Acts 18- Paul, Priscilla, Aquila and Apollos

Please read Acts chapter 18.

In this chapter of Acts Paul finishes his second missionary journey and begins his third missionary journey. Also, in this chapter we meet three amazing Christians named Priscilla, Aquila and Apollos.  I want to take a look at something we can learn from each character in this story and I'm taking the husband and wife team of Priscilla and Aquila as one.

Paul's story:
Paul's biggest impact in this chapter comes when he lets go or seemingly does nothing.  First, he spends a lot of time sharing the Gospel with the Jews in the synagogue in Corinth.  Paul gets nowhere and he is frustrated saying in verse 6, "Your blood be on your own heads!  I am clear of my responsibility.  From now on I will go to the Gentiles."

Story over, right?  The Jews blew their chance, right?  Wrong.  Paul realized that he could not force people to convert; all he could do and had to do was share the Gospel as best he could.  So, Paul let go.  Amazingly as soon as Paul let go and went next door to share the Gospel with the Gentiles at Titius Justus' house the synagogue ruler Crispus showed up.  Crispus and his whole household heard the good news and believed.  When Paul stopped God didn't.

Later Paul was brought to trial accused of teaching a religion that was unlawful under Roman law.  In verse 14 Paul started to talk, but was interrupted by the Roman proconsul Gallio.  Gallio interrupted Paul and ruled that Christianity was a sect of Judaism and therefore a legal religion throughout the empire.  When Paul did nothing God did a huge thing.

From Paul's story we can learn that sometimes trusting God means leaving the work up to Him.  This isn't always true; I'm not promoting sitting on your butt and waiting for God all the time, but sometimes this is how God works.

Priscilla and Aquila's story:
Priscilla and her husband Aquila were kind, hospitable people.  They housed Paul and gave him work while he lived in Corinth.  They also were kind rather than confrontational with Apollos.  Apollos had half of the Gospel when he arrived in Ephesus (only what John the Baptist taught).  Apollos was preaching this less than complete Gospel to many people.  Apollos just didn't know better.  So, instead of calling him out in public, Priscilla and Aquila invited Apollos over to their house probably for dinner and explained the whole Gospel to him.  Because of their kindness Apollos became a powerful missionary in the early church.

From Priscilla and Aquila's story we can learn that God loves to use kindness to expand His kingdom.  If we are kind and hospitable we may not be noticed by men but we will be noticed by God.

Apollos' story:
Apollos was a man that came to Ephesus and was the smartest guy in the room just about everywhere he went.  He was from Alexandria and probably went to the world's greatest university that was located in Alexandria, Egypt.  He had a following of people.  He had no human reason to listen to Priscilla and Aquila when they invited him to their house.  Apollos was a smart, persuasive, magnetic man; however, his best quality may be teachability.  Apollos was teachable.  He humbly listened to Priscilla and Aquila and therefore was able to share the whole Gospel to thousands.

From Apollos' story we can learn that God loves His people to be teachable.  We as Christians should be lifelong learners always looking to the other parts of the body to grow us.  Don't be so full of yourself that you become unteachable.

So, let go and let God when the occasion arrises.  Be kind and hospitable.  And be teachable today.