The Power of the Word

Introduction: "The word of the Lord continued to increase and prevail mightily" (19:20)

SCENE 1: EVEN THROUGH AN IMPERFECTLY-TRAINED EVANGELIST (18:24–28)
o Apollos
̈ an eloquent man
̈ competent ["mighty," KJV; dunatos, "powerful"] in the Scriptures
̈ instructed [katēchēmenos; "catechized"] in the way of the Lord
̈ fervent [zeō; "enthusiastic, zesty,"] in spirit
̈ he taught accurately the things concerning Jesus, though he only knew the baptism of John
o Priscilla and Aquila (cf. 18:2, 18, 19)
̈ explained to him the way of God more accurately
o Apollos (cont.)
̈ he wished to cross to Achaia [the province of which Corinth was capital; 19:1]
̈ he greatly helped those who through grace had believed (cf. 1 Cor. 3:6)
̈ for he powerfully ["vigorously, fiercely"] refuted ["defeated"] the Jews in public, showing by the Scriptures that the
Christ ["Messiah"] was Jesus

SCENE 2: EVEN WHEN DISCIPLES ARE IGNORANT (19:1–10)
o he found some disciples..."did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?"
o he entered the synagogue and for three months spoke boldly, reasoning and persuading them about the kingdom of God
o he withdrew...took the disciples with him, reasoning daily in the hall of Tyrannus...for two years, so that all the residents of Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks

SCENE 3: EVEN WHEN DEMONIC ACTIVITY MANIFESTS (19:11–20)
o God was doing extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul...evil spirits came
o some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists undertook to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits
o so the word of the Lord continued to increase and prevail mightily