Paul's Passing Thoughts

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Lesson 50 – April 7, 2015 (click here to listen on-demand)

Tonight’s Text – Acts 19:1-10
Brief review

1. Concluding thoughts on Apollos
   1. He was disposed
      1. βουλομαι – (BOO-lo-my). To will (reflexively).
      2. Decision to go to Corinth did not originate with Apollos
   2. Who is being “encouraged”?
      • προτρεπομαι “pro-TREP-oh-my” – to turn forward for oneself

   “And with him (Apollos) being willing to go to Achaia, the brethren (in Ephesus) having been motivated to proceed, wrote to the disciples (in Corinth) advising them to welcome him (Apollos).”

2. Paul and the other disciples
   1. John’s baptism
      1. Disciples of Apollos
      2. An incomplete knowledge
   2. Holy Spirit baptism
      1. Baptized in the name of Jesus
      2. Receiving of gifts
         • Tongues
3. Paul’s on-going ministry in Ephesus
   1. Speaking boldly in the synagogue
      1. Paul’s normal, daily manner.
      2. Continuous, on-going
   2. Disputing and persuading
   3. Be ye separate.
   4. The school of Tyrannus
      1. A center for Paul’s ministry
      2. All of Asia hears the word.

Tuesday Night Bible Study – Now LIVE on Blogtalk Radio!
Lesson 49 – March 31, 2015 (click here to listen)

Tonight’s Text – Acts 18:18-28

Brief review

1. A work begins in Ephesus
   1. Paul’s vow
      1. Imperfect verb tense indicates it is on-going
      2. Clue found in verse 21
         • Desire to keep a feast
   2. Aquila and Priscilla accompany Paul
   3. Paul does not abandon the Jews
      1. He finds a synagogue
      2. Positive response
         • They want Paul to stay longer
   4. Aquila and Priscilla entrusted to finish the work.
      1. Become key figures in NT assemblies
      2. (1 Corinthians 16:19, 2 Timothy 4:19)
2. One journey ends, another begins
   1. Arrival in Caesarea and ascent to Jerusalem
      1. Paul greets the “assembly”
         • not just the “important” ones
      2. ασπαζομαι (ah-SPAD-zoh-my) – to enfold in the arms.
   2. Arrival in Antioch signifies the end of the 2nd missionary journey.
   3. Visiting the regions of Galatia and Phrygia.
      1. Hindered by the Spirit the first time.
      2. επιστηριζω (epi-stay-RID-zo) – To establish further.
         • Compare with Acts 14:22, 15:32, and 15:41.
3. An introduction to Apollos
   1. Important to know
      1. Jew – born in Alexandria
      2. Eloquent
         • λογιος (log-EE-os) Full of words.
      3. Mighty in the scriptures
         • δυνατος (doo-NA-tos) – Powerful. To have the ability.
      4. Instructed in the way of the Lord
         • κατηχεω (kah-tay-KEH-oh) – To sound down into the ears
      5. Knowing only John’s baptism
      6. Fervent in spirit
         • ζεω (DZEH-oh) To be hot, or boiling.
   2. Spoke boldly with the religious leaders
      1. He taught accurately.
      2. Intimate knowledge of scripture
   3. Aquila and Priscilla fill in the gaps.

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Lesson 48 – March 24, 2015 (click here to listen)

Tonight’s Text – Acts 18:1-17

Brief review

1. Paul arrives at Corinth
   1. Historical and geographical context
   2. Aquila and Priscilla
      1. Similar skills
      2. Helped with tentmaking.
      3. Jews
   3. “Reasoning” in the synagogue
      • πειθω – “peitho” – to convince by argument
      • (Hebrews 13:17)
2. Silas and Timothy join Paul
   1. “Pressed in the spirit”
      1. συνεχω “soon-echo” – moved with the press of a crowd
      2. Ministry to Jews expands
   2. Jews’ response to Paul
      1. They opposed themselves
         • αντιτασσομαι (anti-tass-oh-my) – acting riotous
      2. They blasphemed – spoke evil of Paul
   3. Paul’s emphatic response
      1. Shaking his clothes
         • symbolic display of shaking off uncleanness
         • More intense than just shaking off shoes
      2. Provoking the Jews to jealousy
3. The synagogue next door
   1. Paul comes to stay with Justus
   2. Crispus becomes a believer
      1. Leader of the synagogue
      2. His whole “house”
4. The Lord encourages Paul
   1. Grammatical analysis
      1. Keep up the good work
      2. I got your back
   2. The practical outworking
      1. Gallio’s keen judgment
      2. Corinthian’s retaliation against the Jews