6TH WEEK OF EASTER

Paul . . . traveled . . . through the Galatian country and Phrygia. 

Whenever the Book of Acts starts listing places like “Phrygia” and “Achaia,” even the most stalwart among us have probably jumped to the next verse.   But have you ever thought about taking a moment to research a city, person, or historical context?   Doing so not only uncovers greater richness inside the passage, but it also allows you to understand more of what God may be saying to you.

If you search the Internet for a map of Paul’s missionary journeys, for example, you might notice that his journey from Antioch through Galatia and Phrygia took him farther and farther west into pagan territory.   Based on that, you might find his missionary zeal inspiring.

By digging into Paul’s contemporary Apollos and his native city of Alexandria, you might learn that Alexandria had a library of more than half a million scrolls.   That could lead you to conclude that Apollos had probably received an excellent education.   Today’s reading (Acts 18:23 – 28) indicates that his education in the “Way of the Lord” was not finished until Apollos humbled himself to learn about Christian baptism from Priscilla and Aquila, simple tent makers (Acts 18:25-26).   This could remind you that God speaks and works through ordinary people—sometimes people from a different background than yours.

If you didn’t remember how Priscilla and Aquila fit into Acts, you could look them up and discover that Paul met this couple in Corinth, the capital of Achaia.   You might make the connection that Apollos wanted to preach next in Achaia, the very region where his teachers came from.   How convenient that Priscilla, Aquila, and Paul could send letters of introduction for him!   What a reminder that God uses our relationships within the body of Christ to advance his work and our well-being!

With a simple Bible dictionary, concordance, or the Internet, we can see more clearly who God is and how he has worked in people’s lives throughout history.   We can come to know Christ, the living Word, through Scripture.

“Father, help me understand your word.”

Psalm 47:2-3, 8-10
John 16:23-28