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
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