Thursday: Paul in Corinth
Acts 18:1-11 recounts Paul’s experience in Corinth, where he would stay for one and a half years. Aquila and Priscilla would become Paul’s lifelong friends (Rom. 16:3, 2 Tim. 4:19). The account implies they were already Christians when they came to Corinth, probably because of the deportation of Jews from Rome by the Emperor Claudius.
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Roman historian Suetonius seems to indicate that the deportation occurred due to disturbances in the Jewish community associated with the name of “Christ” (Claudius 25.4), which would perhaps be the result of the preaching of the gospel by local Jewish believers. Thus, it is possible that Aquila and Priscilla themselves had been involved in such activities. In any case, besides sharing the same faith and the same Jewish background, Paul and his new friends also shared the same trade.
Read Acts 18:4-17. What was the result of Paul’s missionary activities in Corinth?
When Silas and Timothy arrived from Macedonia, they brought some financial support from the churches there (2 Cor. 11:8-9), which allowed Paul to devote himself entirely to preaching. Paul’s policy was to live at his own expense during his ministry, though he also taught that “those who preach the gospel should live from the gospel” (1 Cor. 9:14, NKJV).
Despite the strong Jewish opposition to Paul’s message, some Jews did believe, as well as some Gentile worshipers of God. Among the converts were Crispus, the synagogue leader, and his entire household. Many Corinthians also believed and were baptized. The situation among the Jews, however, was rather tense, as the following episode demonstrates (Acts 18:12-17), and Paul was possibly planning to leave Corinth soon, but in a night vision he received divine encouragement to stay on (Acts 18:9-11).
On his way back to Antioch, Paul took Aquila and Priscilla with him and left them in Ephesus, where he spent a few days before resuming his trip. While there, he had the opportunity to preach in the local Jewish synagogue, whose positive response made him promise that, God willing, he would come back (Acts 18:18-21). This happened right in his next journey.
| Paul, frustrated by his reception, needed encouragement from the Lord in regard to the salvation of souls there. What do the Lord’s words to him (Acts 18:10) say to us when we might feel something similar to what Paul felt? |
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The Corinthian episode shows a change in tactics for Paul. Rather than being the itinerant evangelist, he, guided by the Holy Spirit settles down and adopts a pastoral role for about 18 months. Perhaps his long period of attachment to the believers in Corinth is the reason why his epistles to the Corinthians are such a passionate expression of the Gospel and pastoral care.
I sometimes think about how difficult it would have been for these small embryonic churches to survive in a world where persecution was the norm, and communication minimal. Paul was guided by the Holy Spirit to pastoral care for this church in Corinth, taking an ordinary job as a tentmaker so he did not become a financial burden to the church.
1) Opposition of the Jews mean he knew would eventually be hurt and expelled from the city.
2) The immorality of the city must have made him feel there is no hope for this city.
Do not keep silent; for I am with you, and no one will hurt you; for I have many people in this city
1) Opposition: No one will hurt you. There will be opposition to the truth; however, no one will hurt you .
2) Immorality: I have many people in the city.
I have other sheep, too, that are not in this sheepfold. I must bring them also. They will listen to my voice, and there will be one flock with one shepherd.
I am with you.
We are living in a world that is being settled for the same panorama. There is freedom of talk and expression now, but persecution against the Truth and its holders will hapeen again. How Aeffective are we in communicating Jesus in these free times? Would we be ready to do so when strong opposition comes?
It will be and is brewing now, enemies of Jesus feel jealousy of God's people just like the Jewish leaders. It will be our walk that will give us up. Expect the fulfillment of the promise of the Holy Spirit.
We need now more than ever to fortify ourselves with the present truth so we will not be taken by Satan's guile .
We often feel like there is no interest in the gospel any more. Either they have the gospel or they have no interest in learning to lean on Jesus. Paul's message from God is a wounderful message from God to us through His Word. Acts 18:9-11. This prepared Paul for the onslouht of non-Christian Jews who tried to distroy him. Then more encouragement came through Gallio, I am sure influenced by God to rebuff the Jewish effort to distroy Paul. Paul found more power than he ever dreamed, by learning to lean on Jesus. What a marvelous example we have of Paul, Aquilla, Persilla, Silas, Timothy Apollo, Barnabas, John-Mark, and many more.