synagogue, where Paul had left Aquila and Priscilla, his tent making friends he got a job and worked for in Corinth.

b.     They took Apollos in, and taught him the things Paul had taught them over the two years they had known Paul.

c.      They expounded Apollos' understanding on the way of God, teaching him of the completion of salvation by the Grace of God and the correct Baptism of the Holy Spirit.

CONCLUSION

Afterwords, Apollos traveled to Achaia.  The brother's wrote, encouraging the disciples to receive Apollos, and when he arrived, the scriptures tell us he was a great help, now that he was proficient in the message of the Grace of God.

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From Acts to Revelation Part 49 – Paul

From Acts to Revelation

Part 49 – Paul

Pastor Bruce A. Shields

House of Faith Church | www.PS127.org | www.TruthDigest.org

INTRODUCTION

Last week we read of Paul traveling to Corinth. There, he got a job as a tent maker, and preached in the Synagogue weekly, trying to convince the Jews and Greeks.

When Silas and Timothy arrived from Macedonia, Paul devoted himself exclusively to preaching.  However, the Jews opposed Paul, and became abusive.

Frustrated with the continual abuses by the Jews in every city, Paul tells them, “You blood be on your own heads! I am innocent of it. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.”

God then showed Paul a vision, telling him not to be afraid to speak, because God was with him. So Paul stayed in Corinth for a year and a half teaching the Word of God.

Today, we will see;

1)     Why God told Paul not to be afraid.

2)     How sometimes where we are in life is an advantage to our ministry.

3)     And what we can do with the Spiritual Gifts God has given us.

SCRIPTURE REFERENCE

Acts 18:12-23

While Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews of Corinth made a united attack on Paul and brought him to the place of judgment. 13 “This man,” they charged, “is persuading the people to worship God in ways contrary to the law.”

14 Just as Paul was about to speak, Gallio said to them, “If you Jews were making a complaint about some misdemeanor or serious crime, it would be reasonable for me to listen to you. 15 But since it involves questions about words and names and your own law—settle the matter yourselves. I will not be a judge of such things.” 16 So he drove them off. 17 Then the crowd there turned on Sosthenes the synagogue leader and beat him in front of the proconsul; and Gallio showed no concern whatever.

18 Paul stayed on in Corinth for some time. Then he left the brothers and sisters and sailed for Syria,accompanied by Priscilla and Aquila. Before he sailed, he had his hair cut off at Cenchreae because of a vow he had taken. 19 They arrived at Ephesus, where Paul left Priscilla and Aquila. He himself went into the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews. 20 When they asked him to spend more time with them, he declined. 21 But as he left, he promised, “I will come back if it is God’s will.” Then he set sail from Ephesus. 22 When he landed at Caesarea, he went up to Jerusalem and greeted the church and then went down to Antioch.

23 After spending some time in Antioch, Paul set out from there and traveled from place to place throughout the region of Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples

I.       PAUL CHARGED AGAIN

a.      The Jews who opposed Paul, took him before the Proconsul of Achaia

i.       The Jews did this because they had no power to punish a Roman Citizen

ii.    In front of the Governor, they accused Paul of teaching people to worship God contrary to the Law.

a.      Not Roman law, but the Law of Moses

b.     Remember, they could not punish a Roman Citizen (which Paul was).

iii. Before, we have seen trumped up charges by the Jews against Paul, which did get him beaten, and thrown in prison more than once.

iv.   This time though, the Jews tried charging a Roman Citizen with a religious matter, that did not concern the Governor

b.      Governor Gallio Answers them

i.       Paul was just about to speak in his defense, as he had so many times before, when Gallio spoke.

ii.    Saying to the Jews, “If you Jews were making a complaint about some misdemeanor or serious crime, it would be reasonable for me to listen to you. 15 But since it involves questions about words and names and your own law—settle the matter yourselves. I will not be a judge of such things.”

a.      He put everything in the proper perspective, and left the matter alone.

b.     He told the Jews to settle the matter themselves, it had nothing to do with the Roman Court.

c.      In essence, he is saying, you will not use a Roman Court to carry forth your personal schemes.

c.      He then drove them from the judgment seat.

i.       This would have been somewhat humiliating to the Jews, not getting their case tried or further heard.

d.     The Greeks then took Sosthenes, the Chief ruler of the Synagogue, who took the place of Crispus after he accepted the Lord and left, and beat him in front of the judgment seat.

i.       The scriptures do not explain why this took place.

ii.    Perhaps the Greeks thought it was Sosthenes who told the Jews to charge Paul, and take him to the Governor?

II.    PAUL CONTINUED TO PREACH IN CORINTH

a.      We see from scripture why God encouraged Paul in the vision

i.       Do not be afraid, I have many men in Corinth.

ii.    Continue to speak!

iii. I am with you.

b.     The Jews in Corinth were powerless to do anything against Paul as far as the courts there were concerned.

c.      And I am sure that, after the beating the Chief ruler received from the Greeks, the Jews would probably no longer openly oppose Paul there.

d.     So Paul stayed a few more months before continuing his travels.

III. PAUL CONTINUED TO BUILD AND EDIFY THE CHURCH

a.      According to the timing of the Lord, Paul left when he was lead to by the Holy Spirit.

b.     Paul sailed to Syria, taking Priscilla and Aquila with him.

i.       They had become close friends after Paul first came to Corinth nearly two years before, living with them and working with them making tents.

c.      We read that Paul also shaved his head in Cenchrea to keep a vow he had made.

i.       We are not told what the vow was, just that he made it, and obviously kept it.

d.     Paul then traveled to Ephesus, where he left Priscilla and Aquila.

e.      Paul reasoned with the Jew in the Synagogue, and when they had left, they desired him to stay longer.

i.       But he did not.

ii.    However, it was here that Priscilla and Aquila stayed, and no doubt, continued to teach about Christ.

f.       Paul could not stay because he wanted to keep the feast of the Passover in Jerusalem.

i.       However, he does tell them, “I will return, if it is God's will.”

g.      Paul then went up to Caesarea, and saluted the Church there, he went down to Antioch.

CONCLUSION

Paul spent some time there, concluding his second missionary tip. When he left, it would begin his third missionary trip, and he would go all over the country of Galatia, and Phrygia in order, strengthening all the Disciples.

This probably lasted about six months. It is believed that Timothy, Erastus, Gaius, and Aristarchus may have been traveling with Paul at this time. Titus may have been included as well.

So we learned from the scripture today that;

1.      Why God told Paul not to be afraid.

Because God knew that more tribulation was going to come at the hands of the Jews in the form of opposition and accusation, but God also knew that it would not lead to anything.

2.      How sometimes where we are in life is an advantage to our ministry.

Paul was a Roman Citizen...because the charges brought against him had to do with the Law of Moses, and not Roman Law, he was actually saved from judgment.

God will use where we are in life, as well as what positions we may have, or office we may hold, to work towards His will.

Paul had the advantage of being a Roman Citizen. Some of us may be in positions where we are allowed certain privileges that others do not have. If so, we can use them for sharing the Gospel and Christ with others for God's Will.

3.      And what we can do with the Spiritual Gifts God has given us.

The scriptures tell us that we are all given different Spiritual Gifts, and these gifts are specifically to be used for the BUILDING and STRENGTHENING of the church!

Our spiritual gifts, although they differ from person to person, are for encouraging, building, strengthening, lifting up, edifying the people in the Churches, BECAUSE...

the PEOPLE ARE THE CHURCH!

Want to learn more about Salvation and Getting Saved?    CLICK HERE!

From Acts to Revelation Part 48 – Corinth

From Acts to Revelation

Part 48 – Corinth

Pastor Bruce A. Shields

House of Faith Church | www.PS127.org | www.TruthDigest.org

INTRODUCTION

Last week we saw how Paul, finding himself in what would be considered the capital of Rome, Athens, standing on Mars hill, a place dedicated to the Roman god of war. The place was filled with statues to every known and un-known god in Roman culture.

Paul seized the opportunity he saw, instead of attacking the people for worshiping false gods, he connected with them, explaining that he knew who the unknown God was, and would love to share this with them.

Athens, being a place of knowledge and teaching, they listened intently to Paul, and many were saved!

After leaving Athens, Paul traveled to Corinth, one of the major cities in Rome. Here he would settle in for a while, and this is where our scripture picks up today.

In today's message, we will learn the following;

1)     Why Paul had a job while preaching the gospel

2)     Why Paul finally became fed up with the Jews

3)     And we will see that, if God sends you to do something, He will enable you to do what it is He sent you to do.

SCRIPTURE REFERENCE

Acts 18:1-11

18 After this, Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. 2 There he met a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had ordered all Jews to leave Rome. Paul went to see them, 3 and because he was a tentmaker as they were, he stayed and worked with them. 4 Every Sabbath he reasoned in the synagogue, trying to persuade Jews and Greeks.

5 When Silas and Timothy came from Macedonia, Paul devoted himself exclusively to preaching, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Messiah. 6 But when they opposed Paul and became abusive, he shook out his clothes in protest and said to them, “Your blood be on your own heads! I am innocent of it. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.”

7 Then Paul left the synagogue and went next door to the house of Titius Justus, a worshiper of God.8 Crispus, the synagogue leader, and his entire household believed in the Lord; and many of the Corinthians who heard Paul believed and were baptized.

9 One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: “Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent.10 For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city.” 11 So Paul stayed in Corinth for a year and a half, teaching them the word of God.

I.       AFTER MARS HILL IN ATHENS

a.      Paul leaves Athens and travels to Corinth

i.       A great city in the Roman Empire

b.     In Corinth, Paul meets a Jew named Aquila, and his wife named Priscilla

i.       They were in Corinth because the Emperor Claudius ordered all Jews to leave Rome

ii.    This took place approximately 49-50A.D.

c.      They were tent makers, like Paul

i.       He stayed with them and worked.

ii.    He probably found them looking for work.

d.     Sometimes, ministers of the gospel have to work outside the church

i.       1 Thessalonians 2:9, Paul reminds the people why he worked at a job while preaching; “Surely you remember, brothers, our toil and hardship; we worked night and day in order not to be a burden to anyone while we preached the gospel of God to you.”

ii.    2 Corinthians 11:9, Paul said, “And when I was with you and needed something, I was not a burden to anyone, for the brothers who came from Macedonia supplied what I needed. I have kept myself from being a burden to you in any way, and will continue to do so.”

e.      Isn't the Pastor supposed to receive his livelihood from the church?

i.       Yes. 1 Corinthians 9:14 "In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel.”

ii.    HOWEVER, 1 Thessalonians 2:6, “We were not looking for praise from men, not from you or anyone else. As apostles of Christ we could have been a burden to you,”

iii. 2 Thessalonians 3:9, “We did this, not because we do not have the right to such help, but in order to make ourselves a model for you to follow.”

iv.   And what was the model for the followers of Christ to follow? 

a.      Not to be a burden to the Church, even if it is the Churches responsibility to help

b.     A minister is to receive his pay for his work in the church, as long as it is NOT a burden or jeopardizes the church financially.

c.      This is why, when we had hard times a few years ago, I went many months without pay.

d.     And why I have not taken a pay raise in years, even though the cost of living continues to rise.

e.      And why I work, so I will not be a burden to the church.

II.    FRUSTRATED WITH THE JEWS

a.      In verse 4, we see that, although Paul is working as a tent maker in Corinth, every Sabbath he reasoned in the Synagogue, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks.

b.     Silas and Timothy eventually arrived from Macedonia

i.       At this time, we can see in Verse 5,”Paul devoted himself exclusively to preaching, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Messiah.”

ii.    At the Holy Spirits leading, Paul began to bear down harder, presenting Jesus as the Christ.

c.      Some protested, even blaspheming

i.       Paul, frustrated with their bullheadedness, shook his clothes and said to them, “Your blood be on your own heads! I am innocent of it. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.”

ii.    Remember, in every city, the Jews resisted him, fought with him, argued, debated, attacked, beat, imprisoned, took him to court, etc. etc.

iii. This doesn't mean he would no longer minister to the Jews if he was presented with an opportunity. We know this because we can read in Acts 19:8 he did so in Ephesus. It simply means, his attention would mostly be on the Gentiles now.

III. PROTECTED BY GOD

a.      While Paul preached the Gospel, a man named Justus accepted Christ.

i.       As did Crispus, the Chief Ruler of the Synagogue.

ii.    And many of the Corinthians, upon hearing, believed and were baptized.

b.     Many Gentiles (Corinthians) were now being saved!

c.      Paul then had a vision

i.       “Be not afraid. But speak, and hold not your peace.”

ii.    “For I am with you, and no man shall set on you to hurt you: for I have much people in this city.”

d.     So Paul continued preaching there for 1 ½ years.

i.       Teaching the Word of God among them.

CONCLUSION

In today's message, we will learn the following;

1.       Why Paul had a job while preaching the gospel

Because he did not want to be a financial burden to the new church.

2.       Why Paul finally became fed up with the Jews

Their continual refusal as a group to accept Jesus as the Christ, and attacks on Paul, both verbally and physically.

3.       And we will see that, if God sends you to do something, He will enable you to do what it is He sent you to do.

God protected Paul as he taught the Word of God to the people.

Want to learn more about Salvation and Getting Saved?    CLICK HERE!