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JULY 15
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desired to cross to Achaia, the brethren wrote, had believed through grace; for he vigorous-
exhorting the disciples to receive him; and ly refuted the Jews publicly, showing from the
when he arrived, he greatly helped those who Scriptures that Jesus is the Christ.
DAY 14: How did Aquila and Priscilla help Apollos?
In Acts 18:24,Apollos came to Ephesus and clearly was an Old Testament saint and follower of
John the Baptist (v. 25). He came from Alexandria, an important city in Egypt located near the
mouth of the Nile. In the first century, it had a large Jewish population.Thus Apollos, though born
outside of Israel, was reared in a Jewish cultural setting. It states that he was “mighty in the
Scriptures,” referring to Apollos’s knowledge of the Old Testament Scriptures. That knowledge,
combined with his eloquence, allowed him to crush his Jewish opponents in a later debate (v. 28).
He had been instructed in “the way of the Lord”(v. 25).This did not include the Christian faith
(v. 26). The Old Testament uses the phrase to describe the spiritual and moral standards God
required His people to observe.“He knew only the baptism of John.”Despite his knowledge of the
Old Testament, Apollos did not fully understand Christian truth. John’s baptism was to prepare
Israel for the Messiah’s arrival. Apollos accepted that message, even acknowledging that Jesus of
Nazareth was Israel’s Messiah. He did not, however, understand such basic Christian truths as the
significance of Christ’s death and resurrection, the ministry of the Holy Spirit, and the church as
God’s new witness people. He was a redeemed Old Testament believer (v. 24).
Fortunately, Aquila and Priscilla completed Apollos’s training in divine truth by instructing him in
the fullness of the Christian faith (v.26).After further instruction,he became a powerful Christian preach-
er. His ministry profoundly influenced the Corinthians (1 Cor. 1:12). Aquila and Priscilla were a husband
and wife team who became Paul’s close friends and even risked their lives for him (Rom.16:3,4).

for their children, nor shall the children be put
July 15 to death for their fathers; but a person shall
die for his own sin.”
5 Moreover Amaziah gathered Judah togeth-
er and set over them captains of thousands and
2 Chronicles 25:1–27:9
captains of hundreds, according to their
Amaziah was twenty-five years old fathers’ houses, throughout all Judah and Ben-
25 when he became king, and he reigned jamin; and he numbered them from twenty
twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother’s years old and above, and found them to be
name was Jehoaddan of Jerusalem. And he three hundred thousand choice men, able to
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did what was right in the sight of the LORD, but go to war, who could handle spear and shield.
not with a loyal heart. 6 He also hired one hundred thousand mighty
Now it happened, as soon as the kingdom
3 men of valor from Israel for one hundred tal-
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was established for him, that he executed his ents of silver. But a man of God came to him,
servants who had murdered his father the saying, “O king, do not let the army of Israel
king. However he did not execute their chil- go with you, for the LORD is not with Israel—
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dren, but did as it is written in the Law in the not with any of the children of Ephraim. But if
Book of Moses, where the LORD commanded, you go, be gone! Be strong in battle! Even so,
saying, “The fathers shall not be put to death God shall make you fall before the enemy; for
God has power to help and to overthrow.”
9 Then Amaziah said to the man of God, “But
what shall we do about the hundred talents
which I have given to the troops of Israel?”
25:7 man of God.This is a technical term used
about 70 times in the Old Testament, always And the man of God answered, “The LORD is
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referring to one who spoke for God.He warned able to give you much more than this.” So
Amaziah not to make idolatrous Israel his ally Amaziah discharged the troops that had come to
because the Lord was not with Ephraim, i.e., him from Ephraim, to go back home. Therefore
Israel, the capital of idolatry. their anger was greatly aroused against Judah,
and they returned home in great anger.
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25:8 God has power.The man of God reminded Then Amaziah strengthened himself, and
the king sarcastically that he would need to be leading his people, he went to the Valley of Salt
strong,since God wouldn’t help. and killed ten thousand of the people of Seir.
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Also the children of Judah took captive ten
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