Widen Your Gaze

Widen Your Gaze

Acts 18 further expands what we know of the early church, not only how it operates but who its principle players are. We have known, thus far, about the disciples and then of Paul. But gradually we are introduced to more and more people, Barnabas, Silas, Timothy, and Luke. Chapter 18 opens the door even wider to husband and wife team Priscilla and Aquila and introduces us also to Apollos. We expand the geography as well. There is no doubt at this point that the Gospel is meant for all people in all places. Recorded for us here is a church on the move. But what we also begin to see are its limitations. Or at the very least the limitations of the people who comprise the Church. Often the question is asked, if the disciples and others recorded for us in Scripture had the power and ability to perform signs and wonders, how come those events don’t still happen today? These passages may not offer an answer as to why but may clue us into how.

After being chased out of Thessalonica and Berea in Chapter 17 (and Iconium, Lystra, Derbe, and others before), Paul found himself, after Athens, in Corinth. There he found like-minded souls who not only believed but shared the same occupation, that of tentmaker. Priscilla and Aquila had been ejected from Rome, along with all of the other Jews, by Claudius, and these three were soon joined by Silas and Timothy. After which “Paul devoted himself exclusively to preaching, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ.” (Acts 18:5b). Yet again the Jews hearing this message began to turn on him, and finally, we see Paul meet his limit. “Your blood be on your own heads! I am clear of my responsibility. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.” (Acts 18:6b). Quick takeaway, Paul feels the real weight of sharing the Gospel. He does not seem to blame those who have not heard the word but views it as his responsibility to share it. Therefore if someone is lost, according to this worldview, we cannot hold the lost culpable; they have no reason to know better. The blame falls on those who know the truth and hold it secret. This attitude is splendidly captured in the movie Hacksaw Ridge when Desmond Doss repeatedly runs back into the battlefield praying, “Please, Lord, help me get one more.” But Paul chooses here to forgo his custom of preaching to the Jewish people in their synagogues to go out into the Gentiles. Jesus returns to Paul and comforts him as we see in Acts 18:9-10, “One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision; “Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city.” We may often find, if we care to look, that God is already there when you fall, ready to help pick you back up. Paul continued preaching in that city for another year and a half.

We also meet up again with Apollos in Chapter 18. “He was a learned man, with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures.” (Acts 18:24b). It is recorded for us that he spoke “with great fervor and taught about Jesus accurately.” (Acts 18:25b) But he had only known John’s baptism and seemed to miss some of the finer points. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him speak (boldly) in the synagogue, “they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately.” (Acts 18:26b) And when he wanted to travel further on his mission, they encouraged him and sent letters ahead to make the necessary introductions to ease his way. How many people have stopped themselves from speaking about the Gospel because of a (perceived) lack of understanding or knowledge about it? Apollos knew the truth, he spoke boldly and fervently about what he did know, and God supplied those in his path that could buttress his knowledge and help him on his way. Apollos never would have learned if he had kept himself at home, nervous about his lack of understanding. If God’s word is to be a lamp to our feet and light upon our path, we need first to be walking it to discover which way to go.

Paul continued on from Corinth and into Ephesus where he encountered a group of disciples who believed but did not receive the Holy Spirit. It’s worth noting here how essential the Holy Spirit is to believers. This often overlooked element of the Trinity was necessary to Paul’s understanding of these believers’ lives and salvation. We should never underestimate the promise of Jesus, “But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.” (John 16:7) These men Paul encountered had known John’s baptism, “Paul said, “John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus.” (Acts 19:4) Once they heard this and were baptized in Jesus’ name, they were filled with the Holy Spirit. They had been limited in their understanding of salvation, believing it was only good enough to repent. And while that is an essential step, it is not the only one. Belief in Jesus and acceptance of Him as your savior is the crux, and here we see the difference play out before us.

In the most dramatic example of limitations, we are able to read the record of the seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest. They were of the practice of traveling around driving out evil spirits from the demon-possessed. “They would say, “In the name of Jesus, whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out.” (Acts 19:13b). This, for a time, was met with some success. “One day the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and I know about Paul, but who are you?” Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all. He gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding.” (Acts 19:15-16) As is made clear later about the land of Ephesus, it contained many who profited from occult practices. Later on, as a result of this exchange, the name of Jesus took on a new and important meaning and led to a dramatic change in the community. Those that practiced sorcery gave up the practice, coming together and burning their scrolls to leave their sinful lives behind them. It was no small feat; the estimated value of what was burned came to fifty thousand drachmas. (50,000 days of wages that’s nearly 137 combined years of human effort). Without a personal relationship with Jesus, the actions are meaningless. These men were using the words but missing the Message. You cannot go it alone.

Through these passages, we begin to understand that the Church, while composed of men and women, is the sole property of God alone. Alexis, in our group, reminded us that we all belong to one body of believers, and Chiba elaborated that for the group as a whole. We each serve our purpose and do our part, but that means we each have our limitations too. In each of the instances recorded for us here, we see that God fills in the gaps for us. He brings us back when we want to go astray, comforts us when we want to quit, educates us when we are lacking, and humbles us when we try to ignore Him. Morgen was apt to point out to us that we needn’t travel to Corinth or Ephesus to conduct our mission work. That God has already placed us where we are best able to do His work. The story of Ilse’s grandmother proves the legacy-like impact we can have merely by talking to families. The story of the missionaries from Bhutan allows us as well to see that God will move us, even against our will, to where He wants us to be. He placed Paul on the road to Ephesus to baptize believers in Jesus’ name. He kept Priscilla and Aquila in Corinth to educate Apollos. Timothy and Erastus are sent back to Macedonia (19:22). Think of who brought you to God. That person(s) was placed in your path, now in whose path are you? You are in your own personal mission field, and the stakes are the same there as if you were standing in a synagogue in Corinth. The message is the same, the people are the same, God remains the same, and the only variable is you and whether you choose to act.

Seeing the same troubles play out time and again could be a cause for hopelessness. To that particular vice, we should never give in. After Paul’s time in Ephesus and after many of the heathens there came to know the Truth there rose a disturbance. Those that made the silver shrines to Artemis began to notice their business dwindle. “Soon the whole city was in an uproar. The people seized Gaius and Aristarchus, Paul’s traveling companions from Macedonia, and rushed as one man into the theater.” (Acts 19:29). If the people of the church have their limitations, then our opposition has profoundly more. See what man, left to his own devices, can muster against those merely speaking the truth. “The assembly was in confusion: Some were shouting one thing, some another. Most of the people did not even know why they were there.” (Acts 19:32). After a little bickering a city clerk quietly dismissed the crowd, all for naught. Never let the obstinate frustrate you. Never let the crowds overwhelm you. Never let any doubt overcome you. Never let circumstances shake you. You stand on the side of the Lord. You are part of a body of believers that is capable of all things, the Head of which is Christ Himself. There is no obstacle. There is no hindrance. There is no enemy. There is no defeat. There is nothing of any account that can even stand against whom we serve. There is only a choice. And only you can make it. Expand your horizon beyond your own limitations. Widen your gaze to try and see His glory and how you may serve it come what may. That is the only cause.

Jordan Williamson