Acts Day 204 - He is our Pattern

18:1 After these things Paul departed from Athens and went to Corinth. 2 And he found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla (because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to depart from Rome); and he came to them. 3 So, because he was of the same trade, he stayed with them and worked; for by occupation they were tent makers. 4 And he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and persuaded both Jews and Greeks.

It amazes how the Bible includes so many details with so few words. Paul goes from Athens to Corinth and stays with a Jewish couple from Rome who were expelled from there by Claudius along with all the Jews. A skeptic would ask "Did that really happen?" Turns out it did. We have record of two Roman historians who wrote about it: Suetonius and Cassius Dio. Many Jews were rioting at the instigation of Chrestus and Claudius sent them all packing. Just another reminder that the Bible isn't just a book about the Judeo/Christian God. It is about His interaction with real people in literal history. There is so much effort today to dismiss it as a book of fables yet historically archaeology is confirming it's authenticity more every day.

So Paul ends up in the Greek city of Corinth staying with tent makers Aquila and Priscilla. He is a tent maker himself and works with them while preaching weekly in the synagogues. Paul is not just educated intellectually. He is not just a preacher. He has a practical trade and works with his hands. God wanted us to know this about him. Jesus worked with His hands too and He chose disciples who also worked with their hands.

It is important though undervalued in our culture to work with our hands. Our minds and bodies are one. Each gets stronger with the use of the other. Too much of one at the neglect of the other is bad for both. Use your mind. Learn to express yourself. Work with your hands. As much as possible keep your life and your person in balance. If your job is mostly using your mind, use your off hours using your hands. If you work with your hands, don't stop reading and learning. Don't get caught in the mythical trap that one is superior to the other. Both are essential and both will make you the best person you can be. Jesus lived in balance. It's not just in theory or morality that we should follow Him. He is our pattern for living.