Reading
From Ephesus he sailed to Caesarea. He greeted the church there, and then went on to Antioch, completing the journey. After spending a considerable time with the Antioch Christians, Paul set off again for Galatia and Phrygia, retracing his old tracks, one town after another, putting fresh heart into the disciples.
Acts 18:22-23 (The Message)
Reflection
Do you recall that on his second missionary journey, Paul wanted to go to Ephesus, but the Holy Spirit somehow kept him from it? He tried again on his third journey, and got there. Early on, he met some disciples whom John the Baptist (or a follower of his) had baptized. They didn’t know about Jesus or the Holy Spirit. Paul showed them that John had pointed forward to Jesus, and that the Holy Spirit’s power continues Jesus’ work in giving us a new inner life. Baptized in the name of Jesus, they began to experience that power.
John the Baptist’s ministry was powerful, and not everyone who heard him or whom he baptized was present when he baptized Jesus. It makes sense that there were people who accepted John’s message about repentance, but didn’t know all about Jesus’ life, teaching, and resurrection.
How fully do you understand your faith?
What helps you to keep deepening that understanding, and experiencing the Spirit’s life-changing power?
Scholar N. T. Wright writes:
“Luke does not say that tongues always accompany such baptism… The main thing Luke is doing in this story is to introduce Paul’s work in Ephesus, and to show that … he was concerned with the spirit’s powerful work both in the lives of individuals and out into the wider community.”
When have you sensed the difference between ministry or service done with purely human effort, and that done when the Spirit’s power is present?
Prayer
Lord Jesus, thank you for calling me, not just to repent over and over, but to keep growing through the power of the Holy Spirit working in my heart and my life. Amen.
This Reading & Reflection is adapted from the “Grow.Pray.Study” guide created by Resurrection’s ShareChurch team for the sermon series, “The Call.” Shared with permission and minor formatting edits by Acts 2 UMC.
