Scripturae | Scriptures

He was mighty in the Scriptures – Acts 18:24

Photo by Pexels.com

In Acts 18 we read about Apollos, an outstanding figure in the New Testament. He is also mentioned in the First Epistle to the Corinthians (1 Corinthians 1:12, 3:4-6, 4:6). Apollos was a highly educated Jew from Alexandria, Egypt. Alexandria was a major center of learning and culture in the ancient world. It is most likely that Apollos received a very thorough education there.

Apollos arrived in Ephesus, where he met Priscilla and Aquila. They were a Jewish Christian couple originally from Italy and they were tentmakers like the apostle Paul. They had been disciples and co-workers of the apostle Paul, as well as friends of Paul. They took Apollos under their wing and provided him with further instruction regarding the Messiah. Priscilla and Aquila had a thorough grasp of the Christian doctrine, most likely they obtained it from the apostle Paul. They communicated it in a respectful way to Apollos.

What stands out for me is that although Apollos was already mighty in the Scriptures, he didn’t object to be instructed by Priscilla and Aquila. For me this is a mature person. Ready to learn from others and to use that new knowledge and wisdom further on in life. Also the importance to always share knowledge in a very respectful and loving way, just like Priscilla and Aquila did.

Apollos, now ready with the complete message, continued on his evangelist ministry and was an effective apologist for the gospel (Acts 18:28). Let us follow the example of Apollos!

Reflection on Acts 18: 18-28 by Hanne

(Listen to podcast here)

Di dalam Dia | EN | IN

"Karena di dalam Dia kita hidup, bergerak, dan ada" – (Kisah Para Rasul 17:28)

Pexels.com

Memperkenalkan Allah yang hidup

Pernyataan yang disampaikan oleh Paulus mengingatkan kita semua, bahwa kehadiran Tuhan yang memampukan kita untuk hidup, bergerak dan ada. Paulus menyampaikan kabar baik kepada orang Athena mengenai Tuhan yang hidup, supaya mereka bertobat dan percaya kepada Allah, dan meninggalkan penyembahan terhadap dewa-dewa dalam bentuk emas atau perak atau batu yang merupakan ciptaan kesenian dan keahlian manusia (ayat 29). 

 

Rasul Paulus merupakan salah satu contoh murid Kristus yang selalu menjaga imannya dan memberitakan kabar sukacita kepada semua bangsa. Tetapi dalam bacaan hari ini, kita melihat bahwa Kabar baik yang disampaikan oleh Paulus ini justru diejek oleh orang-orang Atena (ayat 32). Tetapi dari antara orang yang begitu banyak itu, ada beberapa orang yang percaya akan Yesus Kristus. Kebenaran tentang Yesus kristus sebagai Mesias mampu membuat orang bertobat. 

 

Marilah kita memperkenalkan Allah mulai dari orang-orang terdekat kita. Mungkin kita tidak mampu memperkenalkan Yesus Kristus kepada orang – orang yang tidak kita kenal dan dalam jumlah banyak, tetapi kita bisa memperkenalkan kehadiran Tuhan dan bersaksi bahwa hanya karena Dia sajalah kita bisa hidup, bergerak, dan ada di dunia ini. Melalui diri kita, kita bisa menjadi saksi Kristus dan bisa mengabarkan kabar sukacita kepada semua orang sehingga orang-orang bisa percaya pada Allah yang Hidup, Allah yang sejati. Amin. 

 

Refleksi dari Kisah Para Rasul 17 : 28 – 34 oleh Meist

 

In Him

"In Him we live and move and have our being" – Acts 17:28

Photo by Pexels.com

Introducing the living God

 

The statement made by Paul reminds us all that it is God's presence that enables us to live, move and exist. Paul conveyed the good news to the Athenians about The Living God, so that they would repent and believe in God. And so that they don't worship and praise gods in the form of gold or silver or stones which were the creation of human art and skill (verse 29). 

 

Paul is a disciple of Christ who always kept his faith and preached the good news to all nations. In today's reading, we see that the good news delivered by Paul was actually ridiculed by the Athenians (verse 32). But among that multitude, there were some who believed in Jesus Christ. The truth about Jesus Christ as the Messiah is able to make people repent. 

 

Let us introduce our Lord Jesus Christ starting from those who are closest to us. Maybe we are not able to introduce Jesus Christ to people we don't know or in large numbers, but we can introduce God's presence and testify that it is only because of Him that we can live, move, and exist in this world. 

Through ourselves, we can be witnesses of Christ and can preach the good news to everyone so that people can believe in the Living God, the True God. Amen. 

 

Reflection from Acts 17 : 28 – 34 by Meist.