SATURDAY April 17, 2021

The Church of Ephesus

...Then he [Paul] took leave of the brethren and sailed for Syria, and Priscilla and Aquila were with him. He had his hair cut off at Cenchrea, for he had taken a vow. And he came to Ephesus, and left them there; but he himself entered the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews.
Acts 18:18-19

Paul met Aquila and Priscilla in Corinth, and they became great friends. They were living associates of the same trade––tentmakers. Paul sailed with Aquila and Priscilla to the city of Ephesus where he preached to the Jews. He remained there for about three years. We find that the church of Ephesus was actually started by Apollos:

Now a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man and mighty in the Scriptures, came to Ephesus. This man had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things of the Lord, though he knew only the baptism of John (Acts 18:24-25).

Interestingly, Apollos only preached the baptism of John. He did not know the full counsel of God. When Aquila and Priscilla heard him, they took him aside and explained the full counsel of God more accurately (Acts 18:26).

When Paul arrived in Ephesus, he recognized that some of the disciples were lacking power. He asked these disciples, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” They answered, “We have not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit” (Acts 19:2). Paul explained to them, Jesus had died and had risen from the dead, but also the disciples had been filled with the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2).

The message of the Gospel reached throughout the regions of Asia Minor. Both Jews and Greeks heard the Word of the Lord Jesus Christ. As Paul traveled, he preached, laid hands, and prayed for people. He ministered to them, and many were healed (Acts 19:10).

The purpose is not that you might get more of the Holy Spirit, but the Holy Spirit might get more of you.
~Chuck Smith~

For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!