The Gospel Comes to Corinth
Introduction:
After a short stay
at Athens, Paul travels west about forty-six miles to Corinth, the
most influential city in the province of Achaia. Corinth was a
cosmopolitan mix of religions and cultures. The city was a great
commercial center which every two years hosted the Isthmian Games,
in honor of Poseidon. In Paul’s day, multiple temples dotted the
city. These included one to Asclepius, the god of healing and to
Aphrodite. The latter came with a large number of temple
prostitutes. The city was known for its gross immorality. (I
Corinthians 6:9-11)
“Do you not know that
the unrighteous well not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be
deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, not
homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves nor covetous, nor drunkards,
nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. And
such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were
sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and
by the Spirit of our God.” NKJV
This is the next stop on Paul’s second missionary journey.
Text:
Acts 18:1-17
Body:
I.
Paul Meets with Aquila and Priscilla
Acts 18:1-4
“After these
things Paul departed from Athens and went to Corinth. 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. So, because
he was of the same trade, he stayed with them and worked; for by
occupation they were tentmakers. And he reasoned in the synagogue
every Sabbath, and persuaded both Jews and Greeks.” NKJV
·
Paul finds Aquila and Priscilla who had been
expelled from Rome by Claudius, the Roman emperor. They were
apparently already Christians who had a Jewish background. This
couple is mentioned in several of Paul’s epistles and would later be
instrumental in converting Apollos.
·
Aquila and Priscilla were tentmakers like
Paul. During the beginning of his work in Corinth, Paul supported
himself, possibly to model a good work ethic or maybe as a matter of
principle.
·
While tentmaking, every Sabbath he would be
found in the synagogue reasoning with and trying to persuade the
people, no doubt, about Jesus Christ.
·
By examining Paul’s inspired writings, we see that a
person preaching the gospel may be supported by his own means.
(I
Thessalonians 2:9)
“For you remember,
brethren, our labor and toil; for laboring night and day, that
we might not be a burden to any of you, we preached to you the
gospel of God.” NKJV (II
Thessalonians 3:7-9)
“For you yourselves
know how you ought to follow us, for we were not disorderly among
you; nor did we eat anyone’s bread free of charge, but worked with
labor and toil night and day, that we might not be a burden to any
of you, not because we do not have authority, but to make ourselves
an example of how you should follow us. NKJV
He also may be supported by the ones to whom he
ministers. (I
Corinthians 9:6-11, 14)
“Or is it only
Barnabas and I who have no right to refrain from working? Who ever
goes to war at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not
eat of its fruit? Or who tends a flock and does not drink of the
milk of the flock? Do I say these things as a mere man? Or does
not the law say the same also? For it is written in the law of
Moses, ‘You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain.’
Is it oxen God is concerned about? Or does He say it altogether for
our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written, that he who
plows should plow in hope, and he who threshes in hope should be
partaker of his hope. If we have sown spiritual things for you, is
it a great thing if few reap your material things? 14 Even so the
Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should live from
the gospel.” NKJV Or he may be
supported by others than those to whom he is working. (II
Corinthians 11:8-9)
“I robbed other
churches, taking wages from them to minister to you. And when I was
present with you, and in need, I was burden to no one, for what I
lacked the brethren who came from Macedonia supplied. And in
everything I kept myself from being burdensome to you, and so I will
keep myself. (Philippians
4:15-16) “Now you Philippians know also that in the beginning
of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church shared with
me concerning giving and receiving but you only. For even in
Thessalonica you sent aid once and again for my necessities.” NKJV
II.
Paul Meets with A Tense Situation
Acts
18:5-11
“When Silas and
Timothy had come from Macedonia, Paul was compelled by the Spirit,
and testified to the Jews that Jesus us the Christ. But when they
opposed him and blasphemed, he shook his garments and said to them,
‘Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean. From now on I will
go to the Gentiles.’ And he departed from there and entered the
house of a certain man named Justus, one who worshiped God, whose
house was next door to the synagogue. Then Crispus, the ruler of
the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his household. And
many of the Corinthians, hearing, believed and were baptized. Now
the Lord spoke to Paul in the night by a vision, ‘Do not be afraid,
but speak, and do not keep silent; for I am with you, and no one
will attack you to hurt you; for I have many people in this city.’
And he continued there a year and six month, teaching the word of
God among them.” NKJV
·
Paul had apparently sent Timothy and Silas to
visit the Macedonian churches [Philippi, Thessalonica and Berea].
When they returned, they brought financial support for Paul’s
ministry. The arrival of Timothy and Silas prompted Paul to write
First Thessalonians.
·
Paul testified to the Jews that Jesus was the
Christ. But he met with opposition and so disassociated himself
from them. He wanted them to know that they were in condemnation.
He had done his part. (Ezekiel
33:1-9)
“Again the word of
the Lord came to me, saying, ‘Son of man, speak to the children of
your people, and say to them: When I bring the sword upon a land,
and the people of the land take a man from their territory and make
him their watchman, when he sees the sword coming upon the land, if
he blows the trumpet and warns the people, then whoever hears the
sound of the trumpet and does not take warning, if the sword comes
and takes him away, his blood shall be on his own head. He heard
the sound of the trumpet, but did not take warning; his blood shall
be upon himself. But he who takes warning will save his life. But
if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet,
and the people are not warned, and the sword comes and takes any
person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his
blood I will require at the watchman’s hand.’ So you, son of man:
I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel, therefore you
shall hear a word from My mouth and warn them for Me. When I say to
the wicked, ‘O wicked man, you shall surely die!’ and you do not
speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in
his iniquity; but his blood I will require at your hand.
Nevertheless if you warn the wicked to turn from his way, and he
does not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but you
have delivered your soul.” NKJV
·
But there is some fruit from his preaching. Crispus
is personally baptized by Paul. (I
Corinthians 1:14)
“I thank God that I
baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius,” NKJV
·
God tells Paul, “Stop being afraid.” Apparently the
apostle Paul was overwhelmed with fear. Note
I Corinthians 2:1-3.
“And I,
brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech
or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God. For I
determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and
Him crucified. I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much
trembling.” NKJV God tells him
why that he should stop being afraid. So Paul stays there for a
year and six months and writes Second Thessalonians.
III.
Paul Meets with A Judge
Acts
18:12-17
“When Gallio was
proconsul of Achaia, the Jews with one accord rose up against Paul
and brought him to the judgment seat, saying, ‘This fellow persuades
men to worship God contrary to the law.’ And when Paul was about to
open his mouth, Gallio said to the Jews, ‘If it were a matter of
wrongdoing or wicked crimes, O Jews, there would be reason why I
should bear with you. But if it is a question of words and names
and your own law, look to it yourselves; for I do not want to be a
judge of such matters.’ And he drove them from the judgment seat.
Then all the Greeks took Sosthenes, the ruler of the synagogue, and
beat him before the judgment seat. But Gallio took no notice of
these things.” NKJV
·
Gallio was proconsul, chief judicial
officer. Corinth was the capital of Achaia.
·
Paul being brought before him on religious
charges was a very important event.
·
The Jews argued that Paul should be punished by the
Roman government. Gallio’s judgment was that questions of religion
were outside his jurisdiction. Teaching and following Christian
doctrine did not violate Roman law.
Conclusion:
We learn from
Paul’s actions that we need to trust God and not give up. Keep
asking people to attend church services; keep handing out tracts;
keep telling others about our website. There are some who will
respond.
Bobby Stafford
May 22, 2016
Acts: Lesson 38
Acts 18:1-17
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