A Vow to Keep, a People to Teach

Acts 18:18-28

There are always a hundred and one things to do. Many are important. Parents need to take care of their children’s education. They consider their extracurricular activities - sports, music, art, etc. Then they think about their jobs - career progression. Then there’s home improvement - a bulb blows, a fridge breaks down, a wall needs painting. There are many legitimate things. But we can’t possibly do everything. All of us love to have a brilliant career, with a nice home, enough savings, and children who are well-settled. But also, we want to be spiritual, with spiritual children. We’ve taken our vows before God - at our confession of faith or baptism. But what do we do focus our attention on? If we want to be spiritual and have spiritual children, we must focus on those things - to love Christ and teach them to love Christ. This morning, we look at Paul’s busy ministry. There were many things to do - but what did he focus on? May today’s passage bring timely reminders to us - especially to covenant families. We will draw out 2 propositions from this passage. Firstly, we must be faithful to the vows we have made to God. Secondly, we must be faithful to strengthen the weaker in faith.

Firstly, we must be faithful to the vows we have made to God. Last week we saw that Paul was in Corinth for 18 months. He was assured by God that nothing would happen to him. God gave him an open door. He preached and strengthened the saints. And after a season, he left, verse 18. He sailed with Priscilla and Aquila back to Syrian Antioch. But he would go via Jerusalem, verses 21-22. Why? In Cenchrea, the port from where they sailed, Paul shaved his head. He had made a vow and was keeping it. Now, we don’t know specifically why he shaved his head or what vow he made. Most scholars believe that after God assured him he wouldn’t be harmed in Corinth, he vowed wholeheartedly to serve God there. While this is just a theory, it’s a reasonable one. And this would be connected with his head shaving. Such a vow was a Nazirite vow - the same Samson made. He would’ve kept his hair long - not cutting it - until the vow was completed. So after his ministry in Corinth, Paul cut his hair and would offer it in a special ceremony in Jerusalem. On the way there, he stopped in Ephesus, verse 19. He went into the synagogue and preached to the Jews. And in verse 20 they asked him to stay. Just like in every other city he went, there was a need to preach the gospel - there were many voices calling for his attention. Now remember, this was the place to which Paul originally wanted to come in Acts 16. But the Holy Spirit prevented him. He eventually went into Macedonia. So while the door was closed then, it was opened now. And so in the synagogue, he reasoned with the Jews. He explained the gospel from the Old Testament scriptures. And the wonderful thing was this - they wanted him to stay. Verse 20 says, “they desired him to tarry longer time with them.” And this was very amazing! Normally when Paul went to the synagogues, he encountered opposition - in Thessalonica, Berea, Corinth - everywhere - but not in Ephesus. What do you do when people want you to stay and teach them the Bible? You say “yes” right?

But not Paul. He said “no.” We’re told “he consented not, but bade them farewell, saying, I must by all means keep this feast that cometh in Jerusalem: but I will return again unto you, if God will. And he sailed from Ephesus.” Why did he say “no” when this is where he wanted to come? Why did he say “no” when there were people who asked him to stay? Why did he say “no” when people wanted him to teach? The reason why is because he surrendered to God’s voice. He had made a vow. And he was going to fulfill it. You see, he wasn’t opposed to staying longer - he had done so in Corinth - but it wasn’t the time for him to do so. He had wanted to go in the first place, but God had told him to go elsewhere. In all of this, he surrendered to God. He couldn’t stay despite the opportunity. Paul wasn’t going to do what he wanted to do - he was going to do what he vowed to God to do. It was not his personal feelings - I’m sure Paul wanted to stay. But he had to go.

Dear folks, there are many good things we do for ourselves and our children - work is good, education is good, holidays are good, leisure is good. But did we vow to God as Christians to excel in our career and make money? No, you didn’t. We vowed to God to take a firm resolution always to lead a Christian life; to forsake the world and its evil lusts, as is becoming the members of Christ and his Church; and to submit ourselves to all Christian admonitions. This is the vow you made at your Confession of Faith. You are firmly resolved to lead a Christian life, to be holy, to be members of one another and to be accountable. There are many things that vie for our attention in this world. Our career, our leisure, our advancement. But what other vow did you make besides this? Maybe besides your marriage vow? But other things seem to take precedence. Parents, did you vow to raise your children to be well appointed in the world? To ace exams and be successful? No, you didn’t. But you did vow your children’s baptism. You promised and intended to see your children, at the age of understanding, to instruct and bring them up in the gospel to the utmost of your power. What other vows did you make besides this? Then why do other things take precedence? Let us keep our vows. It’s not to say the other things in life are not important - but what did you vow to do?

Paul vowed to go to Jerusalem and he would. But he was still willing to be led by God. He said - “I will return again unto you, if God will.” He wanted to remain, but couldn’t, but he would return, if it was God’s will - and he did in Acts 19. Folks, many of us act on instinct, decide based on circumstances and feelings, make rash decisions out of urgency, or see an open door and assume we’re to go in; but we forget our commitment to the Lord and his will. We often make decisions - as James 4 says - today we will do this or that, go here or there and stay for a year - but James 4:15 says, “For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.” Paul was a preacher - but not every opportunity was God’s will. He surrendered to God. Afterleaving Ephesus, he came to Caesarea, then went up to Jerusalem, and after greeting the church there, he returned to Antioch. It had been 3 years he was away. But Paul was led. Verse 23 says that after staying some time in Antioch, he left for his third missionary journey. He returned back to the previous cities he had gone to in Galatia and Phrygia. You see, he didn’t stay in Ephesus, but he went where God led him. There are many things that call for our attention, but are we surrendered to God? Do we keep our vows? Are we led by him?

But while Paul went to keep his vow, the work was not left undone in Ephesus. Aquila and Priscilla were left there to continue the work. And they were actively teaching where Paul could not. Secondly, we examine our faithfulness to strengthen others in knowledge. Aquila and Priscilla, in verse 25, were called by God to teach Apollos, and he to learn from them. There was someone who needed their attention. He was a Jew from Alexandria. This was an important city in Egypt - and together with Rome, Corinth, and Antioch, Alexandria was one of the empire’s most important and largest cities. It had a huge Jewish population and was famous for its education. Rome was the political center, Antioch the commercial center, Corinth the vice center, and Alexandria the academic center. It had the famous Library of Alexandria - one of the 7 wonders of the ancient world. Verse 24 - we see that he was eloquent - which is not surprising because of his educational background in Alexandria. He was also mighty in the Scriptures - he knew the Old Testament very well. And therefore, he was likely a Jew. Verse 25 says that he was a believer in the Lord because he was instructed in the way of the Lord. The faith wasn’t called Christianity then, but it was called the way. Jesus said - I am the way, the truth, and the life. And this tells us that the gospel had been preached in Alexandria where he was from. But to be very specific, since he only knew the baptism of John, the gospel he knew was not the full gospel. He knew about the coming of Messiah. He knew about repentance and belief. But he didn’t know Jesus Christ yet. He knew about the preparing the way of the Lord by John the Baptizer - but not Christ himself. This means that the full gospel of Christ as preached by the apostles had not yet come to Alexandria. Or it had, because it already went as far as Rome, but he just hadn’t heard it. But what he did know, he was fervent in the Spirit - he was zealous. So much so, as verse 25 says, “he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord.” In other words, he came to Ephesus from Alexandria to preach about the Lord’s coming. And his preaching was accurate. What he taught was right. He was a great teacher. But we learn here, that even great teachers are still deficient. He only knew John’s baptism. He was ignorant about Christian baptism. Sometimes there are holes in our Christian education. I grew up learning that the Bible said - God helps those who help themselves. Or Adam and Eve ate the apple. We all have deficiencies some where in our knowledge. And verse 26 says that he began to speak boldly in the synagogue, which Aquila and Priscilla also attended. When they heard him, he took him and taught him the way more perfectly. Why? Zeal without knowledge is not good. Or zeal with a bit of knowledge is dangerous. That may have been the case with Apollos. Or it could’ve been that there was potential - he knew the way of the Lord, but just needed that interpretive key of Christ to be complete. So having a bit of knowledge, but not complete, coupled with fervency - is not a good thing. He had to be taught. He needed their attention. So verse 26 says,“they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly.”

But what was wonderful was this - he had come from Alexandria with knowledge of the way to teach in Ephesus. But he was humble to hear the voice of God. He didn’t look at this correction or more instruction as negative. He didn’t think he had arrived. He didn’t think he didn’t need to be corrected. But he was willing to be. Pastors, teachers, and long time church members don’t know all things. Yes, Apollo was a strong and able teacher of the way, but he was not above receiving instruction. And what’s amazing was this - he did not despise Aquila and Priscilla. They were not theology professors. They did not come from the university town of Alexandria. They were tentmakers from Rome. And so Apollos was willing to listen to a humble craftsman and his wife. The Bible describes him as an eloquent man from Alexandria, mighty in Scriptures, instructed in the way, fervent in spirit, speaking and teaching diligently. But his greatest qualification was his humility. He didn’t poo poo their learning as if his learning was superior.

And we see that as he learned, he became more effective. He was willing to be used by the Lord. Verses 27-28 tell us that he went to Achaia. Aquila and Priscilla recommended him to the brethren there. He even taught in Corinth. We learn that when he got there, he “helped them much which had believed through grace: for he mightily convinced the Jews, and that publickly, shewing by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ.” We see that he was effective. Remember when Paul was in Corinth, he had such a tough time with the Jews that he shook the dust from his robe - he even declared he was no longer going to teach the Jews. But Apollos was able to convince them where Paul was unable. Why? Because these humble tentmakers from Rome taught him. They were used. He was used. Paul was used. They were sent. In the end, God’s the one who gives the increase. Paul said in 1 Corinthians 3:5 - “Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?”

What are some ways to apply this message here? We will be receiving into membership by Confession of Faith and Baptism 35 people. Some of them non-communicants. Their parents have vowed to raise them in the faith. They must keep those vows. We receive them with the right hand of fellowship into our communion. We have vowed to be members of one another. To teach them, to point them to Christ, to pray for them. Who knows if an Apollos will rise up from them to teach the word mightily. We also are bound to learn from one another and to teach one another. Yes, some will come or some are already here in our midst - who have the zeal and fervency, but not as knowledgeable. But not humble to learn. Who have a spirit of “lemme teach you because I’m better.” Or we’re so suspicious of others that we dare not commend them to teach the brethren. Let us know one another, let us teach one another, let us receive the ministry of one another, and if we can learn anything from Apollos - let us be humble to learn; and if we can learn from Aquila and Priscilla - let us be patient to teach and happy to commend. That as a church, we may expound more perfectly the way of God - the gospel more perfectly; that we might help others to believe through grace; that we may show by the Scriptures that Jesus is Christ.

And that is why we consider Christ himself. When he was young, he sat at the feet of the Rabbis in the temple - he learned and asked questions - he was instructed. And he grew in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and men, until he was 30 when he was baptized - knowing that he was to fulfill all righteousness. There was a time. He frequently said that his time had not come. But when the time came, he fulfilled his vow to God. His meat was to do the will of God. And he spent time teaching his disciples - this motley crew of men who thought they were good and wise and powerful and knowledgeable. Two wanted to call down fire from heaven as judgment - Jesus had to instruct them with great patience that this was not the spirit of the Son of Man. One cut off the ear of the servant of the High Priest - and Jesus had to demonstrate gospel mercy. And only when Peter was humbled 3x could he be built up. Only when we come to Christ as a little child can we inherit the kingdom of heaven. Only when we come as the servant of all and the least of all, are we great. This is the gospel that we must affirm again and again. Let us ask ourselves, what is our vow before God to keep - towards our children, towards the church, towards God? How can we as a members teach one another, and be taught afresh - and to admit - we are often deficient in our knowledge.

1. We Must Be Faithful to the Vows We Have Made to God

A. There will be many who will call for your attention

B. Your submission to God’s voice

C. Your willingness to be led by God

2. We Must Be Faithful to Strengthen Others in Knowledge

A. There will be some who will need your attention

B. Our humility to hear God’s voice

C. Our willingness to be used by God

Conversation for Change: