The Pilgrim Path---Acts 18: 18 – 23

After this, Paul stayed many days longer and then took leave of the brothers and set sail for Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila. At Cenchreae he cut his hair, for he was under a vow. And they came to Ephesus, and he left them there, but he himself went into the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews. When they asked him to stay for a longer period, he declined. But on taking leave of them he said, “I will return to you if God wills,” and he set sail from Ephesus.

When he had landed at Caesarea, he went up and greeted the church, and then went down to Antioch. After spending some time there, he departed and went from one place to the next through the region of Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples.

“…STRENGTHENING ALL THE DISCIPLES”

The Apostle Paul participates in a Mosaic ceremonial ordinance (Numbers 6) to heighten the vigor of a vow he had made to the LORD. When the time for the vow is over---he cuts his hair. Dr. Luke does not tell us the particulars concerning Paul’s spiritual discipline---but in telling us what he does, he reveals that Paul walked with the LORD and talked with the LORD with regularity. Paul had left Corinth and was “off” to Ephesus for Jesus Christ and His Kingdom. This incredibly supportive couple (Aquila and Priscilla) accompanied him. They had a history of laboring long and hard with the Apostle for God’s glory and the benefit of souls. They were not wealthy people or from the highest tiers of society. What this Jewish couple possessed---was that they were “possessed” by the LORD Jesus Christ---and they wanted to be available to HIM and the work of HIS Church (its growth and maturity). Wow, as Peter Marshall used to put it, “saints of the rank and file…”---who were a tremendous blessing to the Body and the souls about them!

In Romans 16: 4, Paul says Aquila and Priscilla, “They risked their lives for me.” James Montgomery Boice comments: “We do not know how or for what reason. Nothing in Acts relates to it, but since Paul wrote Romans from Corinth, we resume he is referring to something that happened in Corinth. There must have been an occasion on which the Jews tried to make trouble, though it did not seem to have affected Paul directly. How wonderful that when Paul was perhaps a bit down and discouraged, being in financial need and having left his coworkers, God provided a wonderful couple, who were willing even to risk their lives for him.”

As you peruse the Pauline Letters, you find that Aquila and Priscilla gave their home for the church to “meet” for a time in Corinth (I Corinthians 16: 19). Seems no investment was too great for them---as far as the LORD Jesus and His Church was concerned. Makes me think of D. L. Moody. It was a gentleman in Ireland that said of another man, “He is O and O,” to Moody. Moody was puzzled---what does that mean: “O and O?” The man replied, “Out and Out for Jesus!” Remember: Paul as great as he was---needed saints of the “rank and file” to be concerned about strengthening (and making) disciples---wherever the Savior had placed them.

HYMN

Not for the lip of praise alone,

Nor even the praising heart,

I ask, but for a life made up

Of praise in every part.

Praise in the common things of life,

Its goings out and in,

Praise in each duty and each deed,

However small and mean.

So shall no part of day or night

From sacredness be free:

But all my life, in every step,

Be fellowship with thee.

Horatius Bonar, 1866

Grace and Peace in Jesus, the Only Redeemer of broken and wretched souls, Pastor Jason