18 After this Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. 2 And he found a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to leave Rome. And he went to see them, 3 and because he was of the same trade he stayed with them and worked, for they were tentmakers by trade. 4 And he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and tried to persuade Jews and Greeks.
5 When Silas and Timothy arrived from Macedonia, Paul was occupied with the word, testifying to the Jews that the Christ was Jesus. 6 And when they opposed and reviled him, he shook out his garments and said to them, “Your blood be on your own heads! I am innocent. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.” 7 And he left there and went to the house of a man named Titius Justus, a worshipper of God. His house was next door to the synagogue. 8 Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed in the Lord, together with his entire household. And many of the Corinthians hearing Paul believed and were baptized. 9 And the Lord said to Paul one night in a vision, “Do not be afraid, but go on speaking and do not be silent, 10 for I am with you, and no one will attack you to harm you, for I have many in this city who are my people.” 11 And he stayed a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.
12 But when Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews made a united attack on Paul and brought him before the tribunal, 13 saying, “This man is persuading people to worship God contrary to the law.” 14 But when Paul was about to open his mouth, Gallio said to the Jews, “If it were a matter of wrongdoing or vicious crime, O Jews, I would have reason to accept your complaint. 15 But since it is a matter of questions about words and names and your own law, see to it yourselves. I refuse to be a judge of these things.” 16 And he drove them from the tribunal. 17 And they all seized Sosthenes, the ruler of the synagogue, and beat him in front of the tribunal. But Gallio paid no attention to any of this.
POINTS OF INTEREST
- V1: Paul left Athens, a place that was filled with idolatry, and came to Corinth, a place full of lust and corruption. These two places are also currently two places that present the greatest challenges to ministry.
- V 3: Paul, for the sake of the gospel, gave up making a living from preaching (1 Corinthians 9:14). Like Aquila and Priscilla, they made tents for a living, not charging money for preaching the gospel (1 Corinthians 9:18). When we share the gospel we should also serve others in the same way. Like Paul, “I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings” (1 Corinthians 9:23).
- V5: When Silas and Timothy came from Macedonia, they had a lot of respect from the Philippians. This prompted Paul to stop working for a living but to fully dedicate himself to missionary work.
- V9: When many of the Corinthians started believing in Christ, the Lord again appeared to Paul, telling him do not be afraid, to speak out and not be silent. Once we bear fruit, threats and challenges will also follow. But the Lord knows our weaknesses, he will never forsake us. Therefore we should be bold.
- V10: We can always turn to God’s promise for help and guidance, “I am with you”. This is the work of the Lord, whatever difficulties or challenges you face, He will protect the ministry that He began. The Lord’s promise will never fail, “no one will lay a hand on you, because I have many people in this city”.
PRAYING IN FAITH
For Yourself
Ask God to give you the opportunity to spread the gospel this week, to rely on God’s grace and strength to not be afraid, to speak out and not be silent, working with God to fulfil His purpose.
For your five
Ask God that your five will be just like those at Corinth, hear and believe in the Gospel and be baptized.
For our church
Pray that God will guide our church to become revitalized in ministry.