Acts - Week 9 / Friday

Reading for today: Acts 18:18-28

At Cenchraea, Paul had his hair cut, because of a vow he had taken. This is not explained, but it was probably a modified Nazarite vow, a vow that expressed total dedication to God and to His will. The hair was always cut at the conclusion of the period of the vow, as Numbers 6 tells us.

After landing at Caesarea, he went up to Jerusalem and paid his respects to the church there, since he wanted to maintain a good relationship with them. From Jerusalem he went to Antioch of Syria, and thus ended the second missionary journey.

After he had spent some time in Antioch, he took off on a third missionary journey, visiting the churches he had helped establish on his first and second journeys. Paul never started churches and then left them to fend for themselves. He was always revisiting and writing the young churches, giving them further teaching and strengthening the young disciples.

Meanwhile, a new guy shows up in Ephesus, a Jew named Apollos. He was an eloquent man, well-educated, a real scholar, and powerful in his use of the Scriptures. He had all the facts straight about Jesus' life and ministry, as well as about His death and resurrection. But he was not up to speed on what happened following Jesus' ascension. He knew nothing about the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost. He was passionate about what he knew, He just didn't know everything he needed to know.

Priscilla and Aquila were present and heard him speak. They did not say anything to him in the synagogue, but took him aside to give him further instruction. In all likelihood, they took him home with them. There they explained God's way to him more precisely, and brought him up to speed.

That Apollos responded to this instruction is shown by the letters of recommendation the Christian brothers in Ephesus write for him when he wanted to go over to Greece. It is interesting to note, also, that the best Greek scholars, dating as far back as Chrysostom, agree that it was Priscilla who took the lead in giving this instruction to Apollos. She was obviously a very gracious and Godly woman.

Next week: Some strange things happen in Ephesus!