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12 When Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews with one accord rose up against Paul and brought him to the judgment seat, 13 saying, “This fellow persuades men to worship God contrary to the law.”
14 And when Paul was about to open his mouth, Gallio said to the Jews, “If it were a matter of wrongdoing or wicked crimes, O Jews, there would be reason why I should bear with you. 15 But if it is a question of words and names and your own law, look to it yourselves; for I do not want to be a judge of such matters.” 16 And he drove them from the judgment seat. 17 Then all the Greeks took Sosthenes, the ruler of the synagogue, and beat him before the judgment seat. But Gallio took no notice of these things.
18 So Paul still remained a good while. Then he took leave of the brethren and sailed for Syria, and Priscilla and Aquila were with him. He had his hair cut off at Cenchrea, for he had taken a vow. 19 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.
22 And when he had landed at Caesarea, and gone up and greeted the church, he went down to Antioch. 23 After he had spent some time there, he departed and went over the region of Galatia and Phrygia in order, strengthening all the disciples.
24 Now a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man and mighty in the Scriptures, came to Ephesus. 25 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. 26 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. 27 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; 28 for he vigorously refuted the Jews publicly, showing from the Scriptures that Jesus is the Christ.
Other Aspects of the Work
Intro: Last week we look at “Encouragement in the Work” This week “Others Aspects in the Work” The more you are in the work (the work of the Lord) the more you will see what is involved on the work.
Paul had a major ministry of evangelism, encouragement, and establishing of churches. After his first missionary journey, he went back to Antioch, gave a report, and returned to the work. God used him to encourage the churches he established, and strengthened them.
In VS 10 God told Paul that no one would harm him. But it did not mean that there would not be any confrontation.
I. Confrontation in the Work. VS 12-17
VS 12
12 When Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews with one accord rose up against Paul and brought him to the judgment seat,
1. Gallio: Deputy. Government official, proconsul. When Greece was conquered by the Romans it was divided into two provinces. Macedonia and Achaia. They were governed by a proconsul. Gallio was over Achaia.
a. He is the one that the Jews bring Paul to.
b. “made insurrection with one accord” Means to rush upon. They with one accord.
VS 13
13 saying, “This fellow persuades men to worship God contrary to the law.”
1. Their charge. Read verse.
a. The Jews in Greece were permitted to worship God according to their own belief, so they were accusing Paul of teaching a form of worship that did not agree with their laws of worshiping.
2. Today we have freedom of speech. Or at least we use to.
a. How long will it be in our country when pastors and church will be brought up on charges because of teaching contrary to the law? Confrontation in the work.
VS 14
14 And when Paul was about to open his mouth, Gallio said to the Jews, “If it were a matter of wrongdoing or wicked crimes, O Jews, there would be reason why I should bear with you.
1. Let look at the last part of the verse 14, and verse 15 first.
a This is Gallio speaking. If Paul would have broken any real law then Gallio would have gotten involved.
VS 15, 16
15 But if it is a question of words and names and your own law, look to it yourselves; for I do not want to be a judge of such matters.” 16 And he drove them from the judgment seat.
1. To him this would be a matter pertaining to do with Jewish religion and he would have nothing to do with it. So he turns the matter back over to them.
2. It’s your problem, it has to do with your laws, you deal with it.
a. Sounds like Pilate when the Jews brought Jesus to him. “Take ye him, and judge Him according to your law”
b. Paul had a group of unbelieving Jews. He had the government leader. Paul took every opportunity to share the gospel.
3. Now go back to the first part of VS 14
“Now when Paul was about to open his mouth”
a. Before Pau l could say anything, Gallio spoke up condemning the Jews. Sounds good.
b. What would Paul have said if he would have opened his mouth? Elab
VS 17
17 Then all the Greeks took Sosthenes, the ruler of the synagogue, and beat him before the judgment seat. But Gallio took no notice of these things.
1. The Greeks here would have witnessed the Jews persecution of Paul.
a. Since Sosthenes was the Chief ruler of the synagogue, the Jews considered him to be the ringleader in the opposition against Paul and held him responsible. So they beat him.
b. The word beat here is not the same used for a judicial scourging. It means to thump. Elab
II Corn 1:1
1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,
To the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints who are in all Achaia:
c. He was the replacement for Crispus who also became a believer.
2. There will be confrontation in the work, but there will be souls saved in the work. This should be an encouragement to continue the work.
II. Continuation in the Work. VS 18-23
1. For Paul to continue in the work at times meant moving on. Paul would now go back to Antioch, but make a few stops along the way.
VS 18
18 So Paul still remained a good while. Then he took leave of the brethren and sailed for Syria, and Priscilla and Aquila were with him. He had his hair cut off at Cenchrea, for he had taken a vow.
1. Thanks to the decision by Gallio, Paul’s opportunities to preach in Corinth were not hurt by the attacks from the Jews.
a. This was one of the few places that Paul was able to stay as long as he wanted
2. He bids good bye to his follow believers, takes Aquila and Priscilla with him.
3. Paul shaves his head, and makes a vow.
a. Why? What vow is not told.
VS 19-21
19 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.
1. Paul arrives in Ephesus.
a. There were many Jews in Ephesus. Paul’s stay would only be for a short time, it was just a stopover on his way to Jerusalem.
b. The time that his way there he told time to go to the synagogue. It looks like it went well there, they wanted Paul to stay longer. But Paul under the guidance the Holy Spirit knew he had to go.
c. Aquila and Priscilla stay in Ephesus. They were able to follow up in the interest shown by the Jews. To provide a base for Paul’s future operations.
d. Paul had to get back to Jerusalem for the feast. (Passover) Why was it so important for Paul to get back for the feast? It could have had something to do with the vow. There would have been many people there for the feast. Elab
e. Paul lets them know, if it is God’s will I will be back.
VS 22,23
22 And when he had landed at Caesarea, and gone up and greeted the church, he went down to Antioch. 23 After he had spent some time there, he departed and went over the region of Galatia and Phrygia in order, strengthening all the disciples.
1. Jerusalem is not mentioned here, other than he “saluted the church”. Which means he showed his love and regard for the believers there. No more is said about his visit there.
a. Paul makes it back to his base church of Antioch, and he spent some time there. Then he spends some time at Galatia and Phrygia encouraging the believers there.
2. Paul second missionary had come to an end. Paul had continued in the work, and he would now continue in the work as he start’s his third missionary. How was Paul able to continue in the work? Because of his commitment in the work.
III. Commitment in the Work. VS 24-28
Not only did Paul have great commitment in the work so did Aquila and Priscilla.
VS 24
24 Now a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man and mighty in the Scriptures, came to Ephesus.
1. Mean while back in Ephesus…
a. There is a man named Apolos from Alexandria. He was an eloquent man: Means he was cultured, well educated and he was a great speaker. We know very little about Apollos other than that.
b. In ICorn 1:12 and 3:5,6 Paul mentions his connections with the ministry in Corinth. In Titus
2. “he was mighty in the scriptures”
a. The word mighty here in Greek is “dunamas” it is where we get our word “dynamite” powerful. Acts 7:22
VS 25
25 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.
1. He spoke with great eloquent. He spoke with a great burning zeal about the Lord.
a. He spoke only of the Baptism of John. (John the Baptist) That was all he knew. Matt 3:1-11
b. Being a disciple of John the Baptist he preached what John had preached. He knew nothing of the cross and he resurrection.
VS 26
26 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.
1. He was sincere in what he was doing but he was still wrong.
a. When Aquila and Priscilla hear him speak they take him to the side and tell him the gospel.
“and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly” The way here means road. They took him down the road of the Lord.
VS 27
27 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;
1. Apollos had heard the complete truth of Jesus. He is now ready and willing to go to Achaia.
a. With him is send a letter to encourage the believers there to use him.
b. He became great in the work of the Lord.
c. Paul was committed to the work, through Paul Aquila and Priscilla became committed in the work, and through them Apollos became committed in the work.
VS 28
28 for he vigorously refuted the Jews publicly, showing from the Scriptures that Jesus is the Christ.
1. He took the gift he had to speak, the gift he had and used them to share the gospel (he shows them that Jesus was the Christ) and see souls saved.
Do you want to be in the work? It’s more than just coming to church, it’s more than work being in the work at church. It means being in the work wherever God opens the door, it means looking for the open doors.
1. Confrontation.
2. Continuation.
3. Commitment.