ON TO OTHER PLACES: CORINTH AND EPHESUS P/10

 

                                                                                    Read Part One HERE

A WALK THROUGH THE BOOK OF ACTS 

                     PART XIX - VI

"Today is an important day for me, Demetrius..... I live in Ephesus... I am a silversmith.... I have lived in Ephesus all my life.. My father was a silversmith before me... He taught me everything I needed to know.... I am an excellent craftsman... And I take pride in my trade.... I am very succesful in what I am doing....And I don't mind saying that my success has made me a wealthy man... I am not the only successful silversmith... I have many friends in Ephesus, who likewise, are very successful silversmiths....We were sure that our businesses would continue to prosper...In fact, we looked forward to an increase in business... The reason for our success is that we in Ephesus worship the goddess Artemis...And she has brought us much wealth.... So it is important for us, silversmiths, that she continues to be worshipped...As far as we knew there was no danger of anyone trying to persuade the people in our city to follow any other god...Why would they?... But then, some months ago a man named Paul arrived in our city... At first I took no notice of him...After all, who was he?.... I was told that he was a Jew who had been a Pharisee... But that he was now a follower of the Jewish Rabbi Jesus... And that he claimed he knew the true God of heaven and earth... I shrugged my shoulders because I did not think that anyone would take him serious... But I then heard that the sons of Sceva, a Jewish priest, had tried to deliver some men from demonic spirits and had not been able to do so....And that, consequently, many people had begun to listen to Paul... And had become followers of this Rabbi Jesus....More importantly, they had stopped worshippping our goddess Artemis.".... Please read the typed out attachment when you will learn of the meeting of the silversmiths and other workers in Ephesus led by a man named Demetrius....

                      ATTACHMENT A WALK THROUGH THE BOOK OF ACTS

                                                               PART XIX - VI

To the silversmith Demetetrius, who lived in Ephesus, religion was a business from which he and his fellow silversmiths were receiving an income. It reminds me of a time when I visited one of the places Roman Catholics like to go to on a pilgrimage, when I noticed many little shops that were selling statues etc. They too were making an income from their religion.

So life in Ephesus had been good for Demetrius... As far as he was concerned, he did not want to bring any changes.... He was not concerned for the people of Ephesus. No, he was only concerned for himself..... Consequently, all he wanted was for the people in Ephesus to remain in darkness by continuing to worship the false goddess Artemis  for that had brought him a comfortable life...But then everything had changed with the arrival of a man named Paul... Initially, Demetrius had not given him any attention for, after all, who was he? Just another Jew... A tentmaker by profession so, as far as he was concerned, he was not in competition with him...But he then had begun to hear of people who were following this Jesus about whom Paul was preaching. And, consequently, they had stopped worshipping Artemis...To begin with he was not too worried, for he believed that the people in Ephesus would have enough sense to see through the nonsense of this man Paul, and remain committed to the great goddesss Artemis...However, other things had happened, like that situation with the sons of Sceva who had not been able to deliver some people from demonic spirits and had been attacked by them.... Moreover, he had been there when so many people had burned their scrolls.... He had been pretty shocked to see what people had done that day... That was the day he realised they were having a serious problem on their hands that was not going away until they did something about it... And so he called his colleagues together and spoke to them as you can read in Acts 19:26

"And you see and hear this fellow Paul has convinced and led astray large numbers of people here in Ephesus and in practically the whole province of Asia. He says that gods made by human hands are no gods at all."

Demetrius knew it was time for action for him and the other silversmiths and other workers in Ephesus.

Read Part Eleven HERE

ON TO OTHER PLACES: CORINTH AND EPHESUS P/9

 

                                                                                    Read Part One HERE

A WALK THROUGH THE BOOK OF ACTS

                  PART XIX - V 

"It has been so wonderful for me, Paul, to see the church in Ephesus blossom.... And for believers to grow in spiritual maturity.... That made me begin to consider whether it was time for me to move on....I wondered whether I should start making my way to Jerusalem.... As far as I could detect the church was not in danger of being attacked.... So I could leave her in the hands of some spiritually mature elders I had appointed.... Unfortunately, as soon as I began to make prepararations for my trip to Jerusalem something happened that delayed my departure... It all happened quite innocently.... A silversmith named Demetrius called for a meeting with other workers in related trades... I had heard of their meeting... But did not think anything of it... Of course it is true that many of the people in Ephesus who have turned to Christ, are no longer worshipping the goddess Artemis.... And, consequently, they are no longer buying articles related to her worship....Would their meeting have anything to do with the fact that the sales of such items have possibly gone down?... Perhaps they are meeting to consider other ways of earning a living."... Please read the typed out attachment when you will learn of the meeting of Demetrius with other workers....

 

                       ATTACHMENT A WALK THROUGH THE BOOK OF ACTS

                                                                  PART XIX -V               

The believers in Ephesus had realised they needed to give up items that dishonoured the Lord and had done so. At that time Paul decided that he should start making plans to travel back to Jerusalem as you can know from Acts 19:21-22

After all this had happened, Paul decided to go to Jerusalem, passing through Macedonia and Achaia. "After I have been there," he said, "I must visit Rome also." He sent two of his helpers, Timothy and Erastus, to Macedonia, while he stayed in the province of Asia a little longer.

Unfortunately, problems arose once again in Ephesus, this time caused by a silversmith named Demetrius as you can read in Acts 19:24

A silversmith named Demetrius, who made silver shrines of Artemus, brought in a lot of business for the craftsmen there.

The main goddess who was worshipped in Ephesus was the goddess Artemis. She was believed to have the power to bring new life into the world and to take life away. She was believed to be a midwife.... It was thought she helped women and animals in labour. Ephesian women would call on Artemis to speed up labour and ease the pain, or in dire circumstances, they would call on her to bring about a quick death to end their suffering. Artemis was also the champoin and protector of virgins, both male and female.                                                                                                                                                    However, since the arrival of Paul many inhabitants of Ephesus had started to follow the Lord Jesus and were no longer worshipping the goddess Artemis.... Consequently, they were no longer buying items related to her worship... The number of believers had, in fact, so grown that it had begun to affect the businesses of the silversmith Demetrius and other workers in Ephesus. So he called together a meeting as you can read in Ephesians 19:25-27

He called them together, along with the workers in related trades, and said, "You know my friends, that we receive a good income from this business."

It was time to discuss with everyone involved in making articles related to the worship of Artemis in Ephesus how to deal with the present crisis they were facing.

Read Part Ten HERE

ON TO OTHER PLACES: CORINTH AND EPHESUS P/8

           

                                                                                    Read Part One HERE

A WALK THROUGH THE BOOK OF ACTS

                      PART XIX - IV

I, Paul, am so aware that God can and does all kinds of situations for good.   One example, for instance, is an event related to the sons of Sceva, a Jewish priest... They thought they could deliver some Jewish men from demonic spirits.... However, they were not able to do...Because they only knew about Jesus but did not have a personal relationship with Him... The news of what happened to them spread very quickly through Ephesus, the city I am staying at the moment.... Amazingly, as a result many more people have come to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.... Moreover, these same people have realised that God's power is real and should not be played with.... They have understood as well that they could no longer hold on to occult practices.... Because they cannot worship Jesus and their false gods... They have, therefore, openly confessed all their evil deeds.... And they have brought their occultic scrolls to me.... Earlier today we burned all these scrolls... And we all recjoiced together over the freedom that we have in Christ."... Please read the typed out attachment when you will learn that the believers in Ephesus gave up their valuable occultic scrolls....

 

                        ATTACHMENT A WALK THROUGH THE BOOK OF ACTS

                                                          PART XIX - IV

The story of the sons of Sceva spread throughout the city of Ephesus despite the fact that in those days Facebook, Instagram or Twitter did not exist.... And what had happened to them had great effect on the citizens as you can read in Acts 19:17

When this became known to the Jews and Greeks living in Ephesus, they were all seized with fear, and the Name of the Lord Jesus was held in high honour.

What happened next shows that these new believers took their faith in the Lord Jesus very serious as you can read in Acts 19:18-19

Many of those who believed now came and openly confessed their evil deeds. A number who had practiced sorcery brought their scrolls together and burned them publicly. When they calculated the value of the crolls, the total came to fifty thousand drachmas. (A drachma was a silver coin worth a day's wages) 

These believers understood that in order to serve the Lord their lives had to be cleaned up in practical ways to show Him that He really was Lord over everything in their lives and not just over part of their activities. This despite the fact that for a number of them following Jesus came at a substantial financial loss since the scrolls they had burned had great financial value. They could have sold them but they did not do so for they knew that would dishonour their Lord... These scrolls were not just innocent scrolls but had been used for occultic practices. Such practices had not longer any place in their lives as followers of Jesus

This resulted in the Gospel message to be spread widely as you can read in Acts 19:20

In this way, the word of the Lord spread widely and grew in power.

And that is how it should be for us as believers. We are to have a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus that is to be shown in the way we live. We may not have occultic scrolls in our possession but we may have other things, such as habits, activities that dishonour the Lord. If that is the case, then we need to repent of them and let go of them so that we honour the Lord with our lives and are not obstacles to others coming to faith in Him.

Read Part Nine HERE

ON TO OTHER PLACES: CORINTH AND EPHESUS P/7

 

                                                                                     Read Part One HERE

A WALK THROUGH THE BOOK OF ACTS 

                    PART  XIX - III

"I, Paul, am very grateful that God can use even me, a great sinner, in a way He chooses.... While here in Ephesus, I have seen God heal many people through me... I have seen Him deliver many people as well from demonic spirits through me....Such is His love for them.... Praise His Holy Name.... I know too that God can work these miracles through me because I have a very close relationship with Him... Just the other day some Jewish men, sons of a priest named Sceva, tried to deliver people from demonic spirits.... However, they were not successful... The reason they could not set the other people free is because they do not know Jesus.... They only know about Jesus.... I heard these sons of Sceva were severely beaten up by a demon.... No-one should try and deal with the demonic realm unless they have a personal and intimate relationship with the Lord Jesus, not even the sons of Sceva.".... Please read the typed out attachment when you will learn of the failed attempt of the sons of Sceva to deliver people from demons...

                          ATTACHMENT A WALK THROUGH THE BOOK OF ACTS

                                                            PART XIX - III

While Paul was in Ephesus God used him in very unusual ways as you can know from Acts 19:11-12

God did extraordinary miracles through Paul, so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick, and their illnesses were cured and the evil spirits had left them.

No doubt, the word about these miracles spread and some Jews thought they should try and perform something miraculous as well, expecting similar results as you can know from Acts 19:13-14

Some Jews who went around driving out evil spirits tried to invoke the Name of the Lord Jesus over those who were demon-possessed. They would say, "In the Name of Jesus, whom Paul, preaches, I command you to come out."Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish priest were doing this.

It is very clear that the sons of Sceva did not know the Lord Jesus personally but had only heard of Him. Consequently, their experiment, for that is what it was, failed miserably, as you can know from Acts 19:15

One day, the evil spirit answered, "Jesus I know, and I know about Paul but who are you?"

I should think these sons of Sceva were very shocked to hear this demon speak to them and declare to them that he knew who Jesus was and, no doubt, feared Him as you can know from Luke 8:30-31

Jesus asked him (the demon possessed man), "What is your name?" "Legion," he replied, because many demons had gone into him. And they begged Him repeatedly not to order them to go into the Abyss.

This demon had heard about Paul as well but these sons of Sceva were unknown in the demonic realm.

What happened next will have made them realise that the demonic realm is real and not to be played with as you can read in Acts 19:16

Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all.He gve them sch a beating that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding.

This shows us that there is real power in the demonic realm and we should not take it lightly.

Read Part Eight HERE

ON TO OTHER PLACES CORINTH AND EPHESUS: P/6

Read Part One HERE

A WALK THROUGH THE BOOK OF ACTS

                   PART XIX - II

I, Paul, am still in Ephesus where I recently spent three months preaching in the synagogue..... I knew that I needed to give the Jews time before they could accept my message... That is why I kept going over my message time and again to prove to them that Jesus is their Messiah.... However, even after praching to them for three months, there are some Jews who refuse to believe.... They not only refuse to believe... They have begun to publicly speak against my message.... That is when I knew it was time for a change.... So I told those who had become followers of the Lord Jesus through my preaching that I sensed we should meet at another location rather than the synagogue...They all agreed with me.... For they were very keen to keep on learning about their Messiah... We are very grateful to the Lord for having helped us find a very suitable meeting place where we could meet daily... These meetings have now been going on for two yeaars... So many people in Asia, both Jews and Gentiles have been able to hear the word of God."... Please read the typed out attachment when you will learn of Paul's decison to start meetings at the lecture hall of Tyrannus....

                   ATTACHMENT A WALK THROUGH THE BOOK OF ACTS

                                                           PART XIX - II

After his encounter with a group of followers of John the Baptist, we find Paul preaching in the synagogue for a three-months period as you can know from Acts 19:8

Paul entered the synagogue and spoke boldly there for three months arguing persuasively about the kingdom of God.

However, there where those who were opposed to his message so he ended up teaching believers in a lecture hall for a two-year period as you can know from Acts 19:9-10

But some of them became obstinate; they refused to believe and publicly maligned the Way. So Paul left them. He took the disciples with him and had discussions daily in the lecture hall of Tyrannus. This went on for two years so that all the Jews and Greeks who lived in the province of Asia heard the word of the Lord.

Paul realised at some point that among those he preached were some who were unwilling to accept the Gospel message, no matter how clearly the explained the message to them from the Scriptures. In fact, they not only refused to believe his message, they began to publicly speak against his message. That is when he knew the time had come to move the meetings to another venue so he could continue to teach those who did want to know. I believe, we need to learn from this example, for we too may find ourselves at times trying to share the Gospel with people who are unwilling to accept the message. If that is the case then it may be better to move on to other people who may be more open to hear this amazing message.

Read Part Seven HERE

ON TO OTHER PLACES: CORINTH AND EPHESUS P/5

Read Part ONe HERE 

A WALK THROUGH THE BOOK OF ACTS 

                   PART XIX - I

I, Paul, had been travelling for some time.... However, I had promised the believers in Ephesus that I would return.... If the Lord opened the door for me to do so.... And eventually He did....At my arrival I met with some disciples.... I was delighted to meet with them.... We began a conversation about their faith.... As I listened to them, I began to have an unease within me.... I could not exaactly pinpoint why this was so... But I sensed something was not quite right.... I decided to ask them a question.... So I did.... I am not sure what they thought of my question.... But that did not matter.... For I knew I needed to ask it.... As I believed that their answer would help me understand my unease within me....So I asked them if they had received the Holy Spirit when they believed.... Their answer was very revealing to me.... For they told me they had never heard of the Holy Spirit.... Then I understood why I had sensed something was lacking in their lives... But I needed to ask them another question before I could proceed with any teaching.... This time I asked them what baptism they had received.... They replied that they had received the baptism of John the Baptist.... He was the forerunner of Jesus.... Then I fully understood....They had not yet heard the gospel in all its fullness....So I, first of all, told them what the Baptism of John had been all about.... I then continued by preaching to them all what Jesus had already accomplished.... It was wonderful to see these disciples receive the Baptism in the Holy Spirit afterwards... With all the accompanying signs just as it had happened at the Day of Pentecost.... And as I had experienced as well."... Please read the typed out attachment when you will learn of Paul's encounter with some disciples in Ephesus....

                      ATTACHMENT A WALK THROUGH THE BOOK OF ACTS

                                                             PART XIX - I 

Paul had been travelling and ended up in Ephesus again where he met some disciples. And he asked them a very interesting question as you can read in Acts 19:1-2

While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus. There he found some disciples and asked them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?" They answered, "No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit."

What a strange question to ask these disciples, don't you think? However, Paul must have had a reason for asking it. He must have realised something was missing from their lives though he may not have been able to pinpoint exactly what was missing. The answer of these disciples only confirmed that Paul was right for they had never received any teaching on the Holy Spirit.

Paul, having realised that these disciples had not rceived the Baptism in the Holy Spirit, asked them another question as you can read in Acts 19:3

So Paul asked, "Then what baptism did you receive?" "John's baptism," they replied.

Paul then understood from their answer why he had sensed something was lacking in their lives. Their answer had revealed to him they they only knew the teaching of John the Baptist, who was the forerunner of Jesus as you can know from Matthew 3:1-3

In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the Desert of Judea and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near." This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: "A voice of one calling in the desert. Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for Him."

So Paul explained to these disciples what the ministry of John the Baptist had been as you can know from Acts 19:4

Paul said, "John's baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the One coming after him, that is, in Jesus."

Paul realised that these disciples did not yet know that the One John had spoken of, the Lord Jesus, had already come, had already died on the Cross for their sins, had already been resurrected, and had gone back to heaven from where He had sent the Holy Spirit to earth to reside within believers the moment they are born again, and to empower them for their God-given task. No doubt, Paul then explained the  Gospel Message in all its fullness to them, whereafter he baptised them in the Name of the Lord as you can know from Acts 19:5

On hearing this, they were baptied into the Name of the Lord Jesus.

He, furthermore, prayed for them to receive the Baptism in the Holy Spirit as you can read in Acts 19:6

When Paul placed his hands on them, The Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied.

Paul will have recognised that they received a genuine Baptism in the Holy Spirit for the outward signs were as they had happened on the Day of Pentecost as you can read in Acts 2:4

All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

And it will have been like Paul's own experience as you can read in Acts 9:17

Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul (Paul), he said, "Brother Saul, The Lord - Jesus who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here. has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit." 

Read Part Six HERE

                                                     

 

ON TO OTHER PLACES: CORINTH AND EPHESUS P/4

 

                                                                                   Read Part One HERE

A WALK THROUGH THE BOOK OF ACTS

                   PART XVIII - IV

"We, Priscilla and Aquila, continued to meet with Apollos in Ephesus... And we could see that his faith was maturing.... We began to discuss among ourselves the possibility of Apollos going to other places... To preach the Good News of the Lord Jesus Christ....For he had now such a clear understanding of the Scriptures... However, we knew too that God needed to prepare him for that task.... So we prayed that the Lord would work in Apollos' heart... So that he might know where he was to go and when he was to go there... It was not much longer after we had begun to pray these specific prayers for Apollos that he came to see us... And to share with us that the Lord had laid on his heart a desire to to a place called Achaia for ministry.... Aquila and I looked at each other and smiled.... God had answered our prayers.... We would, of course, miss having Apollos with us... But we knew we should not hold on to him... Instead, we should write to the disciples in Achaia to welcome Apollos in their midst..... For he will be of great help to them... Looking back, we are so glad that we have not become bitter that the Emperor Claudius forced us, Jews, to leave Rome....Even though that meant we had to give up our home and were without income for a while... Because we had to leave behind all our customers.... But God is good for He has brought us new customers.... And, more importantly, He has brought Paul and Apollos into our lives.... There is nothing more exciting than to be part of God's Kingdom work wherever that may take us and with whomever He has chosen for us to work with."....Please read the typed out attachment when you will learn of Apollos' new assignment...

 

                       ATTACHMENT A WALK THROUGH THE BOOK OF ACTS

                                                        PART XVIII - IV

Apollos, having received further instruction from Priscilla and Aquila, did not want to keep what he had learned from them to himself, but desired to share what he had learned with others. The believers in Ephesus knew that he had now grasped the Gospel fully, having been properly instruced, so they encouraged him to go to Achaia as you can know from Acts 18:27-28

When Apollos wanted to go to Achaia, the brothers and sisters encouraged him and wrote to the disciples there to welcome him. When he arrived, he was a great help to those who by grace had believed. For He vigorously refuted his Jewish opponents in public debate, proving from the Scriptures that Jesus was the Messiah.

From this chapter we can learn that God can turn any unjust situation around for it was unjust for the Emperor Claudius to send all the Jews away from their homes in Rome. And God had not stopped this unjust action but had allowed it to happen for His purposes, which Priscilla and Aquila would not have known of when they had to pack up and go. No doubt, later on this couple would have recognised the hand of God in leading them to go to Corinth, for it was there they met the Apostle Paul.

Moreover, they would have recognised at some point as well that it was the Lord who had then led them to go with Paul to Ephesus, for it was in Ephesus that they met Apollos and were instrumental in him being one day of great use to Paul.

Were these meetings co-incidences? I don't think so. I think they were God-incidences, allowed by God so that the Gospel message could continue to be spread throughout the nations. And He was able to use Paul, Priscilla, Aquila and Apollos among others because they were willing.... They could have said, "No," to God. Priscilla and Aquila could have become bitter because of the terrible treatment they had received from the Emperor Claudius and they could have blamed God for their circumstances. After all, He had not stopped their persecution. Instead, He had allowed them to lose everything: their home, their business. But they never did. Their hearts remained faithful towards God so God could use them for His purposes. They must have been so grateful that they never allowed bitterness to enter their hearts, for if that had happened they may never have met Paul, or Apollos, not to mention the many other believers...

They understood the principle of Romans 8:28

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose."

May we know that too.

Read Part Five HERE

                                                    

   

ON TO OTHER PLACES: CORINTH AND EPHESUS P/3

 

                                                                                   Read Part One HERE

A WALK THROUGH THE BOOK OF ACTS

              PART XVIII - III

"I, Paul, eventually left Corinth for Ephesus together with Priscilla and Aquila.... However, I did not stay long in Ephesus... But I left Priscilla and Aquila behind.... While there, they met another Jew.... A man named Apollos....".... "Yes, we, Priscilla and Aquila, one day heard this man Appollos speak at the synagogue we attend every Saturday... He was a gifted speaker... And it was clear that he had a great deal of knowledge of the Scriptures.... Yet, we sensed at the same time that some things were lacking in his understanding of the Scriptures.... Aquila and I, Priscilla, looked at each other... We knew that he needed some help...And Paul had left for other places... So he could not be of help to him... That is when we decided we should speak to him.... And invite him to our home.... So we could have a conversation with him.... After one of the Sabbath services, we introduced ourselves...And we asked him if he would like to join us for a meal... He was delighted.... We then learned that his name was Apollos.... And that he had come from Alexandria....Over our meal together we learned that he only knew of the Baptism of John the Baptist.... We then understood why we had sensed some things were lacking in his knowledge of the Bible...We were only too delighted to help him have a more accurate understanding of the Scriptures... We pray that one day he will have the opportunity to meet Paul and even become a co-worker with him.".... Please read the typed out attachment when you will learn of the encounter of Paul's friends Priscilla and Aquila with Apollos....

                         ATTACHMENT A WALK THROUGH THE BOOK OF ACTS

                                                          PART XVIII - III

Priscilla and Aquila stayed behind in Ephesus, while Paul started to travel to other places. God used this couple in a very specific way in Ephesus as you will see in a moment. For during that time a man named Apollos arrived in Ephesus. He was a learned man but his theology was insufficient as you can know from Acts 18:24-26

Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was a learned man, with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures. He had been instructed in the way of the Lord, and he spoke with great fervor and taught about Jesus accurately, though he knew only the baptsim of John. He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately.

The baptism of John refers to the baptism which was done by John the Baptist, the son of Elizabeth and Zechariah, who was a cousin of Jesus. You can read of his ministry in Luke 3:3

He (John) went into all the country around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.

It may well be that Apollos had heard John the Baptist preach and had been baptised by him. However, that was before Jesus' death on the Cross and His Resurrection. Therefore, Apollos' understanding of the Scriptures were lacking even though he did not know that. But remember, Priscilla and Aquila were in Ephesus when Apollos arrived there.

Their regular custom would have been to go to the synagogue on the Sabbath Day. That is how they will have heard Apollos speak. They would have recognised his preaching ability and his knowledge of the Scriptures, but they would have recognised as well that certain things were lacking. They knew that they were able to teach him what was lacking in his understanding of the Scriptures.

So they took action  and their action took place in a very specific form; they did not just go home and pray for Apollos that God might show him the truth. Neither did they write a letter to Paul asking him to return so that he could teach Apollos what was lacking in his understanding of the Gospel. No, they took it upon themselves to teach him things he did not yet know by inviting him into their home.

They showed thereby great care and love for this man. No doubt, their ministry to Apollos prepared the way for Apollos to eventually meet Paul and become a fellow worker with him as you can know from 1 Corinthians 3:4-9

"For when one says, "I follow Paul," and another, ""I follow Apollos," are you not mere human beings? What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? only servants, through whom you came to believe - as the Lord has assigned to each his task. I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God who makes things grow. The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded to their own labour. For we are co-workers in God's service; you are God's field, God's building."

Read Part Four HERE