Acts 18: 18 Paul stayed in Corinth for some time after that, then said good-bye to the brothers and sisters and went to nearby Cenchrea. There he shaved his head according to Jewish custom, marking the end of a vow. Then he set sail for Syria, taking Priscilla and Aquila with him. 19 They stopped first at the port of Ephesus, where Paul left the others behind. While he was there, he went to the synagogue to reason with the Jews. 20 They asked him to stay longer, but he declined. 21 As he left, however, he said, “I will come back later, God willing.” Then he set sail from Ephesus. 22 The next stop was at the port of Caesarea. From there he went up and visited the church at Jerusalem and then went back to Antioch. 23 After spending some time in Antioch, Paul went back through Galatia and Phrygia, visiting and strengthening all the believers.
Paul stays in Corinth for some time and then says goodbye to the brothers and sisters and goes to nearby Cenchrea where he fulfills a vow by shaving his head. Paul's vow was a Nazarite Vow, which in many thoughts is a vow to follow Jewish law and that is contrary to what Paul is teaching about being free from the law. The important part of this vow is that it is a "personal" vow that Paul made himself without the rules of a group of people. He still kept his individual faith walk with Jesus, but he made a vow to God within his personal walk. His vow is nothing more than a personal commitment to Jesus and in this Nazarite Vow, a person will take the hair that is shaved off and burn it in a fire as an incense offering. Also, all that know of a Nazarite Vow will see evidence of this vow by seeing his head shaved. Paul did this individual commitment to Jesus and did not do it because it was a trendy thing for Jews. He actually showed his commitment to the Lord was very personal and not held to any tradition or the lack thereof. Paul is his own man with his own faith and he is a great example of following his own heart in his personal faith walk. God speaks to his children in a very intimate way and we as his children make our own personal commitment to Him in that faith walk.
Paul sets sail for Syria and Priscilla and Aquilla have now joined him and this deep friendship will come into focus more in the future. Now Paul and his companions have reached Ephesus and when Paul stops to reason with the Jews and share the message of Christ they respond by asking him to stay longer, but Paul declines. Paul did say he would come if God is willing and sail for Caesarea and he is headed back to "home" in Jerusalem to report what happened on this journey. Paul gives a report to the church at Jerusalem and then goes back to Antioch where this missionary journey began. The report he gives to those at Antioch is very important because they are the ones who fasted, prayed, and commissioned Paul to go on the third missionary journey and this report will encourage them greatly.
Paul doesn't stay there though and goes back to Galatia and Phrygia to strengthen all the believers. This ministry to the lost is an ongoing journey of personal growth for all who come to faith in Jesus and Paul knew that these new converts would need to know the next step and encourage them to take that step. I believe we are in the "home stretch" as we see prophecies being fulfilled before our very eyes almost every day. Perhaps we should make our personal commitments to burn brightly in these last days with the message of Jesus, and take that message with us wherever we go before our homecoming. Philippians 2:15 so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people.
The Pilgrimage Continues
David Warren
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