July 24, 2022
Evening Service

Paul in Corinth

Act 18:1  After these things Paul departed from Athens and went to Corinth.

Act 18:2  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.

Act 18:3  So, because he was of the same trade, he stayed with them and worked; for by occupation they were tentmakers.

Paul’s occupation was a tentmaker, but Paul was a teacher of Christ.

 

Act 18:4  And he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and persuaded both Jews and Greeks.

 

 

Act 18:5  When Silas and Timothy had come from Macedonia, Paul was compelled by the Spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus is the Christ.

Act 18:6  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."

 

Paul was irritated with the Jews.

 

Act 18:7  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.

Act 18:8  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.

 

 

Act 18:9  Now the Lord spoke to Paul in the night by a vision, "Do not be afraid, but speak, and do not keep silent;

Act 18:10  for I am with you, and no one will attack you to hurt you; for I have many people in this city."

Act 18:11  And he continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.

 

Year in one place that was a long time for Paul.

This allowed Paul a chance to rest a bit.

 

Act 18:12  When Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews with one accord rose up against Paul and brought him to the judgment seat,

Act 18:13  saying, "This fellow persuades men to worship God contrary to the law."

Act 18:14  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.

Act 18:15  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."

Act 18:16  And he drove them from the judgment seat.

 

Leaders of Rome didn’t want to bother with religious issues.

 

 

Act 18:17  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.

 

Paul Returns to Antioch

Act 18:18  So Paul still remained a good while. Then he took leave of the brethren and sailed for Syria, and Priscilla and Aquila were with him. He had his hair cut off at Cenchrea, for he had taken a vow.

 

 

Act 18:19  And he came to Ephesus, and left them there; but he himself entered the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews.

 

Teaching to the Jews was just part of who Paul is.

 

Act 18:20  When they asked him to stay a longer time with them, he did not consent,

 

Act 18:21  but took leave of them, saying, "I must by all means keep this coming feast in Jerusalem; but I will return again to you, God willing." And he sailed from Ephesus.

 

Act 18:22  And when he had landed at Caesarea, and gone up and greeted the church, he went down to Antioch.

Act 18:23  After he had spent some time there, he departed and went over the region of Galatia and Phrygia in order, strengthening all the disciples.

 

 

Apollos Speaks Boldly in Ephesus

Act 18:24  Now a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man and mighty in the Scriptures, came to Ephesus.

Act 18:25  This man had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things of the Lord, though he knew only the baptism of John.

Act 18:26  So he began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Aquila and Priscilla heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately.

 

 

Act 18:27  And when he desired to cross to Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him; and when he arrived, he greatly helped those who had believed through grace;

Act 18:28  for he vigorously refuted the Jews publicly, showing from the Scriptures that Jesus is the Christ.