BIBLE IN TEN

Acts 19:4

Wednesday, 26 July 2023
 
Then Paul said, “John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on Him who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.” Acts 19:4
 
In the previous verse, Paul had asked the disciples that he had met, “Into what then were you baptized?” Their answer was that they were baptized into John’s baptism. With that, it next says, “Then Paul said, ‘John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance.’”
 
This was the point and purpose of John’s baptism. He spoke to Israel, under the law, about their state before the law. John was calling the people back to obedience to the law because the law anticipated the coming of Christ. Three times in Matthew 3:1-12 he spoke of repentance. The word repentance comes from the Greek word metanoia. It means “a change of mind.” One is thinking one way and he is to change his mind and think another way.
 
In Matthew 3, when asked who he was, John cited the prophet Isaiah. A fuller portion of what Isaiah said was –
 
“’Comfort, yes, comfort My people!’Says your God.2 ‘Speak comfort to Jerusalem, and cry out to her,That her warfare is ended,That her iniquity is pardoned;For she has received from the Lord’s handDouble for all her sins.’3 The voice of one crying in the wilderness:‘Prepare the way of the Lord;Make straight in the desertA highway for our God.4 Every valley shall be exaltedAnd every mountain and hill brought low;The crooked places shall be made straightAnd the rough places smooth;5 The glory of the Lord shall be revealed,And all flesh shall see it together;For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.’” Isaiah 40:1-5
 
John claimed that he was the voice calling the people to repent, to change their minds about how they were living, and to turn to God in preparation for the coming of the Lord – the Messiah. This is not at all what Paul and the other apostles proclaimed. In Acts 2, Peter did tell the people of Israel to repent, but it wasn’t in preparation for the coming of the Messiah. Rather, it was that the Messiah had come and they had crucified Him. They needed to repent of this, to change their mind about what they had done.
 
In the case of these disciples in Ephesus, they had been baptized into John. They had been told that the Messiah was coming and they needed to prepare themselves for that event. Paul then explains exactly what that meant with the words, “saying to the people that they should believe.”
 
There is no hint of repentance in the directive. The repentance John called for was directed to those of Israel under the law in anticipation of the coming Messiah. When He came, they were to believe. They would need no change of mind because their minds had been prepared for His coming. In the case of those in Acts 2, they had to change their minds because they had failed to be prepared for His coming. Now that the Messiah had come, they simply needed to believe “on Him who would come after him.”
 
John said He was coming. When He came, it would be evident. He would fulfill the ancient prophecies, He would be spotless before God in relation to the law, and He would fulfill the law in that capacity, etc. Their repentance, their changing of their minds, was to prepare their minds under the law to accept His fulfillment of the law. With that understood, Paul then explains who John was speaking about, saying, “that is, on Christ Jesus.”
 
The word Christ is Greek for the Hebrew word Messiah. Paul proclaims that Jesus is the Messiah and these disciples were to believe on Him. There is nothing affixed to that, just believe. With this verse, John the Baptist is never mentioned again in Scripture. The time of the law has given way to the time of grace. Salvation is something that is appropriated by belief in God’s provision of grace in the giving of His Son. Nothing can be added to that. The work is complete.
 
Life application: As noted above, the word “repent” means “to change one’s mind.” It means nothing more. The word does not mean, “turn from your sin before you can be saved.” When a person is presented with the gospel, he is told that he is a sinner – “Christ died for your sins.” If Christ died for sins, it means that there are sins in his life that Jesus needed to die for. In believing this, it is an acknowledgment by the person that he is a sinner in need of a Savior.
 
No list of sins is necessary to be presented to the person, identifying what it means to sin before God. The statement “Christ died for your sins” is all-encompassing. When the person believes this by faith, his sins are forgiven – all of them. Only after this occurs does a person then find out what is pleasing to God and what is displeasing to Him.
 
In other words, someone may be a notorious liar, a homosexual, a brawler, a thief, and a murderer. When he is given the gospel, “Do you know that you are a sinner and that Jesus died for your sins?”, the person giving the gospel may not know a single thing about that person. The person being spoken to may say, “I know I am a sinner and I know I have offended God. I am so relieved that God sent His Son to die for me. I believe!”
 
It is at this moment, and no other, that he is saved. He has not yet given up on any of the wicked things he has been doing. He may not even know which things he is doing are offensive to God. Only now, after his salvation, does he start to learn what he does that is in need of change. By saying, “You must give up XX, XX, and XX before you can be saved,” you have presented a false gospel of works. This person may do what he is told and he now believes he merits God’s forgiveness. This is not the gospel at all. It is an affront to God who sent His Son to die for this person’s sins. His turning from those things may not equate to belief in Jesus’ work at all.
 
Be sure to get the gospel down properly. If you misrepresent the gospel, you are not presenting the gospel.
 
O God, we just can’t seem to get grace. We say we believe it, we tell people about it, and yet we then add to what Jesus has done when telling others about what they need to do in order to be pleasing to You. We remove grace from the equation and bring back deeds of self. Forgive us of this. Help us to properly present the gospel of grace. Jesus has done it all. What we need to be saved is faith in Jesus, plus nothing. Amen.

Acts 19:3

Tuesday, 25 July 2023
 
And he said to them, “Into what then were you baptized?”So they said, “Into John’s baptism.” Acts 19:3
 
In the previous verse, Paul asked the disciples he met in Ephesus if they had received the Holy Spirit when they believed. Their answer was that they had not heard about whether there is a Holy Spirit. Because of this, the narrative next says, “And he said to them, ‘Into what then were you baptized?’”
 
Paul's question is obvious. If they are disciples, then how could they not know that the Holy Spirit had been given? A lot of information is left unstated so far in this account. First, in verse 1, it said, “and finding some disciples.” Paul met these people and they obviously claimed to be disciples of the Messiah. Otherwise, the content of what occurs would have no meaning.
 
Paul, assuming that they meant “Jesus the Messiah,” but still maybe wondering if they had received a false Messiah (see 2 Corinthians 11:4), asked about their receiving the Spirit in verse 2. Again, this must be the case because they are called disciples. At this point, they said that they were unaware of this part of the equation.
 
They are disciples, implying they are followers of someone.
Paul asks if they received the Spirit when they believed, implying that they claimed to be disciples of the Messiah, otherwise, Paul would not have asked this.
They are unaware of the giving of the Spirit.
Therefore, Paul asks them, “Into what then were you baptized?”
 
This is what has taken place. The obvious and certain meaning is that being disciples involved...? Anyone...? Yes, you., in the seventh row.
 
Baptism.
 
Very good. You get an A for the semester.
 
Paul would not have asked this unless it was understood that being a disciple of the Messiah involved being baptized.
 
With that understanding, completely supported by the surrounding text, it next says, “So they said, ‘Into John’s baptism.’”
 
Their answer explains the situation. They had been baptized into John's baptism. The rite of baptism is an outward reflection of the doctrine to which one adheres to. Their doctrine looked forward to the coming Messiah and the giving of the Spirit but it did not go any further. 
 
As John never claimed to be the Messiah, the clear inference at this point is that these people had heard that John proclaimed the Messiah was coming. They believed his words and were baptized in John’s baptism. Thus, it by default made them disciples of the coming Messiah because John had died. Certainly knowing he had, they were expecting the coming of the Messiah that John proclaimed. And more, John died before the giving of the Spirit. These disciples probably traveled back home to Ephesus, never hearing about the coming of Jesus.
 
To understand what the faith of these disciples was based on, take time to read Luke 3:1-22. A short portion of this larger section will give an important part of that passage –
 
“Now as the people were in expectation, and all reasoned in their hearts about John, whether he was the Christ or not, 16 John answered, saying to all, ‘I indeed baptize you with water; but One mightier than I is coming, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 17 His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather the wheat into His barn; but the chaff He will burn with unquenchable fire.’” Luke 3:15-17
 
Life application: John says that the One coming after Him would baptize His believers with the Holy Spirit and fire. Special note for hyperdispensationalists: This does not mean that this is the baptism Jesus refers to in Matthew 28:19. Jesus’ followers do not baptize anyone into the Holy Spirit, nor do they purify those who believe, symbolized by the fire. That is solely a work of the Lord.
 
In addition to proclaiming the coming Messiah, John baptized his believers. The reason for this is stated in the gospels, and it will be restated by Paul in the next verse. However, Jesus also told those who follow Him to make disciples and baptize. As noted above, the rite of baptism is an outward reflection of doctrine to which one adheres to.
 
This means every person who receives Jesus, believing His gospel, is to be baptized. It is a reflection of the doctrine that is adhered to when they believe – Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection. Paul’s question in the verse today clearly and unambiguously reveals that he expected that all disciples were to be baptized. Otherwise, the question would not have been asked.
 
If you have not been baptized as an outward demonstration of the inner change that has taken place in you, it is your responsibility to have this corrected. Be baptized, identifying yourself with the Lord who has already saved you because of your faith in Him.
 
Glorious Lord God, Jesus did not leave us with a long laundry list of things that we should do to honor Him. But two of the things He did leave for us to accomplish are to be baptized and to regularly observe the Lord’s Supper. May we be willing to observe these ordinances to honor Him accordingly. Amen.

Acts 19:2

Monday, 24 July 2023
 
he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?”So they said to him, “We have not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit.” Acts 19:2
 
The previous verse noted that Paul had arrived in Ephesus and met some disciples. That thought continues now, saying, “he said to them, ‘Did you receive the Holy Spirit.’” The text does not say why Paul asked this, but there is obviously something that made him suspect concerning their walk that must have precipitated the question. Further, there is no article before Holy Spirit. As Bengel notes, “the language is indefinite, to accord with the part (pro parte) of those who are being interrogated.”
 
With that understood, Paul next says what should be the case. Though this is a descriptive account, it carefully details what is normative with the words, “when you believed?” It is obvious that Paul understands that belief equates to reception. There is a one-to-one correspondence between the two. The verb is an aorist participle, “when you believed,” or more exactingly, “having believed.”
 
This is in accord with the words of Ephesians 1:13, 14 –
 
“In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.”
 
It should be noted that Paul’s words of Ephesians, being a written epistle, are prescriptive. They outline what is always to be the case. Belief means sealing. It does not necessarily include what will occur in the coming verses in Acts. In other words, what occurs in these coming verses is a description of what happened at that time but it is not something that should necessarily be expected to occur. The only thing that can be expected is the sealing of the Spirit which occurs upon belief.
Expressed more fully, Paul’s words in Acts show that it is normative that the Spirit is received upon belief. That is confirmed in Ephesians. However, what occurs beyond that cannot be taken as normative, such as speaking in tongues and prophesying. These outward demonstrations that take place are described by Luke, but they are not to be taken as normative events. If they were, then Paul’s words of Ephesians would include that as well.
 
This is the problem with Charismatic and Pentecostal churches. They mix what is prescriptive and what is descriptive and they also take what is not normative and they assume it is normative. In this, they fail to rightly divide Scripture. This results in faulty theology. As for the account now, it continues with, “So they said to him, ‘We have not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit.’”
 
In these words, it appears to be saying that they didn’t know of the existence of the Holy Spirit. This is not the intent of what is said. Rather, it was that they had not heard He had been given to the people of God. As Bengel says –
 
“...they could not have followed either Moses or John the Baptist, without hearing of the Holy Spirit Himself. [Therefore what they were ignorant of was, the effusion of the Holy Spirit peculiar to the New Testament.—V. g.]”
 
For example, the Holy Spirit is mentioned explicitly in Psalm 51:11, but He is inferred as far back as Genesis 1:2. He is referred to in verses such as Numbers 11:17 as well. When John the Baptist came, he spoke of the Holy Spirit in Matthew 3:11 and elsewhere. Thus, it could not be that they did not know of the existence of the Holy Spirit but of the reception of Him by believers. John 7:39 gives the sense –
 
“But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.”
 
The word “given” is inserted for clarity in this verse. It simply says, “the Holy Spirit was not yet.” Therefore, a translation such as the ERSV gives the sense of this verse in Acts –
 
 “Nay, we did not so much as hear whether the Holy Ghost was given.”
 
What is being detailed here begins to explain why the account of Apollos was given just prior to this account now. If the narrative is closely analyzed and properly understood, there would not be as much poor doctrine permeating the church as there is.
 
Apollos “had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things of the Lord” (Acts 18:25), even if he had not yet received the baptism Jesus spoke of. These disciples have not been so instructed. Thus, the account in Acts 19 is given to reveal to us what occurred as the church began (describing events as they happened) and to form a normative or not-normative basis for future events during similar circumstances.
 
In this case, it is normative and expected that when a person rightly believes, he will be sealed with the Holy Spirit. It is not normative, however, that external evidences of this sealing will occur. Further, water baptism, though expected for every believer in Jesus, is not required for being sealed with the Spirit, and thus being saved. This will continue to be fleshed out as the account continues.
 
Life application: Look at the difference between these two translations of this verse:
 
He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? KJV
he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” NKJV
 
Just a few words can lead to a complete misunderstanding of what is being conveyed. The word “since” does not connect the two. It could be any amount of time from belief to reception. The two verbs are in the aorist tense and therefore denote instantaneous acts. Thus, the KJV is contrary to Eph 1:13, 14. The NKJV corrects this with the word “when.”
 
The word “since” can be expressed as a preposition to denote the intervening between two events, such as, “I haven’t spoken to Bob since the wedding.” It can be used as a conjunction, denoting a time in the past until the time being considered, which is usually the present, such as, “Daniel has been eating durian since he got here.” It can be a conjunction signifying “because,” such as, “Wade is happy, since better protections have resulted in fewer accidents at his office.” It can also be used as an adverb, such as, “Sergio took off for a Nephilim hunt and nobody has seen him since.”
 
None of these accurately equate to the Greek of Acts 19:2. The verb, as noted above, is an aorist participle, most appropriately rendered “having believed.” The error introduced by the Tyndale Bible of 1526 (or earlier), was carried on by the Coverdale Bible of 1535, the Bishop’s Bible of 1568, and the Geneva Bible of 1587.
 
The KJV and many other translations took the easy path and simply passed on what earlier translations had set forth. This has surely led to many people coming to faulty conclusions concerning the matter being presented. And, inevitably, faulty conclusions lead to faulty doctrine.
 
Be wise, be studious, and be willing to check things out. Don’t just accept what you read, hear, or see on a TV program or YouTube video. Theology is hard work, but it will pay off in a sound walk with the Lord and in the right doctrine to guide your life.
 
Heavenly Father, may we be responsible with the time You have given us, carefully searching out Your word and making sound conclusions concerning what it presents. It is of the greatest importance to a wholesome walk with You to know what is accurate and proper. Help us in this all our days. Amen.
 

Acts 19:1

Sunday, 23 July 2023
 
And it happened, while Apollos was at Corinth, that Paul, having passed through the upper regions, came to Ephesus. And finding some disciples Acts 19:1
 
In the previous verse, which ended Chapter 18, it said that Apollos vigorously refuted the Jews publicly, showing from the Scriptures that Jesus is the Christ. With that remembered, Chapter 19 begins with, “And it happened, while Apollos was at Corinth.”
 
The verb is present tense. Thus, it more rightly reads, “And it happened, in Apollos’ being in Corinth.” The two accounts, though presented one after the other, are occurring at the same time. This is the second and last time that Apollos is mentioned by name in Acts.
 
He will be mentioned again repeatedly in 1 Corinthians, and then one more time in Titus. However, the substance of his being mentioned in Acts is really found only in Acts 18:24-28. Therefore, there is a reason that Luke has been inspired to include him. He has no direct interaction with either Peter or Paul, the two main people of focus in Acts, and yet a particular section of the book has been dedicated to events surrounding him. As for the ongoing narrative, it continues with, “that Paul, having passed through the upper regions.”
 
Archaic translations say “coasts” instead of “regions.” But this isn't the modern sense of coast. Instead of traveling along a seacoast, this involved inland travel along borders. From Galatia and Phrygia to Ephesus is the route. Two words are translated as the singular word “regions,” anōterika mere. The first word is found only here in Scripture. It signifies “upper.” The second word signifies a part, portion, or share. Thus, it is the “upper parts,” or “upper districts.”
 
Albert Barnes says, “These regions were called upper, because they were situated on the high table-land in the interior of Asia Minor, while Ephesus was in the low maritime regions, and called the low country.” After traveling through these upper parts, he “came to Ephesus.”
 
This shows the faithfulness of Paul to his words of Acts 18 –
 
“And he came to Ephesus, and left them there; but he himself entered the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews. 20 When they asked him to stay a longer time with them, he did not consent, 21 but took leave of them, saying, ‘I must by all means keep this coming feast in Jerusalem; but I will return again to you, God willing.’ And he sailed from Ephesus.” Acts 18:19-21
 
With Paul in Ephesus, it next says, “And finding some disciples.” Rather, the verb is an aorist participle, “And having found some disciples.” Luke is preparing the reader for the next thought to be presented.
 
Life application: With the short account of Apollos now complete, and with the reintroduction of Paul into the timeline, it must be asked, “What was the point of mentioning Apollos at all?” In other words, there were apostles, missionaries, and disciples all over the place at this time, spreading the word in various ways and with numerous people.
 
And yet, a man and the events of a short period of his time are introduced and quickly ended. With that complete, he will not be mentioned again in Luke’s narrative. This should cause us to stop and think about the “why” of what we were being told. The answer is not far off, but we can very easily miss it if we don’t intentionally ask ourselves, “Why was this included?”
 
As you continue to read the Bible and become more aware of such notations, take time to pause and ask yourself exactly that. This book we call the Holy Bible has been inspired by God. It is the word of God. Everything in it has been given for a purpose. So, contemplate what you have read, think about the events that occur, and consider the “why” of each thing that is included.
 
In this, you will be pleasing to the Lord who has put these things in it for you to consider. Think about your own situation. If you are cut off or ignored in the middle of a conversation, you will feel as if what you say is unimportant. If you speak out something and find out the person you were with wasn’t paying attention, you will be offended that they had no care about the instructions you were giving. If you write a heartfelt letter to someone and you later find out they never read it, you will wonder if you have any meaning at all to that person.
 
Aren’t these the same ways we treat God when we fail to heed His word, when we read it and don’t pay heed to what we have read, or when we neglect reading it altogether? As such, think of how pleased He must be when we actively participate and engage with His word! Treat your Bible time as if it is the most personal and intimate part of your life because it truly is. Just like prayer, it is a time spent with God because it is time spent hearing, heeding, and hoping in His word.
 
Heavenly Father, forgive us for not making Your word a priority in our lives. We cherish each letter from a close friend or family member. We long to hear the voice of those we love, we remember the words that are spoken to us by those we care about. May we be just as attentive, even more attentive, to Your precious and lovingly transmitted word. Amen.

Acts 18:28

Saturday, 22 July 2023
 
for he vigorously refuted the Jews publicly, showing from the Scriptures that Jesus is the Christ. Acts 18:28
 
In the previous verse, Apollos went off to Achaia. When he went, he was given a letter of introduction. Upon his arrival, it says he greatly helped those who had believed through the grace. At that time, it was questioned whether “the grace” applied to those who had believed or if it referred to the grace bestowed upon Apollos as a gift. What seems most likely is the latter. That appears to be bolstered by the next words, “for he vigorously refuted the Jews.”
 
The word translated as “refuting” is found only here. It is a long compound word that signifies “to prove downright.” The Jews said one thing and he said another. Also, the adverb eutonós, translated as “vigorously,” is seen for the second and last time. It signifies well stretched, pressed to the limit, or fully extended. Thus, it gives the sense of “mightily,” or “vigorously.”
 
The subject is Apollos. The grace bestowed upon him was for oratory skills, the ability to understand Scripture, etc. He was able to make a convincing argument against the Jews because of these things. Further, the verb is imperfect, more rightly saying, “refuting the Jews.” He didn’t have just one argument against their interpretation of things. Rather, he was overflowing with points that silenced them time and again. And more, he did this “publicly.”
 
It is obvious from this that he was accustomed to speaking in front of others and he was able to form arguments that were convincing not just to himself, but to those who heard. He openly challenged the Jews on a continuing basis because of this. And more, these arguments didn’t just come from his head or from hearsay evidence. Rather, he was “showing from the Scriptures.”
 
The source of the faith, the Hebrew Scriptures, clearly revealed that his arguments were valid and irrefutable. As they are the basis for the Jewish religion, and as he was able to draw from them his evidence, then what he said had to be taken as a valid interpretation unless demonstrated otherwise based on the context. The tenor of Luke’s words, however, is that they could not do this. Thus, Apollos was able to demonstrate, right from the Scriptures, “that Jesus is the Christ.”
 
There are prophecies in Scripture that when realized would point to only one possibility for fulfillment. For example, the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem. He would be from the tribe of Judah. And so forth. By comparing what was prophesied and then placing Jesus side by side with those prophecies, it was absolutely assured that He is the Messiah.
 
And more, the things that He did validated this fact as well. He would die for sins. He would resurrect. And so forth. The Jews misunderstood the role of the Messiah and had come to faulty conclusions about who He would be and what He would do. Apollos was able to clearly refute the Jews because he grasped these things, understanding what they meant and how they pointed to what Jesus had done.
 
Life application: When you speak to Jews about Jesus today, it is not as easy to refute them as you might think. The reason for this is that many do not believe in the inspiration of Scripture. Most believe that the later writings of the rabbis that are compiled in the Talmud form the proper basis for their religious and cultural life.
 
Therefore, you will be arguing apples and oranges. Unless a Jew (or any other person) is willing to accept the authority of Scripture, there isn’t much you can do to convince them of the truth of who Jesus is. It takes a great deal of understanding Scripture and how reliable it is to be able to break through such barriers.
 
This is why it is so very important to know your Bible and to be able to defend what you believe. Never stop pursuing this marvelous word. It is what is needed to change hearts and minds. By knowing it, and by demonstrating how reliable it is, you can then have a positive impact on those you speak to.
 
Glorious God, thank You for Your word. Give us wisdom in reading and interpreting it so that we can properly and effectively tell others about the riches contained in it. May we be responsible enough in our lives to read it daily and meditate on it constantly. To Your glory, we pray. Amen.

Acts 18:27

Friday, 21 July 2023
 
And when he desired to cross to Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him; and when he arrived, he greatly helped those who had believed through grace; Acts 18:27
 
The words more correctly read, “And he, resolving to pass over to Achaia, the brothers wrote the disciples, having exhorted them to welcome him, who – having arrived – helped greatly those who have believed through the grace.”
 
In the previous verse, Aquila and Priscilla took Apollos aside, explaining to him the way of God more accurately. With that, and still speaking of Apollos, it next says, “And he, resolving to pass over to Achaia.”
 
As they are currently in Ephesus, it means that he would travel, most probably by ship, to the opposite coast. As noted in Acts 18:12, Achaia essentially formed the whole of Greece with Corinth being its capital. Apollos had a desire to evangelize in Greece. Thus, it next says, “the brothers wrote the disciples.”
 
The Greek here is translated in various ways. Notice the difference between the two –
 
the brothers, having encouraged him, wrote to the disciples to welcome him, BLB
the brethren wrote to the disciples, having exhorted them to receive him, YLT
 
The flow of thought seems to make more sense when translated as “the brothers wrote the disciples.” It would mean that those in Ephesus wrote a letter to the disciples in Achaia confirming the reliability of Apollos as a follower of Christ and a teacher. With that, it next says, “having exhorted them to welcome him.”
 
The word protrepó, translated as “encouraged” is found only here in Scripture. It literally signifies turning forward for oneself. Thus, it means to encourage or exhort. In this case, rather than “having encouraged him,” meaning Apollos, as the BLB states, it seems likely that they are exhorting those who receive their letter to welcome Apollos.
 
Apollos wouldn’t need encouragement as he was the one disposed to go there. Instead, those he would encounter are the likely subject. At the time, Apollos was unknown to those in Achaia. Therefore, a letter of introduction and a note that he should be received as a faithful and knowledgeable teacher would be appropriate to help establish him among those he met with. From there, it next says, “who – having arrived – helped greatly those who have believed through the grace.”
 
Concerning the word “helped,” Vincent’s Word Studies says, “The radical sense of the word is to throw together: hence, to contribute; to help; to be useful to. He threw himself into the work along with them.” This is perfectly in accord with Apollos’ character as already recorded. He jumped right in and became an asset to those he fellowshipped with.
 
As for the final words, “the grace,” the article is rightly included in the translation. It is the particular grace that is given by God. Of this, there are varying views on what it is referring to. Vincent’s Word Studies says –
 
“Expositors differ as to the connection; some joining through grace with them which had believed, insisting on the Greek order of the words; and others with helped, referring to grace conferred on Apollos. I prefer the latter, principally for the reason urged by Meyer, that ‘the design of the text is to characterize Apollos and his work, and not those who believed.’”
 
In other words, though it is true that believers are saved through grace, Vincent’s feels that the grace referred to here is speaking of the special grace imparted to Apollos to effectively minister in the gospel. Either way, both salvation and continued life in Christ are conferred upon believers by grace.
 
Life application: It’s good to remember that not only is salvation by grace through faith, but that our continued lives in Christ are granted by grace. And this, in more ways than one. First, any gifts we possess are given to us by God. How we use them will be the source of rewards or losses at the Bema seat. But we do not possess any gift that God did not bestow upon us.
 
Second, our times are determined by God. Thus, each day and everything associated with it is grace. We cannot take credit for what God has given us. How we use our time, however, will be the source of rewards or losses at the Bema seat.
 
If God has equipped us with a gift, and if He has granted us the time and circumstance to use that gift, we should be about using it to His glory. Let us remember this and press on in the grace that has been granted to us. Someday, we will stand before Him and must give account for what we have done with what He has bestowed upon us.
 
Glorious God, thank You for having blessed us with various gifts that we can use to glorify You. Help us to be mindful of the time and circumstances in which we live so that we will use them in the most effective manner possible. May our service before You be pleasing to You. Be glorified in how we conduct our lives in Your presence. Amen.

Acts 18:26

Thursday, 20 July 2023
 
So he began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Aquila and Priscilla heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately. Acts 18:26
 
In the previous verse, Apollos was noted as having been instructed in the way of the Lord and he taught accurately about Jesus, even if he only knew of John’s baptism. Remembering that, it now says “So he began to speak boldly in the synagogue.”
 
This provides a couple of thoughts to consider. One is that he was deemed acceptable to address the synagogue by the synagogue rulers. It implies having some formal training in the Scriptures. Also, saying “boldly” either means that his fervor for the Lord noted in the previous verse is on display or that he may have had the same type of resistance to his message that Paul had, necessitating him to speak out boldly concerning what he knew.
 
Because he knew about Jesus, the message of Him as the Messiah would have been the key point of his address. However, though He was accurate in what He taught, he was not fully versed in the subject matter. Hence, the words continue, saying, “When Aquila and Priscilla heard him.”
 
The obvious meaning is that after Paul’s departure, they continued to attend the synagogue. While there, Apollos came and addressed the congregants. Some texts state Priscilla’s name first. If that is correct, it may imply that she was of Jewish heritage and Aquila may not have been. Rather, he may have converted after being a proselyte. Thus, in the synagogue, she would have standing because of her heritage. However, this is speculation based solely on a different rendering found in a Greek text. Concerning them, it next says that “they took him aside and explained.”
 
This would allow them to discuss what they knew privately. There could be several reasons for this, such as not stirring up those who didn’t believe Jesus was the Messiah, not wanting to embarrass Apollos while sharing their greater knowledge of Him, etc. Whatever the reason, the private setting allowed them to explain “to him the way of God more accurately.”
 
The word translated as “accurately” is the same word used in the previous sentence. The form of the word provides a comparative sense. He taught about Jesus accurately; they taught about him “more accurately.”
 
Aquila and Priscilla two took the time to correct his deficiencies. These may have been doctrinal issues, but not they were surely not salvific. If they were related to salvation, a further explanation of his conversion would be provided. It is not.
 
It should be noted that in verse 25, it used the word Lord. In verse 26 it uses the word God. This is a further indication that though he understood about the Lord, there were theological deficiencies in his belief. This is one of the most common situations in churches. People are converted and must go through the steps of growing in knowledge.
 
In the case of someone like Apollos, he was already well versed in Scripture, he knew and taught about Jesus, and yet, he needed further instruction to become a sound and proper teacher.
 
Life application: The words about Apollos can be considered from a modern perspective. Suppose there is someone, Ready Randy, who is raised in the church and has read the Bible all his life. He could be described in the same manner as Apollos in verses 24 and 25. He is a learned man, with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures. He has been instructed in the way of the Lord, and he speaks with great fervor. He also teaches about Jesus accurately.
 
He would like to become a minister and so he talks to the pastor. The pastor says, “This is great. I would like you to go to a sound seminary. After you graduate with this particular degree, I will ordain you.” Randy may say, “But I am ready now! I have been reading the Bible for years. Ask me anything.”
 
The pastor would then let Randy know that there is a great deal more to understanding the way of the Lord than rote memory of the Bible. There are disciplines that must be drawn out of it such as original sin, the Trinity, what the doctrine of predestination means from various theological perspectives, and how to tell which of those perspectives is correct, etc.
 
Randy listens and agrees. He goes to seminary and discovers that he really wasn’t ready at all. He had a great knowledge of the Scriptures, but he lacked an understanding of how to rightly divide and rightly apply what is recorded there. But he also learned that his foundational knowledge of the word, prior to going to seminary, allowed him to much more easily tell which doctrines were incorrect.
 
Because of this, he realized that in his own ministry, the single most important thing he could ever teach his congregants was for them to READ THEIR BIBLES. They may never become theologians, trained in the great doctrines of Scripture, but they will have a greater understanding of when they are being led astray from what is sound.
 
Ready Randy, because of his previous knowledge of Scripture, realized that he had a foot up on everyone else at the seminary who lacked this most important foundation. Many of them were led astray by professors who themselves lacked grounding in the word. Randy’s advice to you today is to KNOW YOUR BIBLE above all else.
 
Lord God, Your word is too precious to not study and contemplate all our lives. There is never a time that we can say, “I have read the Bible. I don’t need to return to it again.” Rather, the wise person will say, “I have read the Bible many times. And yet, I will continue to read it all my days. I can never exhaust the wisdom of God found in this precious word.” Help us to have such an attitude. Amen.

Acts 18:25

Wednesday, 19 July 2023
 
This man had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things of the Lord, though he knew only the baptism of John. Acts 18:25
 
The previous verse introduced Apollos, noting that he was an eloquent man and mighty in the Scriptures and that he had come to Ephesus. Luke next records, “This man had been instructed in the way of the Lord.”
 
The verb being imperfect gives the sense of “He was being instructed.” He didn’t just get instructed at a certain point, but his instruction was ongoing in nature. He continued pursuing the knowledge of “the way of the Lord.”
 
These words are both technical and descriptive. The faith was called “the Way” at this time (Acts 9:2, for example). At the same time, it is technical in the sense that he understood the doctrine of the Lord. Today someone might say, the “religion” of Christ in a comparable sense. Therefore, he knew both what Jesus taught and he knew what was taught concerning the Lord. Next, it says of him, “and being fervent in spirit.”
 
The word translated as “fervent” is zeó. It is an onomatopoeia. It describes the sound of boiling water. It means to bubble over because it is hot enough to boil. Figuratively, it means showing great zeal or being keenly passionate, as if one is boiling with great interest or desire. It is found only here and in Romans 12:11. 
 
The words “in spirit” surely refer to his spirit, not the Holy Spirit. He was zealous for his doctrine and instruction. The words “spoke” and “teach” are in the imperfect tense and should be rendered as “speaking” and “teaching.” He continuously did these things. One can imagine Apollos simply exuded with his love of telling others about the Lord and explaining the wonderful things He has done. Therefore, it next says that “he spoke and taught accurately the things of the Lord.”
 
The Greek word translated as “accurately,” akribós, is described by HELPS Word Studies, saying, “This root (akrib-) refers to gaining exact information with the highest level of accuracy (‘exactness’) and is acquired by probing investigation to provide a comprehensive circumspect (precise) view in strict adherence to the facts.”
 
What this means is that his instruction and his knowledge of the Scriptures had led him to know and understand that Jesus is, in fact, the Christ. And so, this is what he proclaimed. His deficiency in the faith that will next be described was a result of a lack of instruction on doctrinal matters, but not a lack of understanding who Christ is and what role He filled. Why is this important? Why is this being relayed to us? The answer is seen in the final words of the verse, saying, “though he knew only the baptism of John.”
 
The implication is that Apollos was, at this time, a saved Jew. He was a believer. Because this is so it reveals an important truth. Even though he was saved, he only knew of John’s baptism. Therefore, it is sure evidence against those heretics who say that water baptism is a necessary condition for salvation, thus adding works to the simple gospel of Jesus Christ.
 
Rather, water baptism is an issue of obedience and right doctrine. This is what is being conveyed, and it is fully supported by verse 27 as well as what will occur in Chapter 19. Despite being a descriptive passage, the internal clues about the faith of Apollos still help us to more accurately understand Paul’s prescriptive words in the epistles.
 
Life application: The simple (and only gospel) is belief in the finished work of Jesus Christ. He died for our sins. He was buried. He rose again. This was in accord with Scripture and it is what we need to know in order to be saved. If we believe that He has done these things, God will accept our faith and impute to us the righteousness of Christ.
 
Salvation and proper doctrine do not necessarily go hand in hand, except proper doctrine on how to be saved. But for other matters, such as the rapture or how to properly conduct oneself in life as a Christian, one must learn those things. However, they have no bearing on the matter of getting saved or remaining saved.
 
Water baptism is an external sign of the inward change that has taken place in us. And yet, it is a command of the Lord. As such, to not receive water baptism is disobedience to His command. Thus, to refuse to be water baptized when it is clearly known that Jesus stated to do so will result in a loss of rewards, but it will not affect one’s salvation. Get these things right, be saved through belief, and then be baptized as an open profession that you are a saved believer and follower of Jesus.
 
Lord God, thank You for what You have done in the giving of Jesus. May we be obedient to the faith we profess and adhere to the word that has been given to us after we are saved. Help us to pursue proper doctrine all our days. May You be glorified as we do. Amen.
 

Acts 18:24

Tuesday, 18 July 2023
 
Now a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man and mighty in the Scriptures, came to Ephesus. Acts 18:24
 
The words now form an insert into the narrative to introduce a new figure into the Bible. While Paul is going through the areas of Galatia and Phrygia, the figure is introduced so that when he meets with Paul, their two accounts will properly align. Understanding this, it now says, “Now a certain Jew named Apollos.”
 
The name Apollos is derived from the pagan deity Apollon, meaning the sun god. It is from the same source as Apollonia which is a place in Macedonia noted in Acts 17:1. The name Apollos may be a shortened form of a longer Greek name, such as Apollonius or Apollodorus.
 
This person will be noted twice in Acts, six times in 1 Corinthians, and then once in Titus. Outside of these verses, nothing more is known of him. He is next noted as having been “born at Alexandria.” Of this location, Jamieson-Fausset-Brown says –
 
“...the celebrated city of Egypt on the southeastern shore of the Mediterranean, called after its founder, Alexander the Great. Nowhere was there such a fusion of Greek, Jewish, and Oriental peculiarities, and an intelligent Jew educated in that city could hardly fail to manifest all these elements in his mental character.”
 
This evaluation then explains the next words, saying he was “an eloquent man.” The word in Greek is logios. It signifies being gifted with learning. It also speaks of one with excellent oratory skills. Vincent’s Word Studies explains further –
 
“The word is used in Greek literature in several senses. As λόγος [logos] means either reason or speech, so this derivative may signify either one who has thought much, and has much to say, or one who can say it well. Hence it is used: 1. Of one skilled in history. Herodotus, for example, says that the Heliopolitans are the most learned in history (λογιώτατοι) of all the Egyptians. 2. Of an eloquent person. An epithet of Hermes or Mercury, as the god of speech and eloquence. 3. Of a learned person generally. ...the scripture-learning of Apollos is specified in the words mighty in the scriptures, and his superior eloquence appears to have been the reason why some of the Corinthians preferred him to Paul.”
 
The comment about Apollo being preferred by some in Corinth is found in Paul’s first epistle to them where the church was divided in who was the best example to follow. Because of his eloquence, it is assumed that some in the church preferred following Apollos. Not only did he possess the ability to eloquently convey his thoughts, but it also notes of him as, “and mighty in the Scriptures.”
 
Rather, the Greek contains a present participle, saying, “being mighty in the Scriptures.” In other words, he had a deep knowledge of the Jewish Scriptures. Of this, Albert Barnes rightly says, “The foundation was thus laid for future usefulness in the Christian church.”
 
This is the purpose of introducing him at this point. When someone will soon play a prominent role in the ongoing narrative, he or she is often introduced in advance. Then, at the right time, that person is brought directly into the ongoing narrative. Suddenly introducing Apollos as Luke has done means that this will be the case with him in the verses ahead. For now, it notes of him that he “came to Ephesus.”
 
Earlier in the chapter, it noted that Paul indicated that he would return to Ephesus –
 
“When they asked him to stay a longer time with them, he did not consent, 21 but took leave of them, saying, ‘I must by all means keep this coming feast in Jerusalem; but I will return again to you, God willing.’ And he sailed from Ephesus.” Acts 18:20, 21
 
From there, the account hurriedly rushed through Paul’s trip. At this point, he has left Antioch and is in the region of Galatia and Phrygia. At the same time, Apollos is introduced and he is at Ephesus, the place Paul committed to returning to. Without looking forward, one can be reasonably assured that these two will meet up in Ephesus. What type of meeting is unknown. Maybe they will be rivals, fighting over points of doctrine. Maybe they will become close friends as Paul and Timothy have done. But it is reasonably assured that the two will be brought into the same account in the narrative in the not-too-distant future.
 
Life application: One of the biggest mistakes made by people looking for a church, or of churches in the selection of the pastors, is that they look, first and foremost, for a person who is a skilled orator. There is nothing wrong with good oratory skills. Instead, they can be a source of great encouragement or stirring of the soul by those who hear well-spoken sermons.
 
Another similar mistake occurs when people look first and foremost for a pastor who is incredibly intelligent and articulates his thoughts in a remarkably logical and methodical way. There is nothing wrong with this approach either. Some people or congregations are so well developed in their thinking that having this type of presentation really edifies them.
 
However, the problem with such selections is derived from the thought “first and foremost.” All of the oratory skills in the world are wholly useless to a church if they are not properly aligned with Scripture. Likewise, being extremely well versed in the Greek language or in the structure of literature means diddly if evaluations of such things are torn out of their proper context.
 
What should be the first and foremost consideration is, “How well does this person know, understand, and care about Scripture?” Without this considered, nothing else really matters. To be properly and excitingly orated into heresy can only lead to sadness. To be presented with meticulous analyses of Scripture that are not based on what is contextually proper will only lead to faulty conclusions and aberrant doctrine.
 
If a person does not know Scripture well and if his understanding of it is not orthodox, he shouldn’t be given two seconds of your time. Don’t look at externals! How he is dressed, what he looks like, where he went to school, what type of degree he possesses, etc., are all not to be thought of as primary considerations. Understanding of, and adherence to, sound doctrine should be looked for before anything else.
 
Remember this and don’t get caught up in fallacious thinking. Innumerable people have been swept up into cults and aberrant sects because they failed this first and primary consideration.
 
Glorious Lord God, please direct us to leaders who are mighty in Scripture and who handle it properly. We have our part in the selection of our leaders, so help us to be well-versed in Your word as well. Fill us with the strong desire to be fully aware of what Your word is conveying before we select those who we will appoint over us. If they are sound in such things, only then should we consider their other qualities. Keep us on the straight path in this matter. Amen.
 

Acts 18:23

Monday, 17 July 2023
 
After he had spent some time there, he departed and went over the region of Galatia and Phrygia in order, strengthening all the disciples. Acts 18:23
 
The verse more precisely reads, “And having stayed some time, he departed, passing through successively the Galatian region and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples” (CG).
 
Paul’s journey had taken him to Caesarea, up to the church, and then down to Antioch. With that remembered, it now says, “And having stayed some time.” Without giving any further specifics, only guesswork can be made as to how long he remained in Antioch. However, if it was an extended period, Luke’s normal way of describing it would be something like “many days.” Therefore, the time spent in Antioch was probably not very long. With that, it next says that “he departed.”
 
This now begins Paul’s third and final missionary journey beginning as the first two from Antioch. From there, Luke immediately records that he was “passing through successively the Galatian region and Phrygia.” These were areas already visited by him as is recorded in Acts 16:6. There it said –
 
“Now when they had gone through Phrygia and the region of Galatia, they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia.” 
 
Galatia is mentioned first this time because it is the region that he would travel through first if traveling by land from Antioch. As he traveled through these areas, it says that he was “strengthening all the disciples.”
 
This was a necessary thing to do. The book of Galatians shows the utter dysfunction that occurred at one point after Paul had left them, falling into the trap of the Judaizers. Hence, it was right that he would stop at the churches and ensure they were being faithful to the Lord, holding fast to His grace. It is a main point of Paul’s writings and it was surely the main point of discussion at each church he visited.
 
At the same time, he would have instructed them concerning not falling into the trap of license. Just because the believers were not under law, they were not to take advantage of their freedom and engage in the lusts of the flesh. Because of his love for all of the churches, one can imagine Paul repeating the same admonition to each church that he will speak to as to those in Ephesus as recorded later in Acts concerning this matter –
 
“For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. 30 Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves. 31 Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears.” Acts 20:29-31
 
Paul was adamant that works of the law were excluded before God as a means of pleasing Him. And yet, he was just as adamant that the churches were to remain pure, holy, and free from works of the flesh.
 
Life application: Of the contents of Paul’s travel on this journey, which will arrive at Ephesus in Acts 19:1, the Pulpit Commentary says –
 
“St. Paul went straight from Antioch to Galatia, passing through the Cilician Gates and by Mazaca, or Caesarea, as it was called by Tiberius Caesar, in Cappadocia, and not visiting the Churches of Lycaonia. He proceeded from Galatia through Phrygia to Ephesus. The distance from Antioch to Tarsus was one hundred and forty-one miles, from whence to Tavium in Galatia was two hundred and seventy-one miles, making the whole distance from Antioch to Tavium in Galatia four hundred and twelve miles, or about a three weeks' journey including rest on the sabbath days. From Galatia to Ephesus would be between six hundred and seven hundred miles. The entire journey would thus be considerably more than a thousand miles, a journey of forty days exclusive of all stoppages. Six months probably must have elapsed between his departure from Antioch and his arrival at Ephesus.”
 
Depending on how long he stayed with each church, the duration may have been even longer. It is unknown if he had a horse, if he traveled in a wagon, or if he walked. Regardless of how he went, the distance was long and would have been exhausting each day, but he pressed on because of his love for the gospel and his desire to share it with others.
 
How about your time with the Lord? Are you too busy to give Him time each day to be in His presence reading His word? Are you remembering Him as you take your meals, receive the daily abundance of His open hand of grace, or interact with others? Is the beauty of a sunrise sufficient for you to thank Him for what you have beheld?
 
Remember the Lord in all you do. Don’t pack Him away for an hour or two on Sunday morning but be with Him in your heart and soul all day every day. With every joyous moment, or in every testing or trial, allow your mind to include Him in what is happening. Live a life of faith by being faithfully aware of His presence at all times.
 
Glorious God, You are with us whether we acknowledge it or not. You know every moment of our existence and it is up to us to either include You in our thoughts or exclude You from them as You see our lives unfold. Help us to remember Your presence and to live in accord with it at all times. May we be people of faith who are always faithful to You. Amen.
 

Acts 18:22

Sunday, 16 July 2023
 
And when he had landed at Caesarea, and gone up and greeted the church, he went down to Antioch. Acts 18:22
 
Luke uses participles to keep the motion rolling along. The verse more accurately reads, “And having landed at Caesarea, having gone up and having greeted the church, he went down to Antioch” (CG).
 
In the previous verse, Paul took leave of those in Ephesus, noting that he needed to keep the coming feast in Jerusalem. He did, however, commit to returning if it was the Lord’s will. With that, it now says, “And having landed at Caesarea.”
 
Probably to show the hurried nature of Paul’s travels, Luke skips all of the interim stops that would have been made as the ship traveled the long distance from Ephesus to Caesarea. He will continue to convey almost nothing about what Paul does for what would be an extended period of time, brushing over many major events in just two verses.
 
Upon arriving at Caesarea, he would probably have visited friends there, maybe including Philip the Evangelist who will be introduced in Acts 21. Or it might be that he secured passage to Jerusalem and went right there. As it next says, “having gone up and having greeted the church.”
 
All of his time in Jerusalem is summed up in five Greek words. Even the name of the city is left out of Luke’s narrative. And yet, there would have been a considerable amount of things he did, including spending a week enjoying the feast he had mentioned in the previous verse to those in the synagogue in Ephesus. Likewise, he had family in Jerusalem that he surely would have visited. Also, during that time, there surely would have been long periods of telling all that had happened in his previous years of travel. Despite that, Luke next records that after this, “he went down to Antioch.”
 
Some scholars believe this is the time when the events of Galatians 2:11-14 occur. As noted in the commentary on Acts 15:35, that is unlikely. Rather, Paul would have received his welcome and then he would have surely spent a great deal of time repeating all that he had been up to over the past three years, just as he would have done in Jerusalem. Despite this, these words are all that is recorded concerning the trip to the church that sent him forth with Silas some three years earlier (Acts 15:40).
 
Life application: The amazing brevity of Luke’s words now is instructive. God is revealing to us things that are pertinent to our spiritual lives. Despite the considerable time involved in the trip from Ephesus to Jerusalem and then on to Antioch, nothing that occurred was relevant to the redemptive narrative that is found in the pages of Scripture.
 
This may have been Luke’s way of expressing Paul’s desire to get back onto the mission field, but it is ultimately information that was inspired by the Holy Spirit. In just a few verses, Paul will again be in Ephesus, and the narrative of his time there will slow down to a crawl as minute details of events are brought forth by Luke.
 
Pay heed to these things as you read Scripture. We are being given just what God feels we need to understand the history of the church and the unfolding of His plan of the ages for His people. At this point in the narrative, God is moving away from having His attention on Israel, Jerusalem, and the Jewish people and onto the Gentile areas of the world.
 
The next time Paul is in Jerusalem, Luke will spend a great deal of time explaining the events that take place. And yet, those details will confirm this movement from Jew to Gentile and from Jerusalem and Israel to the nations beyond. Contemplate such things and know that we are being given valuable insights into the very mind and heart of God.
 
Heavenly Father, Your word is an incredible journey through the history of mankind as it reveals how we are being brought back to a close and intimate relationship with You once again. May we carefully and methodically consider each detail of this precious treasure all of our days. Thank You for this wonderful word! Amen.

Acts 18:21

Saturday, 15 July 2023
 
but took leave of them, saying, “I must by all means keep this coming feast in Jerusalem; but I will return again to you, God willing.” And he sailed from Ephesus. Acts 18:21
 
In the previous verse, Paul did not consent to staying longer in Ephesus. That thought continues now with, “but took leave of them.”
 
They had asked him to stay longer, demonstrating that his reasoning with them was sufficient to pique their interest and to bring them to a desire to hear more.  However, his pressing business called him away. 
 
As for the words “took leave of them,” it is the same word just used in verse 18:18 where Paul took leave of the brethren at Corinth. This time it would be less difficult as he was probably invigorated at having found an opening in Ephesus and knowing that he could come back and continue with his evangelization of those in the synagogue. Next, he explains the reason for his needed departure, “saying, ‘I must by all means keep this coming feast in Jerusalem’”
 
This would probably have made them more determined to believe that he was a sincere follower of the truth. Why would a charlatan be so devout in his religious duties and yet promote falsity? As for the feast, this may be the Passover. However, it could also be Pentecost. Either way, he may have intended to meet up with many others coming for that feast as well as meet with the church in Jerusalem.
 
If this was for Pentecost and he missed that, the next feast would not be until Tabernacles in the fall. Traveling at that time of year would be far more dangerous. Regardless of which feast, he was determined to make it, and so he was urged within himself to be in Jerusalem. Despite this, he next says, “but I will return again to you, God willing.”
 
This will occur as is recorded in Acts 19:1. As for the words, “God willing,” despite being an apostle, he had no true idea from day to day what the Lord planned for him. This was true in Acts 16 when he and those with him were frustrated from going into Asia. And without the vision of the man from Macedonia, he would not have known to head in that direction.
 
For him to speak confidently about a return to Ephesus, and then not return as indicated, would say a lot about his state before the Lord. But more, James poignantly explains the reason for Paul’s words –
 
“Come now, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit’; 14 whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. 15 Instead you ought to say, ‘If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.’ 16 But now you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil.17 Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.” James 4:13-17
 
It is arrogant to claim a right to the future that one does not possess. Even if God promised Paul twenty more years of life, unless he also specifically promised him a return to Ephesus, it may be that his final twenty years would ministering in Rome or Spain. Unless something is specifically revealed by the Lord, we must leave the future in His hands. With that understood, the verse ends with, “And he sailed from Ephesus.”
 
With these words, Paul’s second missionary trip is essentially ended. The next two verses are a part of the travels back to Antioch, but the substance of the mission trip is now behind him.
 
Life application: Other than the moment in which we presently exist, we have no idea what will transpire next. The ground could quake under us and the roof could then fall on us – life over. The future is known only to God, and we are to leave that unknown sea of time up to His will. In invoking His will, we can then follow the admonition of Scripture and say, “we shall live and do this or that.”
 
Both life and what is done with that life are up to God’s allowances. However, this is not a fatalistic approach to the future by any stretch of the imagination. Two things are occurring in James’ words –
 
If the Lord wills, we shall live (solely a decision of the Lord).
If the Lord wills, we shall do this or that (based on the granting of the first statement that we shall live, we will then act with the freedom to choose what we will do).
 
The concept of free will in man is seen throughout Scripture, and it is revealed even in our acknowledging His sovereignty over the future. The Bible does not portray the fatalistic view of Islam or various other religions. Nor does it portray the autocratic rule of God – even in salvation – which is held to by Calvinism. Instead, it reveals that God is wholly sovereign over all things, and yet He has factored in our free will desires and actions. This is seen for example in Paul’s words, such as in 1 Corinthians 4:19 –
 
“But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord wills, and I will know, not the word of those who are puffed up, but the power.”
 
Paul freely chooses to come to those in Corinth, and yet He understood that the Lord may not will him to do so. There is a synergism that is being displayed in the life of man who works within the confines of God’s overall sovereignty.
 
Allow God to be God and place yourself under His guiding hand in all you do. Never arrogantly boast about the future but give room for Him to be glorified as the One who controls time and all that occurs within it, even as He allows you to choose your path in the process.
 
Lord God, we know that our lives are directed by Your overarching hand of providence. And yet, you allow us to act freely in what decisions we will make. When our desires and decisions align with Your overall plan for us, then we will get what we wish. When they don’t, then we will be directed according to Your purposes for us. So, why should we worry? Everything will come out as it should because we are in Christ and thus Your children. Amen.