Luke the beloved physician 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”, and in chapter eighteen and verse twenty-eight of the book of Acts Luke shared how Apollos, “mightily convinced the Jews” where we read:
For he mightily convinced the Jews, and that publicly, showing by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ.
The verse reads, “For he mightily convinced the Jews, and that publicly, ...”: Luke began with the words, “for he mightily convinced the Jews” which means “because, since and on account that Apollos vehemently and intensely proved downright as he confuted the people of the Jewish nation as respects to origin, birth or religion”, “and that publicly” or “and in full view of all and openly” showing the following. Luke shared how “Apollos” powerfully persuaded the “Jewish people” according to the gospel and “openly” demonstrated the following to them.
The verse continues, “... showing by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ.” Luke added the words “showing by the scriptures” or “exhibiting and producing in full view through the Holy Writ or Scriptures” “that Jesus” whose name means “Jehovah is Salvation and is the Son of God, the Savior of mankind and God incarnate” “was Christ” or “existed as the anointed One, the Messiah and the Son of God.” Luke shared how “Apollos” openly demonstrated to the Jewish people in “Achaia” that “Jesus” is the anointed One, the Messiah and the Son of God.
When we consider Luke's words in this verse, we learn how “Apollos” began to share with the “Jewish people” in “Achaia” that Jesus was indeed the “Messiah” of God. Many people did not and do not believe this, however, the Bible, the Holy Scriptures, are filled with many references to show that He is indeed the “Christ”, and anyone who carefully examines them will find this to be true. God loves people, and He sent His Son Jesus to suffer by being beaten, tortured, persecuted and killed upon a cross to pay for the sins of the whole world. Anyone who believes and trusts in Him will be forgiven of their sins and granted everlasting life, and those who are wise concern themselves with what the Holy Scriptures say about God's Son and “Christ – Jesus”.
Next time we begin a new chapter where Luke writes, “while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus”, 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".
No comments:
Post a Comment