July 1, 2020

Speaking About Our Living Hope

Acts 18:12–28

Garrett Wikle
Wednesday's Devo

July 1, 2020

Wednesday's Devo

July 1, 2020

Central Truth

Paul calls Timothy in 2 Timothy 4:2-5 to preach the word, to be ready in season and out of season, to do the work of evangelism, and to fulfill his ministry. Let us—like Paul, Timothy, Apollos, and many more before us—faithfully bring the gospel to a broken world!

Key Verse | Acts 18:26-28

He began to speak boldly in the synagogue, but when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately. . . . [H]e greatly helped those who through grace had believed, for he powerfully refuted the Jews in public, showing by the Scriptures that the Christ was Jesus.

Acts 18:12–28

12 But when Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews 1 18:12 Greek Ioudaioi probably refers here to Jewish religious leaders, and others under their influence, in that time; also verses 14 (twice), 28 made a united attack on Paul and brought him before the tribunal, 13 saying, “This man is persuading people to worship God contrary to the law.” 14 But when Paul was about to open his mouth, Gallio said to the Jews, “If it were a matter of wrongdoing or vicious crime, O Jews, I would have reason to accept your complaint. 15 But since it is a matter of questions about words and names and your own law, see to it yourselves. I refuse to be a judge of these things.” 16 And he drove them from the tribunal. 17 And they all seized Sosthenes, the ruler of the synagogue, and beat him in front of the tribunal. But Gallio paid no attention to any of this.

Paul Returns to Antioch

18 After this, Paul stayed many days longer and then took leave of the brothers 2 18:18 Or brothers and sisters; also verse 27 and set sail for Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila. At Cenchreae he had cut his hair, for he was under a vow. 19 And they came to Ephesus, and he left them there, but he himself went into the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews. 20 When they asked him to stay for a longer period, he declined. 21 But on taking leave of them he said, “I will return to you if God wills,” and he set sail from Ephesus.

22 When he had landed at Caesarea, he went up and greeted the church, and then went down to Antioch. 23 After spending some time there, he departed and went from one place to the next through the region of Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples.

Apollos Speaks Boldly in Ephesus

24 Now a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was an eloquent man, competent in the Scriptures. 25 He had been instructed in the way of the Lord. And being fervent in spirit, 3 18:25 Or in the Spirit he spoke and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus, though he knew only the baptism of John. 26 He began to speak boldly in the synagogue, but when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately. 27 And when he wished to cross to Achaia, the brothers encouraged him and wrote to the disciples to welcome him. When he arrived, he greatly helped those who through grace had believed, 28 for he powerfully refuted the Jews in public, showing by the Scriptures that the Christ was Jesus.

Footnotes

[1] 18:12 Greek Ioudaioi probably refers here to Jewish religious leaders, and others under their influence, in that time; also verses 14 (twice), 28
[2] 18:18 Or brothers and sisters; also verse 27
[3] 18:25 Or in the Spirit

Dive Deeper | Acts 18:12–28

For the longest time, evangelism scared me. I was conditioned by my sinful flesh and a secular culture to believe that sharing my faith was taboo, inappropriate, and potentially harmful. As Christians, we often forget that we carry the words of eternal life and restoration to a desperate world. Though the gospel brings conflict by exposing the world's sin, Paul and his crew were faithful and tactful with their words, showing us three blink-and-you-miss-them ways in which we can follow their lead in bringing the hope of Christ to a world in dire need.

  1. Be Ready. In the midst of being prosecuted, Paul was ready to speak. Acts 18:14 says that before being acquitted, Paul was about to open his mouth and presumably proclaim Jesus (like in Acts 22, 24, and 26). It's reminiscent of 2 Timothy 4:2 and 1 Peter 3:15, where we're called to always be ready to share the living hope of Christ. What a great example!
  2. Be Winsome. After Paul leaves his accusers, he makes his way to a synagogue in Ephesus as he's done many times on many journeys. This time, though, the Jews themselves reason with Paul, and even invite him back in Acts 18:20! Paul's message that the promise of the Messiah is fulfilled in Jesus should offend the Jews, but they still want to hear more. Lord, let our words fall on hearing ears just as Paul's did in Ephesus.
  3. Be Bold. In Acts 18:24, we meet Apollos, one competent in the Scriptures and fervent in spirit. Though he doesn't know everything about Christianity, he is bold, being commended for teaching accurately all that he knew about Christ. Learning more from Priscilla and Aquila, and powerfully refuting the Jews with the Scriptures, Apollos never slowed down (Acts 18:28). Like Paul in 1 Corinthians 2:1-5, he spoke powerfully by the Spirit!

So, Journeyers, put aside your fears and anxieties about sharing the hope you have in Jesus, for the same Spirit that was at work in the Acts 18 believers is at work in you today. Be ready, be winsome, and be bold to speak of your Living Hope!

Discussion Questions

1. When was the last time you had a conversation about Jesus with someone who is far from God?

2. What fears, failures, or doubts hold you back from sharing the hope that you have in Christ with a hurting world?

3. Are you ready to share the gospel today? If not, what is holding you back? If it's a matter of feeling like you don't know enough, maybe checking out the Equipped Disciple class here at Watermark could be a great next step.

4. What person in your life have you delayed or tarried in sharing the gospel with? What can you do today to pursue that person?