Apostle Paul and Silas went about preaching the goodnews of the Lord Jesus Christ some believed while the Jews who did not believe moved with envy. Wait a minute, why are they envious because they do not belief. Envy is some demonic character that no one should allow to consume their being. They took the matter to the rulers. One thing that the agents of darkness often use is power, they try to influence authority, they lie if they are not in charge and when they are in charge they exert their authority so others can dwell in fear and doom.
Due to this occurrence, the others immediately send Paul and Silas away. The devil will go to any length to ensure that the gospel is hindered but none of the word of God will return to Him void because the word of God says on Matthew 24 that all the earth will hear the gospel then the end will come. Despite all those issues, some believed in the good news before they eventually sent Paul and Silas away.
Paul went to Athens, the city was filled with idolatry. Paul spirit was stirred to share the goodnews, he met with people in market places yet oppositions rose against him. They called him a babbler and questioned what He was saying. They demanded to know the doctrine he was talking about. It's noted that the Athenians and the strangers there spent their time to hear new things. My question is, were these people discerning at all if all they did was hear new things?
Paul went ahead to address the people of Athens publicly stating how superstitious they were and how they didn't believe in the almighty God. He talked about their ignorance. Mentioned the wonders of God, raising the dead and all, he made sure he aired his opinion of them and the good news before leaving the place.
Acts 18
This chapter is centered on the people of Corinth, Ephesus and the missionary journey.
When Paul left Athens he head to Corinth, there He found Aquila from Italy and his wife Priscilla they both were Jews who left Rome. He stayed with them, Paul again moved by Holy Spirit evangelised or ministered to the Jews. When they blasphemed he left them to their devices, saying their blood be upon them. He left there and went to the house of Crisps the head of the synagogue, they believed the Lord and many were banished. The Lord spoke in a vision to Paul encouraging him not to be afraid, but speak the truth, to tell the people about Christ. Above all, the Lord assured him that He was with him. Paul was there for a year and six months preaching the gospel. I believe that as an individual having the assurance that God is with you is essential for our confidence in all we do especially spiritual things.
The Jews still opposed him and reported him to Gallio, however in a shocking twist Gallio supported Paul. After a while, Paul left there with Priscilla and Aquila and went to Ephesus.
Paul went to the synagogue to preach to the Jews. The significant things of how Apostle Paul was sold out to evangelism is worth emulating. He takes the scripture to places they probably wouldn't want to hear him but it's worth nothing that He was assured by God not to be afraid that He God was with him.
The question and lesson here before you go, has God given you a go ahead, and make sure that you seek God through and through to understand the plans of God. The Jews here welcomed him and wanted him to stay longer but instead he left after a while and headed to Caesarea then Antioch.
This aspect is another one we need to be alert and learn from, do you dwell in a place longer than God asked you to? Some of us when we are made comfortable in a place, given title, even when God says leave you are afraid of starting from the beginning, because you are now titled apostle where you are, forgetting that God is the one that appoints and puts a man in any office. Learn to follow God's leading.
The last part of this chapter talks about the missionary journey, Apostle Paul journeyed to Galatia and Phrygia to strengthen all disciples. There he met with Apollos a Jew born in Alexandria the scripture said he was eloquent and he was from Ephesus. He was diligent in the things of the Lord and conversant with the baptism of John which is the baptism of immersion. This came to the knowled of Aquilla and Prisca and they went ahead to meet him, collaborated with him and taught more about the gospel. They worked together, I wish ministers of God can easily work in the same accord now. Some fake have made it really difficult to partner with others. But Christianity and the community can only grow more through godly collaboration as we see here.
This chapter ended talking about how they continue to spread the good news. My prayer is we are strengthened to share the good news of Jesus everywhere we go in Jesus name.
