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 in chapter eighteen and verse twenty-seven of the book of Acts Luke shared what happened when Apollos, “was disposed to pass into Achaia” where we read:
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:
The verse reads, “And when he was disposed to pass into Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him:”: Luke began with the words, “and when he was disposed to pass” which means “and at the time and moment Apollos was purposed, minded and intending to go” “into Achaia” or “to Achaia whose name means trouble and was the maritime region of northern Peloponnesus”, “the brethren wrote” which means “the fellow believers who were united to each other by the bond of affection delineated and formed in letters upon a tablet, parchment, paper or other material”, “exhorting the disciples” or “urging and encouraging the students, pupils and attendants of Jesus” “to receive him” which means “to accept Apollos”. Luke shared how “Apollos” was determined to go to “Achaia”, so the fellow believers “wrote” to the student and pupils of Jesus there and encouraged them to accept him into their fellowship.
The verse goes on to say, “who, when he was come, helped them much which had believed through grace:” Luke continued with the words “who, when he was come” or “who, at the time and moment Apollos arose and appeared in Achaia”, “helped them much” which means “conversed with, encountered, aided and contributed to the disciples of Achaia” “which had believed through grace” or “who were persuaded, placed confidence in and trusted by way and manner of that which affords joy, pleasure, delight, sweetness, charm, loveliness and unmerited favor”. Luke shared how “Apollos” aided the disciples in “Achaia” who trusted in, relied upon, clung to and had confidence in Jesus Christ through unmerited favor.
When we consider Luke's words in this verse, we learn how “Apollos” desired to expand the teaching of the “gospel” to the area of “Achaia”, and when the fellow believers knew this, they “wrote” to the people in “Achaia” to accept him. When “Apollos” arrived, he began to teach the “believers” there according to the unmerited favor of God. God's desire is to have everyone know and receive His “gospel of salvation” through His Son Jesus. Anyone who believes and trusts in Him will be forgiven of their sins and granted everlasting life with God. Afterward they begin a life long journey of knowing God the Father and Christ the Son to a greater and greater degree, and those who are wise yield themselves to everything He has done and desires to do in their lives.
Next time Luke shares how Apollos, “mightily convinced the Jews”, 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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