Acts 18:18-22 (NIV)
Paul stayed on in Corinth for some time. Then he left the brothers and sailed for Syria, accompanied by Priscilla and Aquila. Before he sailed, he had his hair cut off at Cenchrea because of a vow he had taken. They arrived at Ephesus, where Paul left Priscilla and Aquila. He himself went into the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews. When they asked him to spend more time with them, he declined. But as he left, he promised, “I will come back if it is God’s will.” Then he set sail from Ephesus. When he landed at Caesarea, he went up and greeted the church and then went down to Antioch.
Paul didn’t let the mob deter him. Jesus had told him to stay in Corinth and work, so even after the incident with Gallio he stayed and worked until he was told to move on. When he finally did leave Corinth, Aquila and Priscilla left with him. In Corinth he was leaving behind a strong Church with elders leading the rest.
Luke didn’t detail the vow that Paul had made, but it was not uncommon for Jewish men (even Jewish Christians) to take the Nazirite vow (Numbers 6:2-21, Acts 21:20-24) either as a sign of devotion or as an extra push for a need that they were praying for.
In the vow, a person refrained from alcohol, from eating or drinking anything made with grapes (including wine and raisins) or from touching a dead body. They also let their hair grow without cutting or trimming it. At the end of the decided-upon period, they shaved their heads, and then burned the hair on the altar along with a ritual-ending sacrifice.
On the way home, Paul stopped at Ephesus on the southwest coast of the province of Asia. As usual, he went into the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews with some success. He felt a pressing need to get back to Antioch, so after his initial efforts, and after setting up a Church in the city, he headed east, leaving Aquila and Priscilla to continue the work there.
Father, everywhere Paul went, he was on duty, ready to share the good news, even if he was only in town for a short time. And he was powerfully efficient in getting churches started so that the work could continue even after he was gone. That’s not a bad mindset for us to have, even those of us who are settled in a particular location. We can’t allow ourselves to settle into a pattern of just “doing Church” but must always be looking for the opportunities to expand the work. Thank You for this clear model for us. Amen.
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