KEEP ON SPEAKING...I HAVE MANY PEOPLE IN THIS CITY, Sarah Barry
THE WORK OF GOD GROWS
Passage: Acts 18:12~28  
Key verse: 26
12 While Gallio was proconsul(A) of Achaia,(B) the Jews of Corinth made a united attack on Paul and brought him to the place of judgment. 13 “This man,” they charged, “is persuading the people to worship God in ways contrary to the law.”
14 Just as Paul was about to speak, Gallio said to them, “If you Jews were making a complaint about some misdemeanor or serious crime, it would be reasonable for me to listen to you. 15 But since it involves questions about words and names and your own law(C)—settle the matter yourselves. I will not be a judge of such things.” 16 So he drove them off. 17 Then the crowd there turned on Sosthenes(D) the synagogue leader(E) and beat him in front of the proconsul; and Gallio showed no concern whatever.
Priscilla, Aquila and Apollos
18 Paul stayed on in Corinth for some time. Then he left the brothers and sisters(F) and sailed for Syria,(G) accompanied by Priscilla and Aquila.(H) Before he sailed, he had his hair cut off at Cenchreae(I) because of a vow he had taken.(J) 19 They arrived at Ephesus,(K) where Paul left Priscilla and Aquila. He himself went into the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews. 20 When they asked him to spend more time with them, he declined. 21 But as he left, he promised, “I will come back if it is God’s will.”(L) Then he set sail from Ephesus. 22 When he landed at Caesarea,(M) he went up to Jerusalem and greeted the church and then went down to Antioch.(N)
23 After spending some time in Antioch, Paul set out from there and traveled from place to place throughout the region of Galatia(O) and Phrygia,(P) strengthening all the disciples.(Q)
24 Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos,(R) a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus.(S) He was a learned man, with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures. 25 He had been instructed in the way of the Lord, and he spoke with great fervor[a](T) and taught about Jesus accurately, though he knew only the baptism of John.(U) 26 He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila(V) heard him, they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately.
27 When Apollos wanted to go to Achaia,(W) the brothers and sisters(X) encouraged him and wrote to the disciples there to welcome him. When he arrived, he was a great help to those who by grace had believed. 28 For he vigorously refuted his Jewish opponents in public debate, proving from the Scriptures(Y) that Jesus was the Messiah.(Z)
Footnotes
- Acts 18:25 Or with fervor in the Spirit
Cross references
- Acts 18:12 : Ac 13:7, 8, 12; 19:38
- Acts 18:12 : ver 27; Ro 15:26; 1Co 16:15; 2Co 9:2; 1Th 1:7, 8
- Acts 18:15 : Ac 23:29; 25:11, 19
- Acts 18:17 : 1Co 1:1
- Acts 18:17 : ver 8
- Acts 18:18 : ver 27; S Ac 1:16
- Acts 18:18 : S Lk 2:2
- Acts 18:18 : S ver 2
- Acts 18:18 : Ro 16:1
- Acts 18:18 : Nu 6:2, 5, 18; Ac 21:24
- Acts 18:19 : ver 21, 24; Ac 19:1, 17, 26; 1Co 15:32; 16:8; Eph 1:1; 1Ti 1:3; Rev 1:11; 2:1
- Acts 18:21 : Ro 1:10; 15:32; 1Co 4:19; Jas 4:15
- Acts 18:22 : S Ac 8:40
- Acts 18:22 : S Ac 11:19
- Acts 18:23 : S Ac 16:6
- Acts 18:23 : Ac 2:10; 16:6
- Acts 18:23 : Ac 14:22; 15:32, 41
- Acts 18:24 : Ac 19:1; 1Co 1:12; 3:5, 6, 22; 4:6; 16:12; Tit 3:13
- Acts 18:24 : S ver 19
- Acts 18:25 : Ro 12:11
- Acts 18:25 : S Mk 1:4
- Acts 18:26 : S ver 2
- Acts 18:27 : S ver 12
- Acts 18:27 : ver 18; S Ac 1:16
- Acts 18:28 : Ac 8:35; 17:2
- Acts 18:28 : ver 5; S Ac 9:22
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source:  BibleGateway
1. Challenge in Corinth (12-17)
The Jews arrested Paul and brought him for judgment, but God protected him. The proconsul Gallio refused to judge matters of Jewish law, and so the work in Corinth continued to grow,
2. Emerging leaders (18-28)
Paul traveled back to Antioch, leaving Priscilla and Aquila in Ephesus, then going through Caesarea and Jerusalem on his way. After a time he set out again, visiting the churches in Asia Minor. In Ephesus, Priscilla and Aquila met a man named Apollos, who had knowledge of the Scriptures and John the Baptist, but not Jesus. They taught him the gospel in their house church and raised him as a man who could adequately prove from the Scriptures that Jesus was the Messiah. The Lord was raising new leaders for his ministry.
Prayer: Lord, the ministry is your work. Help us to serve it by preaching your word. Raise new leaders for our generation.
One Word: Raise leaders who preach the word