Fully Equipped
Opening Prayer
Lord of my heart, teach me to love You more.
Read Acts 18:18–28
For additional translations of the passage, use this link to Bible Gateway.
18 Paul stayed on in Corinth for some time. Then he left the brothers and sisters and sailed for Syria, accompanied by Priscilla and Aquila. Before he sailed, he had his hair cut off at Cenchreae because of a vow he had taken. 19 They arrived at Ephesus, 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.” Then he set sail from Ephesus. 22 When he landed at Caesarea, he went up to Jerusalem and greeted the church and then went down to Antioch.
23 After spending some time in Antioch, Paul set out from there and traveled from place to place throughout the region of Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples.
24 Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. 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 and taught about Jesus accurately, though he knew only the baptism of John. 26 He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila 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, the brothers and sisters 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 that Jesus was the Messiah.
New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
We are commanded to love God with all of our heart, mind, soul and strength. Today, be prepared to love God with your mind.There were no Christian theological colleges in the first century A.D. Jewish Christians could hear the Scriptures at the synagogue but they would receive no teaching there to help them see how it pointed to Jesus. But God was building his church and he was doing it person by person.
Paul spent 18 months living and working alongside Aquila and Priscilla in Corinth (18:1–3). In essence, they’d received an intensive, immersive and top-quality theological education. They were equipped and ready to be leaders by the time Paul left them in Ephesus.
Here they meet Apollos—a bit of a loose cannon. He has knowledge and passion, but only part of the message (24,25). This is where we see the beauty of God’s provision for his church. Priscilla and Aquila, equipped by Paul, are able to “[explain] to him the way of God more adequately” (26).
Right understanding of the things of God is absolutely vital. We can’t all take years to study theology, but we can learn from those who have. We can read, discuss and seek out godly teachers. And then we can pass on what we’ve learned. This is how God builds his church.
Apply
What opportunities are open to you to invest intellectually in your faith? Do what it takes to grow in knowledge of God’s Word.
Closing prayer
Father, thank You for all that I have learned about You. Help me to pass on what I have learned to others who may not know.
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