A FAITHFUL COUPLE

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 AQUILLA AND PRISCILLA

 Read Acts 18

 There he met a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had ordered all the Jews to leave Rome. Acts 18:2 NIV

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 Leaving the city of Athens, Paul traveled to Corinth where he sought work. He met Aquila and Priscilla, Jewish believers who had recently been banished from Rome. As natives of Pontus, Aquila and Priscilla may have heard the gospel on the Day of Pentecost and fled to Rome during the dispersion of the church from Jerusalem. Now by God’s sovereign design, He used them in the evangelistic ministry of Paul, traveling with him to Ephesus, where they stayed and worked with the Ephesian church.

Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. When Priscilla and Aquila heard Apollos’ dynamic preaching, they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately. (18:26)

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This faithful, mature couple set an example of patient endurance, hard work and fruitful ministry. Lord, I pray that our home will always be a welcoming place where other believers are encouraged and built up in the Word.

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 When Apollos wanted to go to Achaia, the brothers encouraged him and wrote to the disciples there to welcome him. On arriving, he was a great help to those who by grace had believed. Acts 18:27 NIV

TIMOTHY

DISAGREEMENTS

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TIMOTHY

Read Acts 15:36-41; 1Timothy 1; 2 Timothy 1:5–7

He came to Lystra, where a disciple named Timothy lived, whose mother was a Jewess and a believer, but whose father was a Greek. Acts 16:1 NIV

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Many of the believers in Antioch were taking on the responsibility of teaching and preaching, so Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us go back and visit the brothers in all the towns where we preached the word of the Lord and see how they are doing.” (Acts 15:36) Barnabas insisted on taking John Mark along, but Paul sharply disagreed because Mark deserted them on the first journey. So Paul chose Silas, while Barnabas continued with Mark and they went their separate ways. God blessed the ministry of all these men.

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It must have been a heartbreaking loss for Paul to break fellowship with his friend, but soon after that, Paul met another man with the gift of encouragement, Timothy. Paul would later say of him, “Timothy has proved himself, because as a son with his father he has served with me in the work of the gospel” (Philippians 2:22)

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Lord, sometimes we are saddened when believers disagree. But You are always faithful to provide the encouragement we need to keep going. Help us to trust in Your perfect provision.

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“For this reason I have sent Timothy to you, who is my beloved and faithful son in the Lord, who will remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach everywhere in every church.”
1 Corinthians 4:17 NKJV

BARNABAS

SON OF ENCOURAGEMENT

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Read Acts 11:19–30, 12:24–13:3

They sent Barnabas to Antioch. When he arrived and saw the evidence of the grace of God, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts. Acts 11:22-23 NIV

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Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, received a new Christian name from the apostles. They called him Barnabas, which means “Son of Encouragement.” He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord through his ministry. (11:24)

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Barnabas went to Tarsus to find Saul, and brought him to Antioch, where the two of them ministered for a year. In later years Saul, also called Paul, would write of Barnabas and his cousin John Mark, saying “They have proved to be a comfort to me.” (Colossians 4:11)

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Barnabas possessed the gifts of encouragement and discernment. He was quick to recognize the Spirit of the Lord in a new believer and slow to write him off when he failed. His cousin John Mark ran away during a time of persecution, but later rejoined Barnabas in powerful ministry.

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Lord, help me to be an encourager like Barnabas. Grant me the wisdom to teach our children how to encourage each other as well. As with Barnabas, fill us with the Holy Spirit and faith so that we can encourage other Christians to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts. (11:23-24)

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The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch. Acts 11:26 NIV