The Beginning of the End

This is the study page for the Thursday Night Group meeting on February 14, and the text is Acts 18.  This chapter is made up of lots of pieces that might seem disconnected.  Actually they form an excellent backdrop to 1 Corinthians, possibly 2 Corinthians as well.  These two letters were most likely written before the completion of the next two chapters (19 and 20) where Paul returns to Corinth.  They aren't very long, and it's possible to read them straight through and still have time to study this chapter.  Lots of reading, but it's also very illuminating.

Read the text through several times (it's not long).  Jot down questions and observations that occur to you as you read.  It might be a good idea to read ahead a chapter or so as things accelerate from here to Rome.  Knowing the context may help understand various events and pieces of this chapter.  As you read it through a final time, consider the questions below:

• Paul was waiting for Timothy and Silas in Athens, what reasons might he have for leaving before they arrive?
• Where are Aquila and Priscilla from?  What do they do?  When have we heard that Paul has a trade skill?
• What does Paul do different when Silas and Timothy arrive?
• How far did Paul go after leaving the Synagogue?
• Who is the first person noted as baptized and what does he do? (keep that in mind for later)
• Paul has a vision, what was the content?  What is different about that?
• What does this Proconsul Gallio do different than others we've encountered so far?
• Who is being beaten up yet ignored?
• Who beats him?  (read verse 17 in as many translations as you can)
• What does Paul do as part of a "vow"?  (save this reference for later)
• Who does Paul take with him to Syria?
• Where do they reach first?  Who continues on with him?
• Paul lands at Caesarea, and then "goes up" to the church, and then "down" to Antioch.  Where was the "church"? (look at a map of this journey below, it might surprise you)
• What happens in verse 23?  What would you call this?  What's odd about where he goes?
• Back at Ephesus, who arrives there?  Where is this guy from?
• What does he know and preach so powerfully?
• What do Aquila and Priscilla do for him?
• Where does he go from Ephesus?
• Read 1 Corinthians 1:10-15, and 3:1-9.  What sort of effect did Apollos have in Corinth?

That should be plenty for now.  Notice that there really is not much distinction between where this chapter ends and 19 begins, so you're only helping yourself when you read ahead.  Like I said, Acts accelerates from here, and we're heading rapidly to the end.

See you Thursday!