The beloved physician Luke shared how, “a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures, came to Ephesus. This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spoke and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John. And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly. And when he was disposed to pass into Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him: who, when he was come, helped them much which had believed through grace. For he mightily convinced the Jews, and that publicly, showing by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ”, and in chapter nineteen and verse one of the book of Acts Luke wrote, “while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus” where we read:
And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples,
The verse reads, “And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, ...”: Luke began with the words, “and it came to pass” which means “and it happened, occurred and came upon the scene”, “that, while Apollos” or “that during the time when Apollos whose name means given by Apollo and was a learned Jew from Alexandria and mighty in the scriptures who became a Christian and a teacher of Christianity” “was at Corinth” which means “existed, happened and was present in the city of Corinth which means satiated and was an ancient and famous city of Greece, on the Isthmus of Corinth, and about 40 miles (65 km) west of Athens”. Luke shared during the time “Apollos” was in the city of “Corinth” the following occurred.
The verse goes on to say, “... Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples, ...” Luke continued with the words “Paul having passed through” or “Paul whose name means small or little journeying and walking through” “the upper coasts” which means “the superior and more remote parts or lots” “came to Ephesus” or “arose and appeared in Ephesus whose name means permitted and was a maritime city of Asia Minor, capital of Ionia and under the Romans, of proconsular Asia, situated on the Icarian Sea between Smyrna and Miletus”: “and finding certain disciples” which means “and discovering particular students, pupils and attendants of Jesus”. Luke shared how “Paul” traveled through the “upper areas of the coast” toward “Ephesus” and discovered the fellow believers in Jesus who were there.
When we meditate upon Luke's words in this verse, we learn how “Paul” went back to “Ephesus” while “Apollos” was in “Corinth”. God was using both men to teach His disciples, and the “gospel” of Jesus Christ continued throughout that area. God loves people, and His desire is to reach them with His “good news” of salvation through His Son Jesus. Anyone who believes and trusts in Jesus as their personal “Savior and Lord” will be forgiven of their sins and granted everlasting life. Those who study the life of “Paul” will perceive his passion to let others know about God's “salvation” and surrender themselves to Jesus who alone is able to provide them with eternal life.
Next time Luke shares how Paul asks the believers at Ephesus, “Have you received the Holy Ghost since you believed?”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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