Title:  Acts 18:18  “God’s Purposes Revealed in Luke/Acts”

By Bob DeWaay

At the beginning of this class we discuss the meaning of exemplary judgments in the Bible as a follow up question from Acts 12:22-23 where Herod was struck dead for not giving God the glory. The answer is that God demonstrates that certain actions and attitudes are sinful by bringing judgment on the scene of history in certain cases. This does not imply that those who are not struck dead like Herod are thereby exonerated. All people must repent and turn to God or they will perish (Luke 13:5).

Another issue concerns Priscilla and Aquila who are mentioned in Acts 18:18. They were introduced to Luke’s readers in Acts 18:2 and are found elsewhere in the NT. In class we point out the narrative unity of Luke/Acts and how the Holy Spirit came upon people and they prophesied about God’s mighty work coming to pass. This, we see in Acts 2, is a fulfillment of Joel 2:28, 29. Peter preached about this in Acts 2 as the “last days.” That Paul was under a “vow” is mentioned in Acts 18:18 as well. It is not clear what that vow was about, but another incident in Acts 21 speaks of vows taken to prove that charges against Paul were false. We look up various verses about that in this class. The big picture in Luke/Acts is that Jerusalem rejects the prophets. Jesus was rejected when He went up to Jerusalem. Paul was also rejected. The bigger discussion is about the church age and the role that believers have during this age. That role is to preach Christ and call people to repent and turn to Him. We do not know how long this age will go (Acts 1:7). Acts 1:8 tells us what to do now.