How does Acts 18:28 demonstrate the power of scriptural evidence in debates about Jesus' identity? Acts 18:28—Text “For he powerfully refuted the Jews in public debate, proving from the Scriptures that Jesus is the Christ.” Historical Context: Apollos in Corinth, ca. AD 52–53 Apollos, “an eloquent man, competent in the Scriptures” (Acts 18:24), had been instructed in the way of the Lord at Ephesus, was further discipled by Priscilla and Aquila, and then crossed to Achaia. Corinth’s synagogue provided a public arena where Jewish interlocutors expected rigorous argumentation grounded in the Hebrew Bible. Luke’s record highlights that the decisive factor was not personality, rhetoric, or miracle, but Scripture itself deployed cogently. Scriptural Arsenal Likely Employed by Apollos 1. Messianic Lineage: Genesis 12:3; 49:10; 2 Samuel 7:12-13; Jeremiah 23:5. 2. Birth & Early Life: Isaiah 7:14; Micah 5:2; Hosea 11:1. 3. Ministry & Teaching: Isaiah 35:5-6; 61:1-2; Psalm 78:2; Malachi 3:1. 4. Suffering & Atonement: Psalm 22; Isaiah 52:13-53:12; Zechariah 12:10. 5. Death & Resurrection: Psalm 16:10; Jonah 1:17 ↔ Matthew 12:40; Hosea 6:2; Isaiah 25:8. 6. Gentile Inclusion: Isaiah 49:6; 55:5; 60:3. The cumulative case cannot be dismissed as coincidence; Professor Peter Stoner’s well‐known probability calculation showed that the chance of even eight such prophecies converging in one individual Isaiah 1 in 10¹⁷. Demonstrated Persuasive Power Luke pairs “powerfully” with “public,” underscoring that Scripture withstood open scrutiny. The result: “he was a great help to those who had believed through grace” (v. 27). Jewish objectors were not silenced by fiat but by their own authoritative canon. Implications for Jesus’ Identity 1. Messiah (χριστός) foretold and fulfilled. 2. Divine Sonship implied by texts like Psalm 110:1 and Isaiah 9:6. 3. Suffering Servant whose atonement answers Temple typology (Isaiah 53 ↔ Leviticus 16). Thus, Acts 18:28 models how properly handled Scripture yields a Christology both Jewish and universal. Parallel Apostolic Strategy • Paul in Thessalonica: “explaining and proving that the Christ had to suffer and rise from the dead” (Acts 17:2-3). • Jesus on Emmaus Road: “beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He explained to them what was written in all the Scriptures about Himself” (Luke 24:27). The uniform method authenticates both message and methodology. Modern-Day Corroboration • Archaeology: The “Gabriel Inscription” (1st cent. BC) anticipates a suffering, rising messiah, evidencing pre-Christian Jewish messianic expectations. • The Nazareth Inscription (1st cent. AD) testifies to concern over body theft in Judea, indirectly supporting the empty tomb narrative that dovetails with Psalm 16:10. • Contemporary fulfilled prophecy examples include the regathering of Israel (Isaiah 11:11-12; Ezekiel 37), observable in 1948-present geopolitical history. Summary Acts 18:28 encapsulates the principle that the most compelling case for Jesus’ identity arises from Scripture’s prophetic coherence. When accurately understood and publicly presented, the Word of God proves self-authenticating, intellectually satisfying, and spiritually transformative, just as it did through Apollos nearly twenty centuries ago. |
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