Comments for November 6

v.6 - Sanctification is a feature of much of scripture, but let us not think it is just an Old Testament concept. It is provided by Jesus' death and resurrection for those under the new covenant too. Heb.9:13,14

35:4 This mention of the writing of David' is further confirmation that David was involved in ordering the service of the temple even though it was not built in his days. We have already seen that David was involved in sorting out things with Samuel. 1 Chronicles 9:22

v.7 - In this great generosity of the King here we see a picture of the generosity of the grace of God in providing for our salvation without restraint. What a superabundance of grace there is for us if we choose to accept it.

ENCOURAGEMENT
Josiah seems to have been a great encourager and the encouragement he gave multiplied its self farther through his officials and his kingdom.
We read about him that he encouraged the priests in the service of the LORD's temple. He encouraged the Levites to do their duties and to prepare themselves to do it. He gave the people sheep and goats for the Passover offering. Spurred on by his example, his officials contributed voluntarily to the people, priests and Levites by giving offerings for them all.
The Levites encouraged the priests by preparing for the Passover for them while the priests were still working. They also prepared for the singers and the gatekeepers who were still doing their jobs.
Let us be encouraged by this story to show some encouragement ourselves. Let us especially encourage those who are working hard in the service of the LORD, whether it be by words of encouragement, instructions, giving gifts, setting examples or serving each other. All of these are ways different people find it easiest and most effective to encourage each other. So encourage someone you know this week and spur them on to love and good deeds. Josiah seems to have been a great encourager and the encouragement he gave multiplied its self farther through his officials and his kingdom.
We read about him that he encouraged the priests in the service of the LORD's temple. He encouraged the Levites to do their duties and to prepare themselves to do it. He gave the people sheep and goats for the Passover offering. Spurred on by his example, his officials contributed voluntarily to the people, priests and Levites by giving offerings for them all.
The Levites encouraged the priests by preparing for the Passover for them while the priests were still working. They also prepared for the singers and the gatekeepers who were still doing their jobs.
Let us be encouraged by this story to show some encouragement ourselves. Let us especially encourage those who are working hard in the service of the LORD, whether it be by words of encouragement, instructions, giving gifts, setting examples or serving each other. All of these are ways different people find it easiest and most effective to encourage each other. So encourage someone you know this week and spur them on to love and good deeds.

35:3 This is the last mention of the ark when we view the Scriptures chronologically. It is as if the scene is being set for the glory of God departing.

35:25 In recording the lamentation of Jeremiah for Josiah in the book of Lamentations we have to realise that if Lamentations speaks of the sorrow of the prophet after the city was overthrow by the Babylonians it also has as a major focus Jeremiah's grief at the death of Josiah.

V.13 We note the special way of the preparation of the Passover lamb, it was different than any other offering. The roasting of the Passover was a mode of preparation that was prescribed by the law exclusively for the paschal lamb,(Exo 12:7-9) The other offerings were cooked in pots, kettles, and pans.(1Sam 2:14)

Just as God had said to Josiah through Huldah, the prophetess (2Chron 34:23-28), the king was removed at the age of 39 so that he wouldn't see the punishments God would bring on Judah (2Kin 22:20). Josiah was only 39 years old at his death, after reigning for 31 years (2Chron 34:1).

35:2  The priests, during the reign of Manasseh, would not have been much used or encouraged by the king. They had fallen away from their dedication – again. Josiah ‘encouraged’ them – he did not reprove them. They needed faithful leadership. This they got and so it was a time for spiritual development – not recrimination.

FREE TO SERVE
 
There is an interesting command given by Josiah to the Levites that is worthy of our attention. We read, "He said to the Levites, who instructed all Israel and who had been consecrated to the LORD: 'Put the sacred ark in the temple that Solomon son of David king of Israel built. It is not to be carried about on your shoulders. Now serve the LORD your God and his people Israel.'" (2Chron 35:3)
 
Instead of using their energy to teach and serve the people, the Levites were carrying the ark of God around. This may have been to protect it from the wicked kings that had gone before, but the proper place for the ark was in the temple of the LORD. Carrying the ark around when it should have been in the temple, placed an unnecessary burden on the Levites. Not only were they burdened by it, but they were prevented from carrying out their real duties - serving God and his people.
 
But it is not just the Levites that have this problem. We can also find ourselves in a similar situation. Our principle duty in life is to do just as the Levites were instructed to do - to serve the LORD your God and his people. Unfortunately we, like the Levites, sometimes find it more pressing, convenient or more important to carry burdens such as unnecessary rules, traditions or rituals that take us away from the real purpose in life. So let's not get distracted, but put down anything that burdens us and free ourselves to serve the LORD our God and his people.

Josiah was a great encourager, as already noted. In this he was taking after Hezekiah 2Chron 30:22  Hezekiah had also kept a great Passover, but this one was even greater, & we notice the much larger quantity of animals sacrificed, which perhaps implies that many more people were present. v 7-9 cp 2Chron 30:24  We also note v 18 where it is said that there was no equal to this Passover back to Samuel's day, before the Temple was built, but Samuel's day was when the 1st king, Saul, was anointed.

35:8 In saying that the princes ‘gave willingly’ we learn that not only was Josiah faithful but at this time his princes were also. Implementing the principle that Paul outlines in 2Cor 9:7

REAL SERVICE

35:2 Both Hezekiah – 2Chron 30:1 - and Josiah each kept the Passover. But of Josiah it is said – 2Chron 35:18  – there was no Passover kept like the one in Josiah’s reign seemingly suggesting that Hezekiah’s Passover was in some way inferior. There is one significant difference between the two. Whilst Hezekiah, for good reason, kept the Passover in the second month Josiah kept the Passover in the first month. This might explain the comment about Josiah’s Passover.

Vs.20-22 Pharaoh-Necho came out of Egypt to fight against Carchemish. He had no intention of fighting against the Jews, and told Josiah as much. But, Josiah was intent on fighting the Egyptians.

The text says that Pharaoh-Necho’s words were from God. Whether or not Josiah believed this to be so, he never consulted Yahweh to confirm His intent. That mistake cost him his life.

The lesson for us is to always consult Yahweh over whatever we do. He has promised to guide our steps: Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths (Prov 3:5,6).

35:15 The mention of Asaph along with David reminds us of the collective work of these men in putting the worship of God to music in the days of David. 1Chron 25:1

35:18 This Passover ordained and kept by Josiah is only the second Passover that is recorded in the days of the kings of Judah!

2Chron 35:18;2Kin 23:25 - it seems the Passover of Josiah was superior in that he observed the Law of Moses more strictly than Hezekiah. In this sense perhaps Josiah was greater than Hezekiah.

2Chron 30:18;2Kin 18:5 - Hezekiah perhaps saw beyond the letter of the law and was perhaps more involved with the spirit of the law. In this sense perhaps Hezekiah was greater than Josiah.

34:24  In speaking of the ‘curses’ in the book we have to conclude that the book of the law that Josiah had read was Deuteronomy – see how many times the word ‘cursed’ occurs in Deut 27 and 28.

35:20-21      One wonders what Josiah was thinking about. Even when he was encouraged to keep away he continued into the battle. Clearly it was a test from God which Josiah failed. How often do we feel the need to poke our nose into things which do not concern us?

35:3 In saying that the ark of the covenant should be put in the temple and not carried we can conclude that at some time earlier the ark had been removed from the temple.

35:21-22         We might conclude that Necho, king of Egypt was favourably disposed towards Josiah – probably a blessing from God for Josiah’s faithfulness. Prov 16:7

Reunification under Josiah

v17-18 mention both Israel and Judah, so we can see that Josiah was now King over both nations. Here is a brief history of the split and re-unification:

35:26  Josiah’s good deeds were not simply acts of kindness. Notice they were “according to ... the law of the Lord”. “Good works” are of no value in the sight of God unless they spring from a correct understanding of the laws of God. 

35:25   Doubtless we realise that Jeremiah was prophesying during the reigns of Josiah as Jeremiah tells us he is – Jer 1:2. However we here learn of the fellowship that existed between the good king and the prophet.

35:9     The “Conaniah” here may well be the same person called “Conaniah” in 2Chron 31:12,13. If so we see him being a faithful priest in the reign of two kings. The repentant Manasseh and the faithful Josiah.

35:7   The Law of Moses regarding the Passover was that each family had to provide a lamb. However here we see that it was Josiah who provided the lambs.

35:3   When Josiah says that the Levites were “holy unto the Lord” he is stating a fundamental truth. That is the Levites were separated to the service of God. That was their job. They could not absent themselves from the appointed work. It was, as we might say today, a vocation. In like manner those who have accepted Christ have the same obligations. Complete service to God is an obligation, not a matter of preference. Doubtless there were things that some Levites would have preferred not to do from time to time. Nevertheless they were obligated to do them. In like manner we do not have a choices as to whether we serve God.

35:21   It is all too easy to see a “cause” and decided to get involved. Such action is not always wise. It is good to take notice of wise counsel even if, at times, it does not match our own preferences.

35:5   the idea of standing in the holy place is seen also in Psa 134:1 possibly indicating that this Psalm of degrees is a reflection on this time in Josiah’s reign.

35:4The mention of the “writing of Solomon” implies that Solomon wrote instructions for temple worship that are not available to us in the Old Testament.

35:4,6,15  Notice the recurrence of the fact that things were done according to the ordinance. This is a strong lesson for us. We might have all the enthusiasm to do things for God but unless we do things according to the principles He has given us then our actions are worthless.

35:18 There had been a wonderful Passover in the days of Hezekiah – 30:1-2 – are we to conclude that the Passover in Josiah’s reign was more magnificent than the one in Hezekiah’s reign? Was there a competition to keep the best Passover? I think not. The difference between the two Passovers was this. In Hezekiah’s reign it was held in the second month. Something the Law of Moses allowed. Josiah’s Passover was kept in the first month -  35:1

v.3 refers back to the law - a requirement of Deut.21:13.

Chapter 3. Whilst it is easy [and true] to say that Hosea and his relationship with Gomer is a pattern of God's relationship with wayward Israel we should not forget the suffering of the prophet in all this.
Hosea had emotion, needs and feelings. If we could put ourselves in the place of Hosea and share his feelings about his wife we would be better able to appreciate the effect that our waywardness has on the Father.
As a general point we should not minimise the trauma of events in the lives of God's servants because we are able to say they were types. We have an advantage over them when looking at the record. We know the end of the matter and we can read the details in a few minutes but the actions spoken of can often spread over 50 years or more.

v.4,5 - Yet another example of how God chooses hardship to teach us lessons. We must be careful to learn from those things which happen to us in our lives, and not to be bitter against them

We should not think that Hosea went and looked for a harlot to marry. Rather, like Israel, his wife became a harlot after the marriage and had to be bought (as did Israel)

3:1 The flagons of wine associated with false worship cannot be compared with the 'wine' offered by the Lord - the bride of the Song of Solomon knew this (Song of Solomon 1:2 2:5)

V.5 The literal King David also will be raised from the dead (Dan 12:2) and will participate in the Kingdom. Just as Israel's revolt from David's line occurred when the ten tribes forsook the worship of the LORD, so their repentance toward God will be accompanied by their return to the house of David. An unhappy marriage will turn out happy.

The NIV translates Hos 3:1 as, “Go, show your love to your wife again, though she is loved by another and is an adulteress.” If this is correct, then Hosea is told to take Gomer again. So the Lord God is to re-take Israel, and she will remain with Him, for ever.

3:5  Whilst the previous verse presents a very bleak picture this verse presents a wonderful hope – even for rebellious Israel who are about to go into captivity. This is a measure of the love and mercy of their God.

3:1 ‘… beloved of her friends …’ is exactly how things are when we are serving sin. The world loves its own and hates those who are different. John 3:20

Hosea's love for a so unworthy worthless woman was to be a picture of the love of our Heavenly Father towards His chosen people, who have looked to the gods of both their neighbours and their enemies.

3:1 The behaviour of Hosea’s wife clearly is a proverb of Israel’s behaviour as Hosea actually speaks of Israel’s idolatry.

V.5 is a reference to the kingdom when Jesus will rule His people Israel. At the same time, Jesus will rule all the people of the earth.

3:4 The testimony that Israel would abide without a prince and sacrifice may look forward to the Assyrian captivity for the northern kingdom and Babylonian captivity for Judah however it was not completely fulfilled then because they did have prophets. The passage had its complete fulfilment when the Romans destroyed the temple in AD 70.

Hos 3:4 First Principles>Kingdom of God>Was overturned>History of fulfilment
5. Judah (the Southern Kingdom) continued for another 200 years after Israel, the Northern Kingdom and the last king was Zedekiah. It was overturned three times (prophesied Eze 21:25-27), then to remain desolate for many years Hos 3:4.
 - The first overturning was in BC 606 in Jehoiakim's reign. (Prophesied Jer 27:6) 2Kin 24:2, Dan 1:1, 2Chron 36:6.
 - The second overturning was in BC 597 in Jehoiachin's reign 2Kin 4:10, 2Chron 36:10.
 - The third overturning was in BC 587 in Zedekiah's reign. (Prophesied Jer 21:7, Jer 34:2) Jer 38:28, Jer 39:1,2, Jer 52:4-5, Eze 24:1-2, 2Kin 25:2, 2Chron 36:7.
Go to Deut 28:49 to see more details of the history of Israel and its overturning.

Israel will be restored and Christ ("David" means "beloved" and would seem to refer to Christ in this instance) will be worshipped as king by Jews and Gentiles (note there is a distinction between Christ and God) - Hos 3:5;Rom 11:25-27.

V.1 Flagons of wine (KJV) is better translated cakes of raisins (ESV). Pressed raisin cakes were offered to idols.

V.2 This was a very small price to pay for a slave.

V.3 This was a trial period of separation from harlotry for the woman.

Vs.4,5 After a period of separation and abstinence from Idolatry, Yahweh would again accept His people.

We are used to calling Israel Israel, but we shouldn't really. Israel is the 10 tribes of the Northern kingdom, and Judah is the 2 tribes of the Southern kingdom. So v4 is specifically talking about Israel, not Judah, and the interesting thing here is that in the end they will seek David their king (v5). David's kingly line became the line of Judah, not Israel, because of the disobedience of Solomon (see 1Kin 11 for the whole story). So the reference to David here is predicting that Judah and Israel will come back together as one people under one king (Jesus the son of David).

3:2 So Hosea’s wife had ‘played the harlot’ and now he goes to redeem her. In contrast to the injunction of Deut 24:4  Hosea will take her again. Thus teaching that God is not constrained by laws when dealing with man’s salvation. His grace abounds.

3:5    In the previous verse the prophet has signalled the end of the Mosaic order which happened when the temple was destroyed and the sacrifices stopped in AD 70. Now the prophet looks right to the end of time when the kingdom is established.

3:4       God had said that he would not work with them if they continued to rebel – Psa 81:12. Hosea is repeating that message.

Hos. 3

A couple today -

1. Hos 3:2,3. Since Gomer (1:3) was Hosea's wife, why was it necessary for him to buy her? Is there something we aren't being told here?

2. Hos 3:4. Is there a pattern to this list of 6 things Israel would be without for many days? And if so, what is it?

1. In such an abbreviated account, it's hard to know for sure. It almost seems like there is something we aren't being told here. Could it be that Hosea disguised himself in order to make the transaction? Something like the situation with Judah and Tamar (Gen 38) but in reverse? There Tamar, Judah's daughter-in-law, disguised herself as a prostitute and her services were bought by Judah - all of it occurring due to Judah's neglect in providing her with his youngest after the death of her husband. Here the lesson for Gomer was that she was to live with Hosea and eventually give up her business and be faithful to him - all a pattern of the fact that Israel (God's formerly unfaithful bride) would one day be married to and faithful to Him. But with Gomer, that would apparently take a pretty long time (old habits are hard to break!), and the same would end up being true with Israel (as can be seen through the centuries down to today with their spiritual state, or lack thereof!).

2. The pattern here may very well be an a-b-a-b-a-b one. Like Hosea's wife, the nation would "live many days" without the things of God or the things of heathen idolatry -

without a king - i.e. of God's appointment

without a prince - i.e. of their own appointment

without a sacrifice - under God's Law

without an image - self-made to worship

without an ephod - for God's high priest

without a teraphim - a man-made idol

3:3         The way in which Gomer was to remain ‘many days’ is an enacted parable. All the days of her faithfulness were a witness to what God was going to do.  Doubtless the people knew of her lifestyle and so the change along with Hosea’s words might have had an impact on the people.

3:3        Faithfulness is a two way street. Gomer was to be faithful to Hosea and he would be faithful to her. This is a pattern of God and His followers. However we can take the principle into our own lives. Firstly in our relationship with God. He is the one who has our unhesitating obedience. Secondly to our marriage partner.  We cannot expect our marriage partner to behave as Scripture teaches they should unless we do likewise. 

3:5         The reference to David their king ruling them is picked up – Eze 37:4

3:2       Hosea’s wife was bought just like we are “bought with a price” 1Cor 7:23

3:4         The way in which the prophet describes the desolate nation of Israel would have been sufficient for any other nation to lose its identity. However this was not so with Israel. As the prophet said  - Jer 30:11  - He was not going to destroy Israel.

3:1    Notice, now, we are reading the words of Hosea but contrast to Chapter 1 which recounts what happened to Hosea. Notice the use of the word “me” here.

3:1    Whilst Gomer is “beloved of her friend” we might conclude that her “friend” was of the same disposition as she was. If Gomer represented Israel – the northern kingdom we might conclude that he “friend” is Judah.

3:5 There are a number of places in the Old Testament where, even though David had been dead for many years, he is presented as the one who would be “king”. This is one of the many indications in the Old Testament that there will be a resurrection and a totally new kingdom of God on earth.

3:3  we should try and enter into the probable feelings of Hosea as he is buying his wife back. The humiliation and shame that he must have felt. But also a desire to do what God had commanded him to do.

3:4 These words had their fulfilment in the removal of Zedekiah as king -Eze 21:25 – by the Babylonians. Israel had kings that were given to them by God. However, despite His care for them, they behaved as if they were answerable to no-one. Consequently God “gave them up” Psa 81:12 to their own desires. So they spiralled downwards into a position where, trusting in themselves, they were taken captive.

Israel’s behaviour and subsequent downfall shows that we must rely on Him.

3:2  A servant, it seems, was valued at 30 pieces of silver – Exodus 21:32 - . But Hosea was able to buy back his wife for 15 pieces of silver. An indication that the one who was selling her did not even count her as worth the price of a slave! She had sold herself to the world which did not value her at all. This should teach us that however appealing the world may appear to us it does not value the servant of God as much as God does.

3:4  Whilst the northern kingdom was overthrown by the Assyrians there is no mention of Hosea speaking to Hoshea but we must appreciate that the words spoken here were fulfilled in the time when Hoshea was taken captive by the Assyrians.

19:9 The word 'way' is used here to talk of the right way that the disciples were going. It was a colloquialism (used of any group with a common persuasion) but which reflects very cleverly the idea of John 14:6

18:8 Crispus and 18:17 Sosthenes were both chief rulers of the synagogue at Corinth. Sosthenes may well have followed on from Crispus. We know that both of them were baptised 1 Corinthians 1:14 1:1, so effective was the preaching at Corinth that two of the chief rulers of the Jewish synagogue believed the gospel.

19:3 John Baptist's message went further than just the borders of the land of Israel. This is the second time that reference is made to someone who has been influenced by John the Baptists teaching. The previous occasion is Acts 18:25 which speaks of Apollos.

18:5 And now Silas and Timothy rejoin Paul

19:1 The information that Apollos was still at Corinth again helps us to develop a picture of who was where when.

18:9 Having said that he would go to the gentiles Paul may well have felt that there was little to be gained by staying in Corinth - the vision would correct such a view if present and spur Paul for the work.

19:35 The observation of the 'town clerk' is most interesting. On hearing the accusation of the silversmiths he can see that the brethren are not in the least subversive or offensive in their message - even though they were very effective in gaining converts. Surely a lesson for us who might be tempted to personalise our preaching and condemn certain individuals in other communities.

18:6 This is not the first time that Paul has said that he will go to the gentiles. See also  13:46 . We see the same message again later in 22:21, 26:17, 28:28.  On each occasion Paul first presents the message to the Jews and only when they reject it does he then take the message to the gentiles.

19:8 Yesterday we saw how that Paul took the message to the gentiles when the Jews rejected it. However here we see that such a decision was not taken hastily. In Ephesus Paul spent 3 months disputing with the Jews before going to the gentiles and then it was only because 'divers were hardened' (:9)

18:18 It is felt by most commentators that it would have been during the stay of Paul at Corinth that the two epistles to the Thessalonians would have been written.

18:11 With the phrase the LOGOS of God  Luke passes over the work of a year and a half in Corinth. Paul's two epistles to the Corinthians give much detail as to what happened during that period, and also of the problems he had to deal with.

19:19 The value of the sorcery scrolls which were burned is stated at fifty thousand drachmas.  The Greek drachma was a silver coin having the same value as the Roman denarius, also a silver coin that had the image of Caesar stamped on one side (Luke 20:24). 

 One denarius was the daily wage given to labourers and Roman soldiers (Matt 20:2).  Thus, the precious ointment which was used to anoint the Lord Jesus was worth about one year's wages (John 12:5).  And so, by the same calculation, the sorcerers scrolls were worth about 140 year's wages.

Acts 19:37 The word 'churches' here should be rendered 'temples'. Elsewhere in the book of Acts, each time 'churches' is found it should be rendered 'ecclesia'. A church portrays a building, whereas an ecclesia refers to an assembly (the assembly of the called out).

18:13-16The way in which Gallio dealt with the Jews opposition to Paul highlights that the Roman authorities did not see the Christian gospel as a threat. This is similar to Pilate ‘I find no fault in him’ John 19:4 – though Gallio dealt with the matter more appropriately.

19:13The word translated ‘vagabond’ is the same word as the word translated ‘wandering’ in 1Tim 5:13 which indicates that those who opposed Paul here travelled around following him and the other apostles trying to thwart the effects of their preaching.

19:4 The teaching in this verse shows that the baptism of John was one of repentance, and his teaching pointed forward to him who was to follow. John's teaching was incomplete in that it was an introduction to the teaching of Jesus. The completion lays in the one who John said that "whose shoe's latchet I am not worthy to unloose" John 1:27 This involves a belief in the Christ character of Jesus, which means that he was the seed promised to the forefathers, he was appointed to be king of all the earth. It is unfortunate that many people who submit to baptism do not believe in Jesus in this way, even though they refer to him by these titles. The reason is that they do not understand the truth as it is in Jesus.

19:34  In Ephesus the people shouted ‘Great is Diana of the Ephesians’ in defence of their God who could say nothing to defend herself. When writing to Timothy, who was at Ephesus, Paul contrasted the cry of the multitude with the words "And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory." (1Tim 3:16) Diana was of man’s making. Jesus by contrast was glorified by God.

18:11 So Paul stayed in Corinth for 18 months. We should not think that we can preach the gospel and then quickly move on. Preaching is a long term activity wherever it is conducted. Once there are baptisms there is a need to consolidate that which has started.

19:24 The goddess Diana (Latin) is the same as Artemis (Greek). Her name means prompt and safe. Her seat of worship was the temple at Ephesus. Artemis equates with the Phoenician goddess Astarte; and the Assyrian goddess Ishtar, from which the name Esther is derived.

18:19 From this little comment we learnt that Aquila and Priscilla spent some time in Ephesus which probably explains why Paul sent greetings to them – 2Tim 4:19 –indicating that they remained in Ephesus for some considerable time.

19:24 Diana was the Roman goddess of fertility that became synonymous with the Greek goddess Artemis. Other Greek and Roman versions were Aphrodite and Venus.

Throughout the ages other nations had versions of this fertility goddess:

Canaanites - Ashtaroth

Egyptians - Astarte

Moabites - Qudshu

Babylonians and Assyrians - Ashtar

Eostre (note the similarity to earlier names) is the Anglo-Saxon goddess of the dawn (i.e. fertility). The term Easter comes from her name. Thus, we should consider the pagan origins of fertility rites; bunnies; eggs etc. at that time of year and avoid involvement in its rituals.

We should also avoid using such terms as mother earth and mother nature which are based on these fertility goddesses. Simply, the terms earth and nature should be used.

19:17-19 We have to infer that those who burnt their books had accepted the gospel and were baptized. There was, therefore, a tremendous change in their way of life. Doubtless also there was a significant drop in their income.

19:12  The way in which handkerchiefs were taken from Paul to those that were sick is similar to Acts 5:15 where people tried to be covered by Peter’s shadow in order to be healed.

HOW FAR WILL IT GO?

"Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. There he met a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had ordered all the Jews to leave Rome. Paul went to see them, and because he was a tentmaker as they were, he stayed and worked with them." (Acts 18:1-3)

Aquila and Priscilla were Jews. The record does not tell us that they were Christians, but I have no doubt that as they lived and worked with Paul, they were very quickly converted.

Like Paul, we all live and work with certain people. It is our duty to pass on the message of faith to them so that someone new for God's kingdom will be saved. Perhaps it would be safe to say that if it were not for Paul, Aquila and Priscilla would not be in the kingdom of God. Could it be the same for the people we live and work with?

But the story does not finish there. A little later Aquila and Priscilla found Apollos. "When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately." (v.26) Because of Aquila and Priscilla, Apollos got to know the saving truth of Jesus. Then Apollos in turn became a preacher of distinction who "was a great help to those who by grace had believed." (v.27)

It all began with Paul. If he had failed in his preaching to Aquila and Priscilla, Apollos would not have heard. If Apollos had not heard the gospel, he and hundreds of others would be missing from God's kingdom. Are we doing our part?

Acts 18:18

“… having shorn his head in Cenchrea: for he had a vow.”

There are a lot of pros and cons whether this vow Paul took was a Nazarite vow, or if it was even Paul. Some believe it was Aquila's vow. The Nazarite vow prescribed under the Law of Moses required that the shaved hair be offered, “at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation,” and be put on the fire to be burned along with the sacrificed lamb and ram. These rituals were an integral part of the Nazarite vow (Num 6:13-21). There is no record that Paul, outside of shaving his head, did any of this. There were purifications that involved shaving the head (Lev 14:9), and is not specifically indicative to just a Nazarite vow!

Cenchrea was at the Eastern harbour of Corinth where an ecclesia had been formed (Rom 16:1). Paul tarried at Corinth, during which time he formed other ecclesias in Achaia (2Cor 1:1), a distance of about 10 miles, or 16.1 km from its capital, Corinth.

In Acts 21:17, we read that the apostle James was concerned that Paul’s presence in Jerusalem would pose a potential for serious turmoil among the believing Jews, many of whom had yet to fully appreciate the fullness of their freedom in Christ, and it especially posed a problem among the Sanhedrin because of Paul’s teachings, which they said were contrary to the Law. Paul found himself faced with the reality that countless Jews who came to Christ were still, “zealous for the Law,” and many more who were also zealous in their opposition to Christ!

If Paul was guilty of a return to Law in Acts 21 with regard to the conditions of the Nazarite vow under the Law of Moses, then he was also guilty of a return to Law in Acts 16, with regard to Timothy’s circumcision (1Cor 7:19)! Scripture makes no such assertion. Adam Clarke writes in his commentary: “Had they done this in order to acquire justification through the Law, Paul could not have assisted them in any measure with a clear conscience, but, as he did assist them, it is a proof that they had not taken this vow on them for this purpose.” If they kept the Nazarite vow, some uncleanness would have had to occur, and they would have had to start their vow over after their seventh day of purification according to the Law of the Nazarite (Num 6:9-12). This clearly did not happen (Acts 21:26-27).

The Greek word for “offering” in Acts 21:26 is # <4376>, prosphora, and refers to a “bloodless” sacrifice. On the other hand, in Heb 10:10, “offering” is thusia, # <2378>, and used in connection with blood sacrifices. The fact that the Holy Spirit inspired Paul used prosphora and not thusia is a good indicator that these were not blood sacrifice offerings as would have been required under the Nazarite vow!

Furthermore, had Paul taken the Nazarite vow, he would not have been able to partake of the Memorials in drinking the, “fruit of the vine” (Luke 22:17-19) as commanded by Jesus all the while he was forming these ecclesias! If Paul had kept the vow of the Nazarite as prescribed under the Law, he would have sinned (Num 6:1-5). Had he not kept the Lord’s Supper as prescribed by Christ, he would have sinned! I do not believe that Paul would have put himself under such a position forsaking the Lord’s Supper, ordained under the Law of Christ, and forbidden under the Law of the Nazarite, for any length of time! The Holy Spirit filled James, the brother of the Lord, would not have asked Paul to put himself into a compromising position either!

The vow Paul had in Cenchrea, Greece was not a Nazarite vow because it ended in Greece, not at the door of the temple in Jerusalem where the vow was to be completed. He could only be shaved there and a ceremony was to take place as the hair was cast into the fire under the pot in which the peace offerings were boiled (Num 6:18). No animal sacrifices were connected with this vow. No one knows for sure what type of vow it was; it was a private vow.

19:9     Paul’s and, presumably, the behaviour of other brethren was to preach in the synagogue. However in order to protect the newly baptised from the prejudices of the opposing Jews Paul took the brethren away from the bad influence in the synagogue.  The lesson for us is that we should teach the importance of avoiding company with those whose behaviour and beliefs oppose the gospel..

18:22   It seems such a casual comment that Paul ‘saluted the church’. He was just passing through Caesarea and so one might think he would have been perfectly justified in just passing through. However he took time out to look for fellow believers.  Does spending time with our fellow believers take such a high priority with us when we are travelling, passing through a town or on holiday?

19:14   The word translated ‘vagabond’ <4022> is translated ‘wandering’ in 1Tim 5:13. In Acts we see a group of Jews opposing Paul’s preaching so we may conclude that when Timothy was warned about those who were ‘wandering’ Paul is making a very specific reference to the type of person mentioned here. 

The beginning of Jewish persecution

As we've noticed as we read Acts, the emphasis of the Scripture has shifted from Jerusalem to Caesarea, from Peter to Paul, and from the Jews to the Gentiles. In this chapter we see the beginnings of trouble brewing for the Jews, for in Rome, the seat of Caesar himself, the Jews are being driven out:

"Paul departed from Athens, and came to Corinth; And found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, lately come from Italy, with his wife Priscilla; because that Claudius had commanded all Jews to depart from Rome: and came unto them." Acts 18:1-2

It's easy to just gloss over this but we should pause and ask the question: Why? Later in the chapter when the Jews are causing trouble and take Paul before the judgment seat of the city, the ruler drives them away:

"Gallio said unto the Jews, 'If it were a matter of wrong or wicked lewdness, O ye Jews, reason would that I should bear with you: But if it be a question of words and names, and of your law, look ye to it; for I will be no judge of such matters'. And he drave them from the judgment seat." Acts 18:14-16

So the intolerance of the Jewish people and customs had now reached the provinces. The reason for it is that Jesus, having been murdered by them, was now moving against them as he had said he would:

"Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell? Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city: That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, ... All these things shall come upon this generation... Behold, your house is left unto you desolate." Matt 23:33-38

Those words were spoken by Jesus before his death, and they were now being fulfilled. The Jews were indeed persecuting the prophets, wise men and scribes. They were indeed persecuting them from city to city. Now we see the first evidence that the rest of the prophecy was going to come to pass, and it would result in the complete overthrow of the city of Jerusalem by the Romans.

19:40  The town clerk clearly saw that the Roman authorities would call into question what had happened if the tumult was not dismissed. Thus we see an incidental indication that Rome did not see the preaching of the resurrection of Christ as a threat to the authority of Rome.

19:1    That Paul found “certain disciples” who clearly he been baptised because of John Baptist’s words – Acts 19:3 –is yet another indication of the extend of the influence of the short preaching work of John Baptist.

18:24-28              The way I which Apollos could so soon after his baptism convince the Jews that Jesus was Christ was a consequence of the fact that he already knew the scriptures in great detail. What he lacked was an understanding of how that Jesus was Christ. Once that was clear all the scriptures fell into place for him.

18:2-3  The seemingly casual way in which we are introduced to Aquila and Priscilla belies the way in which providence works. Claudius doubtless had no idea of furthering the gospel when he drove Jews from Rome. But it was the reason why Aquila and Paul met – especially as they shared the same craft. This se the scene for a major, profitable, preaching work in Corinth.

Acts 19:32,39,41

Assembly in these verses is # <1577>, ekklesia, “a calling out… a popular meeting, espec. a religious congregation…” Why then is ekklesia everywhere else translated as “church?” History records that King James ordered an authorized version (AV) for political and social reasons. The translators of the KJV 1611 were ordered not to use the Geneva Bible for their research because the Puritans used it, which King James found seditious and showed very little respect for kings.