Paul was compelled by the Spirit and testified to the Jews that Jesus is Christ. Acts 18:5 NKJV
The word "compelled" sticks out to me. He was compelled, it wasn't on his own. Hmmm...So let's think about this...
Compelled - forced or driven to a particular course of action, often by an irresistible internal urge
Was he forced to do it? To be forced implies that he didn't do it willingly. Force is a harsh word here.
Compelling - rousing strong interest, attention, conviction or admiration
Synonyms: urged, pushed, pressured
One could argue that he was driven, pushed, urged...
An irresistible internal urge...like a temptation?
Like a temptation is not a sin in of itself, it's if we give in to the thing that tempts us, that's what causes us to sin. The temptation did not force us to do something unwillingly. We have a choice to give into the temptation or not. One thing can be a temptation for one person but not another person, and they may have a completely different thing that tempts them to sin. We can pray to God to give us the strength to walk away from the thing that is tempting us to sin. God gives us a way out, if we seek Him, if we seek the way out, He will show it to us.
I believe that the irresistible internal urge here is absolutely the Holy Spirit. In other words, Paul was convinced or persuaded by the Holy Spirit to testify about Jesus.
The Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you. -John 14:26
Helper - one who provides a person with the means toward what is needed or sought
The helper does not force the person to do anything, they just help them get it done.
Acts 18:5 ESV says "Paul was occupied with the word".... hmmm... the word meaning Jesus? Wait, I thought he was compelled by the Spirit? But then, I guess, God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit are three in one. So Paul was compelled by God no matter how you look at it.
***My ESV footnotes direct me to the following...2 Cor 5:14, Job 32:18, Jer 20:9
The love of Christ controls us. -2 Corinthians 5:14
For I am full of words; the spirit within me constrains me. -Job 32:18
There is in my heart as it were a burning fire shut up in my bones and I am weary with holding it in and I cannot. -Jeremiah 20:9
This also reminds me of another verse about not walking in the flesh, but walking in the spirit. (Gal 5:13-26)
The Spirit leads us, but we have a choice to follow His guidance. We choose so willingly because we know He loves us, He wants what's best for us, and we can trust Him.
Dear Lord, please help me to walk in the Spirit and not in the flesh. Thank you Lord for helping me and guiding me. Help me to live by the Spirit and also keep in step with the Spirit. Thank you Lord for your grace and your mercy.
