Monday Devo
Scripture:
Acts 18
Then Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. 2 There he became acquainted with a Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, who had recently arrived from Italy with his wife, Priscilla. They had left Italy when Claudius Caesar deported all Jews from Rome. 3 Paul lived and worked with them, for they were tentmakers just as he was.
Then Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. 2 There he became acquainted with a Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, who had recently arrived from Italy with his wife, Priscilla. They had left Italy when Claudius Caesar deported all Jews from Rome. 3 Paul lived and worked with them, for they were tentmakers just as he was.
Commentary:
18:1 Corinth was 46 miles (74 km) west of Athens. A Roman colony, it was the most influential city of the province of Achaia, both politically and economically (see Introduction to 1 Corinthians: The Ancient City of Corinth).
18:2 Claudius’s expulsion of the Jews from Rome in a.d. 49 seems to have resulted from a disturbance in the Jewish synagogues created by the Christian message. Aquila and Priscilla had much in common with Paul, being Jews, tentmakers, and possibly already Christians when they fled from Rome.
18:3 First Corinthians 9 may reflect this period of Paul’s ministry in Corinth, when he supported himself rather than receiving assistance from the Corinthians.
18:2 Claudius’s expulsion of the Jews from Rome in a.d. 49 seems to have resulted from a disturbance in the Jewish synagogues created by the Christian message. Aquila and Priscilla had much in common with Paul, being Jews, tentmakers, and possibly already Christians when they fled from Rome.
18:3 First Corinthians 9 may reflect this period of Paul’s ministry in Corinth, when he supported himself rather than receiving assistance from the Corinthians.
Questions:
- In verse 2 we see that Paul meets Aquila and Pricilla, who would end up being some of his best friends. They would be his partners in ministry, risking their lives with him. And we will find out later that they stayed with Paul til the very end of his ministry. What a blessing they must have been to Paul, and vice versa. People that give their lives to the ministry need this kind of encouragement in their lives. Is there a pastor or someone in ministry that you could encourage today with a call or text?
- We were made to do this Christian life with other people, like Paul did. Friends like this are so important to the New Testament believer. Everyone one of us need that friend or friends that stick "closer than a brother." What about you? Do you have these kinds of friends doing life with you and pushing you to follow Jesus? Maybe you don't yet but are working on it? What do you need to do to get there?
Prayer Topics:
- That you would be a consistent encouragement to someone in our lives that's in the ministry.
- That God would help you find those friends that would stick closer than a brother.
This Week's City 7:
Try to commit to memory!
1. Who is Jesus? I believe Jesus is God because Jesus said He is God and proved it by rising from the dead and appearing to His disciples, His brother James, 500 others at one time, and Paul.
(Mark 3:21; John 8:58, 10:30-33, 14:9-11; Acts 9:1-6; 1 Corinthians 15:3-8; Colossians 1:15-20; Hebrews 1:2-3; James 1:1)
(Mark 3:21; John 8:58, 10:30-33, 14:9-11; Acts 9:1-6; 1 Corinthians 15:3-8; Colossians 1:15-20; Hebrews 1:2-3; James 1:1)
No Comments