Acts: The Gospel Unleashed: Part 31

Introduction -

My life is passing before my eyes.

Paul is a picture of someone who made his life count for the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Acts 18:18–23 ESV

18 After this, Paul stayed many days longer and then took leave of the brothers 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.

*Map of Paul’s Missionary Travels He is returning - Corinth - Ephesus - to Caesarea, to Jerusalem.

Be grateful for God’s goodness.

Nazirite Vow

There was a very visible component to the Nazirite vow. It was ment to be noticed by others as an observable witness to his consecration.

Samson, Samuel, & John the Baptist were Life Long Nazirites. But that is the exception. Typically A Nazirite would take a vow for a period of time and then offer prescribed sacrifices. This included shaving the head and offering the hair on the alter to be burned.

Nazirite Vow

No Win or grapes.

No dead things.

No haircuts.

A Nazirite Vow was temporary.

It was for seeking an answer to prayer.

or

It was an expression of gratitude for God’s goodness.

Numbers 6:18 ESV

18 And the Nazirite shall shave his consecrated head at the entrance of the tent of meeting and shall take the hair from his consecrated head and put it on the fire that is under the sacrifice of the peace offering.

God’s will must always trump my plan.

Acts 18:22–28 ESV

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. 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, 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.

How do you handle correction?

Godly correction shouldn’t make you angry. It should make you holy.

Biblical correction shouldn’t make you resentful. It should make you useful.

How should I correct others?

I should seek to correct others privately.

Acts 18:26 ESV

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.

I should seek to correct others gently.

Acts 18:26 ESV

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.

I should seek to correct others purposefully.

The goal is to help not hurt.

The goal is the edification not vilification.