Acts - Week 61

Week 61 Acts 18, 19 

Day 1 

READ 

Acts 18:27-28 

27 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. 28 He refuted the Jews with powerful arguments in public debate. Using the Scriptures, he explained to them that Jesus was the Messiah. 

After Priscilla and Aquila instructed Apollos, he had more complete information about Jesus and the Holy Spirit. He thought about going into Achaia, likely at Corinth. Those in Ephesus encouraged him to go. He continued to preach boldly, showing from the Scriptures that Jesus was the Messiah. This was the same message Paul was proclaiming. They used the Scriptures available then to show Jesus was the fulfillment of prophecy. 

REFLECT 

Think about the key message you have to communicate to others. Regardless of what else Paul and Apollos said, the Lord Jesus was the center of it. 

RESPOND 

With your disciple read 1 Corinthians 2:1-5. This reveals the focus of Paul’s teaching. Talk together how you can keep this same focus in your teaching. 

Day 2 

READ 

Acts 19:1-2 

1 While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul traveled through the interior regions until he reached Ephesus, on the coast, where he found several believers. 2 “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” he asked them. “No,” they replied, “we haven’t even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” 

As he returned to Ephesus, Paul found those who were disciples of John the Baptist. John had baptized people in preparation for them receiving the coming King. These whom Paul was addressing did not know about Jesus and the Holy Spirit who came on the Day of Pentecost. They were greatly lacking in information. 

REFLECT 

You should not regret having to admit there is information in the Bible you do not know. These disciples of John the Baptist admitted that and they were teachable to learn more.  

RESPOND 

Talk with your disciple about being humble enough to admit when there is additional information you need to know. Be like the Bereans in Acts 17:11.  

Day 3 

READ 

Acts 19:3-4 

3 “Then what baptism did you experience?” he asked. And they replied, “The baptism of John.” 4 Paul said, “John’s baptism called for repentance from sin. But John himself told the people to believe in the one who would come later, meaning Jesus.” 

When Paul asked what these had experienced, they answered “The baptism of John.” They had not yet believed in the one who came after John the Baptist. Paul reminded them that John had said to believe on the one who would come after him (see John 1:32-34). They had not done that nor had they even heard of the Holy Spirit.  

REFLECT 

Think how sad it would be to be living during the first century as a disciple of John the Baptist and not knowing information about Jesus or the Holy Spirit’s coming as recorded in Acts 2. 

RESPOND 

Further revelation reveals the Holy Spirit enters a person’s life at the time of salvation. Read passages Romans 8:9 and Ephesians 4:30.  

Day 4 

READ 

Acts 19:5-7 

5 As soon as they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 Then when Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in other tongues and prophesied. 7 There were about twelve men in all. 

These who had received the baptism of John the Baptist now received Christian baptism—in the name of the Lord Jesus. When Paul laid his hands on them the Holy Spirit came into their lives. They also spoke in languages not previously learned as others did in Acts 2 and 10. Various groups were now seen as in the body of Christ: Jews in Acts 2; Samaritans in Acts 8; Gentiles in Acts 10; and disciples of John the Baptist in Acts 19.  

REFLECT 

Once these various groups are seen as in the body of Christ, the Church, the message is clearly revealed to be a salvation for all.  

RESPOND 

With your disciple read the four passages involved: Acts 2:38-41; 8:4-7; 10:44-46; and 19:5-7. Thank the Lord that all are welcome in the body of Christ. 

Day 5 

READ 

Acts 19:8-10 

8 Then Paul went to the synagogue and preached boldly for the next three months, arguing persuasively about the Kingdom of God. 9 But some became stubborn, rejecting his message and publicly speaking against the Way. So Paul left the synagogue and took the believers with him. Then he held daily discussions at the lecture hall of Tyrannus. 10 This went on for the next two years, so that people throughout the province of Asia—both Jews and Greeks—heard the word of the Lord. 

This passage reveals the time Paul spent in Ephesus boldly proclaiming the gospel. He appealed to their intellect; they needed more information. He appealed to their emotions; he sought to persuade them. He appealed to their wills; they needed to make a decision for Jesus. When they refused to listen any longer, Paul took believers with him and left. The Word of God continued to spread widely throughout the region. 

REFLECT 

Be grateful that whenever some reject Jesus there are others who gladly trust in Him as Savior.  

RESPOND 

Talk with your disciple about areas in the world where there is persecution of Christ-followers. Pray for those areas and thank the Lord the gospel can still get out to the hearts of others. Pray others will respond.