The Witnessing Fellowship

MEMORY VERSE: “Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee.” —Mark 5:19

MARK 5:18-20

THE scene of this section of the lesson was Gadarenes, which was on the opposite side of the Sea of Galilee from where Jesus customarily conducted his ministry. While there, he had cast out the evil spirits from a man who had been made insane by their presence, and Jesus gave these spirits permission to enter into a herd of swine.

When Jesus entered into the ship to return to the other side of the lake the man whom he had delivered requested permission to accompany him. Jesus did not permit this, but exhorted him to go home to his friends and tell them what had taken place; “And he departed, and began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him: and all men did marvel.” With this background of experience this man was able to do some effective witness work.

ACTS 8:4-8

Shortly after Pentecost there arose bitter persecution against the disciples of Jesus. It resulted in the death of Stephen. Saul of Tarsus was one of the persecutors and “he made havoc of the church, entering into every house, and hailing men and women committed them to prison.”—Acts 8:1-3

“Therefore they that were scattered abroad went everywhere preaching the word.” (vs. 4) Thus by the overruling providence of the Lord the devastating persecution which came upon the church resulted in a furtherance of the Gospel. Sometimes the Lord’s people need severe experiences to arouse them to a keener sense of their privilege of bearing witness to the truth.

Philip, a fellow deacon with Stephen, “went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them. And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spoke, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.” Many of the Lord’s witnesses in those days were given the gift of performing miracles, and at a time when Christianity was so little known it was a great asset to their ministry.

ACTS 18:24-28

The Scriptures speak very highly of Apollos, who was a Jew born in Alexandria. Luke, the historian, informs us that he was an “eloquent man, and mighty in the Scriptures.” “This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John.”

It is clear that while Apollos “taught diligently the things of the Lord,” we are not to take this to mean that he taught all the things of the Lord clearly, for at the time he did not understand Christian baptism, knowing only the baptism of John. The baptism of John symbolized and led to the remission of sins, while Christian immersion in water is a symbol of full consecration to follow in the footsteps of Jesus, to suffer and die with him. Paul wrote, “Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?” (Rom. 6:3) Water baptism is merely a symbol of this baptism into the death of Christ.

When Apollos spoke in a synagogue in Ephesus, a brother and sister named Aquila and Priscilla went to hear him. This resulted in their taking Apollos into their home where they “expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly.” They apparently were impressed with the sincerity and ability of the man, but noticed that he needed a little help in understanding the doctrines of the divine plan. Apparently Apollos was humble and willing to learn, and what a privilege it was for this dedicated man and wife to assist him, and thus improve the effectiveness of his ministry.

Apollos went from Ephesus to Achaia, where he helped the brethren. And “he mightily convinced the Jews, and that publicly, showing by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ.” Apparently Apollos was very effective in presenting the truth along this line.

QUESTIONS

What miracle forms the background of the first section of the lesson?

How did persecution affect the witness work in the Early Church?

Who was Apollos, and who helped him to a better understanding of the Scriptures?

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