In Acts 19:1-10, the narrative now catches back up to Paul, who had left Ephesus, leaving behind Priscilla and Aquilla, but now returned to Ephesus after Apollos had moved on to Corinth. Apollos was described as "eloquent", "fervent in spirit", and that he "taught accurately", but only what he knew (Acts 18:24-25). So that when Paul arrived he found that key stones were left out of the fledgling church's foundation.
Acts 19:2-3
And he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” And they said, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” And he said, “Into what then were you baptized?” They said, “Into John's baptism.”
Paul quickly remedies the situation by baptizing them in the name of the Lord Jesus and gives them the evangelistic gifts of the Holy Spirit through the laying on of hands. This is the last recorded time this had occurred. Paul understood they needed to be properly grounded and fully equipped.
In Acts 19:11-20, Paul then addresses the sorcery being practiced by "itinerant Jewish exorcists" that included the seven sons of a Jewish high priest named Sceva. They turn to Christ and hold a book burning to end the practices.
At this point, Paul, through the Holy Spirit receives his marching-orders:
Now after these events Paul resolved in the Spirit to pass through Macedonia and Achaia and go to Jerusalem, saying, “After I have been there, I must also see Rome.” And having sent into Macedonia two of his helpers, Timothy and Erastus, he himself stayed in Asia for a while.
Then, in Acts 19:21-41, Paul and his companions are once again protected by the rule of law, when a riot occurs led by those making a living from the manufacturing of idols. This was quelled by the town clerk with admonitions that hinted at how Caesar had quelled the riots in Rome (Acts 18:1-3).
Spoiler alert: In subsequent chapters, Paul would use this rule of law (Lex Rex) to reach Rome.
Leaving Ephesus, Paul travels west to Macedonia and then on to Greece, where he spent three months until there was further opposition from the Jews. At which point he made a key decision:
There he spent three months, and when a plot was made against him by the Jews as he was about to set sail for Syria, he decided to return through Macedonia.
Like the first missionary journey, he chose to return to the churches he planted along the way, rather than simply sailing home. With his marching order, he understands this will be his last visit. There would not be a fourth missionary journey.
For Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus, so that he might not have to spend time in Asia, for he was hastening to be at Jerusalem, if possible, on the day of Pentecost.Now from Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called the elders of the church to come to him.
Strangely though, he did not want to go to Ephesus personally. He did not want himself to be their sole witness. Instead, traveling nearby he called for the elders to come to him, so that he could instruct them and they would become the next generation of leadership for Ephesus. What he said to them is recorded in Acts 20:18-35 (which the reader should pause and read in its entirety), but the core of which is:
Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.
Once, I had a heated discussion with an anti-gun person. We spoke of gun-free zones for schools. But when I spoke of how valuable the children were, the absurdity of their position became obvious even to them. The children have to be protected with guns. They are that valuable.
Those in our church were bought with the blood of Christ. There is nothing more valuable. We who shepherd and care for the flock need to understand that.
No comments:
Post a Comment