An Outline For Acts 18:1-17

Introduction: Acts 18 has three major topics. The first several verses record Paul’s ministry in Corinth; the middle section, Paul’ brief first ministry in Ephesus with Aquila and Priscilla; and the final verses describe the ministry of Apollos, and how Aquila and Priscilla helped him.

1 Paul as a tent-maker

Text: Text: Acts 18:1-4, KJV: 1 After these things Paul departed from Athens, and came to Corinth; 2 And found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, lately come from Italy, with his wife Priscilla; (because that Claudius had commanded all Jews to depart from Rome:) and came unto them. 3 And because he was of the same craft, he abode with them, and wrought: for by their occupation they were tentmakers. 4 And he reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks.

Thoughts:

--Paul’s ministry in Athens (Acts 17:16-31) was different from anything he had ever endured before. He wasn’t really persecuted there, but he didn’t have much in the way of results.

--Some in Athens had believed the Gospel (Dionysius, Damaris, and a few others, per Acts 17:32-34) but most of the people there did not. This is a reminder for all believers to pray for other believers who live in difficult circumstances. It could happen to us at any time.

--Now Paul came to Corinth. He met a husband and wife team, Aquila and Priscilla, who both were believers in Jesus like Paul. They had been expelled from Rome due to an edict of Claudius, the Roman emperor of the time.

--All three (Paul, Aquila, and Priscilla) were tent-makers (“they”, verse 3). There is some variation as to what tents were made of: some, in the past, have stated tents were made of leather; others, that they were made of goats’ hair spun into cloth. Whichever material, this had to be a very tedious process; finding, preparing, and working the raw materials into a finished product.

--This period was not really a low point, as Paul was able to remain in the city, “reasoning” or “dialoguing”, we might say, and “persuading” both Jews and Greeks.

--We’re not told how long this phase or period lasted. But things were about to change quickly.

2 Paul as a teacher

Text, Acts 18:5-11, KJV: 5 And when Silas and Timotheus were come from Macedonia, Paul was pressed in the spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus was Christ. 6 And when they opposed themselves, and blasphemed, he shook his raiment, and said unto them, Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean: from henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles. 7 And he departed thence, and entered into a certain man's house, named Justus, one that worshipped God, whose house joined hard to the synagogue. 8 And Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house; and many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized. 9 Then spake the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision, Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace: 10 For I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city. 11 And he continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.

Thoughts:

--Paul had left Silas and Timothy in Berea (Acts 17:10-15), which was part of Macedonia, while Paul was in Athens. Now, they’ve arrived in Corinth in order to minister to Paul, probably much like they had done before.

--Paul’s spirit had been “stirred (https://biblehub.com/text/acts/17-16.htm)” in Athens, but Luke used a different word here which has several translations (https://biblehub.com/greek/4912.htm). Dr. A. T, Robertson interprets this as being dedicated to the ministry of the word (paraphrased from his notes at https://godrules.net/library/robert/robertact18.htm). He could devote even more time to preaching and teaching as a full-time worker than he could as a tent-maker and having only limited opportunities to share the Word.

--Rejection to the Gospel came soon enough. The unbelieving Jews in Corinth blasphemed after coming together as a group against Paul (alternate translation of “opposed themselves” per Robertson’s notes above). Paul may have remembered how he had tried to force believers in Jesus to blaspheme, as he mentioned doing this later in Acts 26:11.

--Paul refused to continue to teach when and where the message wasn’t wanted. He told the unbelieving Jews, in so many words, “If you don’t want to hear the message, then I’m done with you and I’m out of here. Your own blood will be on your own heads (a reference to, perhaps, Ezekiel 3:16-21 and the words of the Jews in Jerusalem when they cried out for Jesus to be crucified (Matthew 27:25, per Robertson).

--Justus, mentioned here, is another of the Bible’s unsung heroes. The house of Justus was “hard by the synagogue (close to, adjoining, per https://godrules.net/library/robert/robertact18.htm)”. The house was close, danger was closer, but Justus took in Paul and apparently kept him safe.