Today’s Reading: Acts 18; Psalm 91

Meanwhile, a Jew named Apollos, an eloquent speaker who knew the Scriptures well, had arrived in Ephesus from Alexandria in Egypt. He had been taught the way of the Lord, and he taught others about Jesus with an enthusiastic spirit and with accuracy. However, he knew only about John’s baptism. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him preaching boldly in the synagogue, they took him aside and explained the way of God even more accurately. – Acts 18:24-26

Paul met a lot of interesting people on his evangelistic journey. Priscilla and Aquila were two Jews from Italy whom he found kinship with because they were tentmakers like Paul. They had been deported from Italy when Claudius Caesar made all the Jews leave Rome. They settled in Corinth, where they met Paul, and they invited Paul to live and work with them.

Paul went to the synagogue every Sabbath to try to convince the Jews and Greeks that Jesus was the Messiah. When Silas and Timothy arrived in Corinth, he began spending all of his time preaching the word. But instead of believing in Jesus, the Jews insulted Paul and opposed his message. Here he was giving his life to making a difference in theirs, but they rejected both Paul and the good news about Jesus.

Then he left and went to the home of Titius Justus, a Gentile who worshiped God and lived next door to the synagogue. Crispus, the leader of the synagogue, and everyone in his household believed in the Lord. Many others in Corinth also heard Paul, became believers, and were baptized. – Acts 18:7-8

I am sure it was discouraging for Paul when the Jews would not listen to the truth about Jesus; I am sure it was painful when they insulted him. But if Paul had not experienced this opposition, he never would have met Titius Justus, Crispus and all the other Gentiles who came to believe that Jesus was the Messiah. Rather than getting down about what went wrong, Paul could now celebrate the salvation and baptism of this group of new believers.

One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision and told him, “Don’t be afraid! Speak out! Don’t be silent! For I am with you, and no one will attack and harm you, for many people in this city belong to me.” So Paul stayed there for the next year and a half, teaching the word of God. – Acts 18:9-11

At times, we go through difficulties and persecution because of our faith. No matter how hard we try, it seems as if the world is determined to reject both Christians and Christianity. Day after day we live out our calling to go and make disciples, but it can be discouraging when there is no fruit to be seen. But sometimes when we respond in obedience to what God is calling us to do and say, we experience a season of many coming to know Jesus as their Lord. In both seasons, God is faithful to encourage us; God is with us through the good and the bad times — through both harvest and drought.

DO NOT BE AFRAID. SPEAK OUT. DO NOT BE SILENT. FOR I AM WITH YOU.

After a season of growth and the word of the Lord being received by the Gentiles, some Jews rose up against Paul. They brought him before Galilio, the governor of Achaia, on charges of persuading people to worship God in a way contrary to the Jewish law. Just as Paul was prepared to defend himself, Galilio shut it down and kicked them all out of the courtroom. Paul had continued to courageously speak out and God was with Paul, just as He said He would be!

Eventually Paul moved on from Corinth, taking Aquila and Priscilla with him. When he left Ephesus, they remained behind, and this is how they came to know Apollos. Paul taught them about Jesus and then they taught Apollos, and then Apollos went on to make a tremendous impact on the lives of those in Achaia.

Apollos had been thinking about going to Achaia, and the brothers and sisters in Ephesus encouraged him to go. They wrote to the believers in Achaia, asking them to welcome him. When he arrived there, he proved to be of great benefit to those who, by God’s grace, had believed. He refuted the Jews with powerful arguments in public debate. Using the Scriptures, he explained to them that Jesus was the Messiah. – Acts 18:27-28

DO NOT BE AFRAID. SPEAK OUT. DO NOT BE SILENT. FOR I AM WITH YOU.

What is God asking you to do that requires courage? To what purpose are you called, even if met with opposition and insults? When the world tries to silence us, we must obediently speak out the message about Jesus, regardless of the response. We must not be silent; we cannot be silent. The impact of our courage could make a difference in someone else’s life today.

Those who live in the shelter of the Most High
will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
This I declare about the Lord:
He alone is my refuge, my place of safety;
he is my God, and I trust him. – Psalm 91:1-2

If you make the Lord your refuge,
if you make the Most High your shelter,
no evil will conquer you;
no plague will come near your home.
For he will order his angels
to protect you wherever you go.
They will hold you up with their hands
so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.
You will trample upon lions and cobras;
you will crush fierce lions and serpents under your feet!
The Lord says, “I will rescue those who love me.
I will protect those who trust in my name.
When they call on me, I will answer;
I will be with them in trouble.
I will rescue and honor them.
I will reward them with a long life
and give them my salvation.” – Psalm 91:9-16