Click here for more messages from the book of Acts.
Click here to return to the Sermons page.

MESSAGE SERIES: “CHURCH ON THE MOVE”
Acts 18:18–28

INTRODUCTION: Our message series is called Church on the Move and we have been following along with Paul and Silas on their second missionary journey. In today’s passage Paul closes out the second missionary journey and gets started on the third, so we have a quick turnaround from one journey to the next. (Read Acts 18:23 and pray.)

——————————————-

One of the themes we’ve returned to several times in the book of Acts is the importance of discipleship. Leading someone to Christ is not enough. We must also disciple them in the faith. The same is true of churches. Planting churches is not enough. Once a church has been planted, it needs to be strengthened and encouraged as well.

We’ve seen this theme in action with Paul’s second missionary journey. The second missionary journey began with Paul revisiting the churches he had planted on the first missionary journey to see how they were doing. It was only after visiting and strengthening these first churches that God then redirected him to Europe to plant new churches.

Now when we come to Paul’s third missionary journey, we find the exact same strategy and motivation as before. When Paul sets out on this third journey, what does he do first? He visits the churches from the first journey all over again.

Today’s message breaks down into three parts. First we will close out the second missionary journey as Paul returns home. Then we will begin the third missionary journey as Paul returns to the churches planted on the first missionary journey. And then finally we will look at some of the other missionary workers Paul trained, particularly Priscilla and Aquila and how they further trained Apollos as well.

I. Home by way of Ephesus (18–22)

But first we need to close out the second missionary journey. As our passage begins, Paul winds down this journey and starts heading home by way of Ephesus.

   A. From Corinth to Ephesus (18–19)

Last time we learned about Paul’s ministry in Corinth. After spending a good amount of time in Corinth building and establishing the church there, he was now ready to start the journey home, but he makes a stop in Ephesus first. Look at verses 18–19:

Paul stayed on in Corinth for some time. Then he left the brothers and sailed for Syria, accompanied by Priscilla and Aquila. Before he sailed, he had his hair cut off at Cenchrea because of a vow he had taken. They arrived at Ephesus, where Paul left Priscilla and Aquila. He himself went into the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews. (Acts 18:18–19)

Paul stayed in Corinth for some time, about a year and a half according to verse 11, but now he was ready to go home. However, before setting sail, he first had his hair cut off in Cenchrea. Cenchrea was the harbor town right next to Corinth, so this was the town from which they would set sail. Paul had probably taken some type of Nazirite vow or vow similar to it. In a Nazirite vow you let your hair keep growing until the vow was fulfilled (Num. 6). Paul having his hair cut would signify the end of the vow period. This would have been a time of celebration and thanksgiving to God for sustaining him through this vow.

Paul then sails for Syria, accompanied by Priscilla and Aquila. His first stop after setting sail was Ephesus. This was about a 200-mile trip across the Aegean Sea. Earlier in the journey Paul sailed across the northern part of the Aegean Sea when he crossed over to Europe. Now he sails across the southern part of the Aegean Sea as he travels to Ephesus, where he will leave Priscilla and Aquila as he continues his journey home.

Ephesus was the capital city of Asia. It was a port city and the center for trade and commerce in that region. It was home to the Temple of Diana (also known as Artemis). We will learn more about that in the coming chapters. Paul doesn’t stay long, but before leaving, he enters the synagogue and reasons with the Jews. As we’ve seen before, this meant showing them from the Old Testament Scriptures that Jesus is the promised Messiah.

So what’s so important about Paul stopping in Ephesus? You may remember near the beginning of his journey, Paul tried to enter this area, but the Spirit prevented him (Acts 16:6). But now Paul finally gets to the province of Asia. It was all in God’s timing, and what God prevented earlier, he now permitted.

   B. From Ephesus to Antioch (20–22)

Next we follow Paul’s journey from Ephesus to Antioch. Look at verses 20–22:

When they asked him to spend more time with them, he declined. But as he left, he promised, “I will come back if it is God’s will.” Then he set sail from Ephesus. When he landed at Caesarea, he went up and greeted the church and then went down to Antioch. (Acts 18:20–22)

Paul had a ready audience in Ephesus, and they asked him to spend more time there, but he declined. Once again, we need to follow God’s timetable, not ours. There are many good things to do, but we want to seek God’s will in each situation.

Paul did promise to come back if it was the Lord’s will, and as it turned out, it was the Lord’s will. On his third missionary journey Paul will spend more time in Ephesus than in any other city. He spent a little over a year and a half at Corinth, but he will spend three years at Ephesus.

Verse 22 is a short verse, but it describes a long trip. Paul sailed some 600 miles across the Mediterranean Sea from Ephesus to Caesarea, which is situated on the coastline of Israel. He made a quick stop in Jerusalem to report to the church there before returning to Antioch in Syria where he and Silas had begun the trip. The second missionary journey was now over. Paul had been gone nearly three years, and he had travelled over 2,800 miles on foot and by ship.

This last leg of the missionary journey reinforces several missionary principles we would do well to follow even today:

1. the importance of planting and establishing churches, as Paul spent significant time in Corinth;
    
2. the importance of fulfilling our commitments, as Paul marked the completion of his vow in Cenchrea;
    
3. the importance of team ministry, as Paul brought Priscilla and Aquila with him to Ephesus;
    
4. the importance of sharing the gospel, as Paul went to the synagogue even though he couldn’t stay long;
    
5. the importance of following God’s timetable, even when others are calling for our time and attention; and
    
6. the importance of reporting back to others what God has done and is doing through our ministry.

 

II. Third journey begins (23)

No sooner does the second missionary journey end than the third journey begins. The second missionary journey ends in verse 22 and the third missionary journey begins one verse later in verse 23.

After spending some time in Antioch, Paul set out from there and traveled from place to place throughout the region of Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples. (Acts 18:23)

Paul spends some time in Antioch (probably about nine months), and then he heads right back out for another mission trip. And he begins this third missionary journey by … revisiting the churches in Galatia and Phrygia all over again.

This is the third time in three trips Paul has visited this area. During the first trip he and Barnabas planted the churches. During the second trip, he and Silas revisited the churches to encourage and strengthen them. And now he begins this third trip by visiting the same churches to encourage and strengthen them yet again. Discipleship is never one-and-done but is truly a life-long process.

III. Apollos, Priscilla and Aquila (24–28)

We will learn more about this third missionary journey in the chapters to come, but first Luke brings us back to Ephesus to catch us up on what happened there during Paul’s absence. Paul didn’t spend much time in Ephesus, just stopping in the synagogue to share the gospel on his way through. However, he did leave Priscilla and Aquila there, and we are about to see just how important that decision was.

   A. Discipled in Ephesus (24–26)

It is here that we meet Apollos for the first time. Apollos was a strong believer, but even he required further discipling in the Lord. Look at verses 24–26 with me now:

Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was a learned man, with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures. He had been instructed in the way of the Lord, and he spoke with great fervor and taught about Jesus accurately, though he knew only the baptism of John. He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately. (Acts 18:24–26)

Apollos was a Jew from Alexandria in Egypt. Alexandria was the second most important city in the Roman Empire. It was a major learning center with an extensive library and a vibrant Jewish community. Apollos was a strong personality. In some ways, he sounds like another Paul. Some people think he may have even written the book of Hebrews.

Apollos was well-learned in the Scriptures and a powerful speaker. He was full of zeal and enthusiasm. He had come to know the way of the Lord, and he taught about Jesus accurately but not adequately. There were important pieces missing from his understanding of the Christian faith.

He had the basic facts about Jesus correct, but he only knew the baptism of John. John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance in preparation for the Messiah. Apollos was familiar with John’s teachings about Jesus, but he needed further instruction regarding Jesus’ death and resurrection, the importance of baptism in the name of Jesus, and the role of the Holy Spirit in the believer’s life.

When Priscilla and Aquila heard him speak, they didn’t disparage or discourage him; instead, they discipled him. They brought him into their home and explained to him the way of the Lord more adequately. They taught him the things he was missing and helped him fill in the gaps.

   B. Great help at Corinth (27–28)

So after this period of discipleship when Apollos felt led to visit the Corinthian church in Achaia, the believers in Ephesus encouraged him and even wrote a letter of recommendation for him. Look at verses 27–28:

When Apollos wanted to go to Achaia, the brothers encouraged him and wrote to the disciples there to welcome him. On arriving, he was a great help to those who by grace had believed. For he vigorously refuted the Jews in public debate, proving from the Scriptures that Jesus was the Christ. (Acts 18:27–28)

When Apollos arrived in Corinth, he was a great help to the believers there. He was already zealous and bold for the Lord. Now he was zealous, bold, and well-informed.

Notice the believers are called “those who by grace had believed.” It’s an interesting phrase that shows God’s grace is active in our lives even before we come to Christ and indeed is one of the main reasons we come to believe in Christ.

Apollos’ missionary strategy was similar to Paul’s. He spoke in the synagogue and taught about Jesus from the Old Testament Scriptures. Later Paul would write to the church at Corinth: “I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow” (1 Cor. 3:6). God uses different people at different seasons in our lives in different places of ministry. Praise God for everyone of them, for God is the one who makes the seed grow.

Apollos’ ministry in Corinth demonstrates the two major benefits of apologetics ministry. He both refuted those who did not believe and encouraged those who did. That’s what apologetics does. It’s a ministry to unbelievers giving them reasons why they should believe, and it’s a ministry to believers giving us confidence and strengthening us in our faith.

CONCLUSION: In closing, let me share three applications from this passage for our lives today.

1) Seek God’s direction and timing, not man’s. The people in Ephesus wanted Paul to stay longer, but Paul knew that God was calling him to return home. I once saw a poster that said: “God loves you, and everyone else has a wonderful plan for your life!” There are so many good things that you and I can be doing for the Lord, but the real question is, “What is God calling you to do?” Everything you say yes to means no to something else. So you need to pray these things through.

2) The importance of reporting and strengthening. These are two vital missionary tasks that are often neglected. Sometimes we just want to press on to new work and new areas of ministry, but it is essential that we report back to others and strengthen existing believers.

3) Encourage and disciple young believers. Apollos was young in the Lord and had a lot to learn. Priscilla and Aquila could have discouraged him because of his lack of training. Instead, they encouraged him, discipled him, and released him for fruitful ministry. Don’t be too quick to dismiss young believers and what God has planned for them. You never know when you might have a young Apollos on your hands.

As we’ve seen repeatedly in the book of Acts, planting churches is not enough. Once a church has been planted, it needs to be strengthened and encouraged as well. This requires intentional evangelism, teaching, and discipleship. We need to train godly leaders who will guard the flock and refute false teaching. We need to find young believers with leadership potential, help identify and fill in their gaps, and then set them free to do ministry.

Jesus said, “I will build my church” (Matt. 16:18), and so we should make it our priority to join him in that work. I pray as a result of this message that you will better understand the importance of building the church and that you will commit to your local church as well as the work of missions in planting and building God’s church around the world.

© Ray Fowler

You are permitted and encouraged to reproduce and distribute this message provided that you do not alter the wording in any way and that you do not charge a fee beyond the cost of reproduction. For any web postings, please link to the sermon directly at this website.

Please include the following statement on any distributed copies:
By Ray Fowler. © Ray Fowler. Website: https://www.rayfowler.org

Click here for more messages from the book of Acts.
Click here to return to the Sermons page.