ACTS
Pursuing The Call – Part 5
Dr. Tom Bartlett
JULY 21, 2019
Acts 18:1-17
OUTLINE
After his discouragement at Mars Hill, God Brings Paul Comfort through. . .
New godly friends
After this Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. 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, and because he was of the same trade he stayed with them and worked, for they were tentmakers by trade. And he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and tried to persuade Jews and Greeks.
In discouraging times, seek encouragement from friends
Direction from God
When Silas and Timothy arrived from Macedonia, Paul was occupied with the word, testifying to the Jews that the Christ was Jesus. 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.” And he left there and went to the house of a man named Titius Justus, a worshiper of God. His house was next door to the synagogue. 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. And the Lord said to Paul one night in a vision, “Do not be afraid, but go on speaking and do not be silent, 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.” And he stayed a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.
In discouraging times, wait for direction from God
God’s protection
But when Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews made a united attack on Paul and brought him before the tribunal, saying, “This man is persuading people to worship God contrary to the law.” 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. 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.” And he drove them from the tribunal. 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.
In discouraging times, allow God to handle your crisis
MANUSCRIPT
If most people were to look at you, they could make judgments on the kind of person you are, they could reflect on your home, your car, your job, etc. But when it comes to who you really are and what’s really going on inside of you, only you and God can know that.
I can look at you, but I don’t know what’s happening between your ears, or the private struggles you’re facing.
When we read through the book of Acts, we see the events unfolding from the perspective of the writer. In Acts 18 we’re looking at the events of the life of Paul but not in his words, the writings are from Luke who recounts the history and the events.
By the time we get to chapter 18, Paul has arrived at the city of Corinth a 53-mile walk from Athens. He tired, discouraged, and beat up inside.
BUT, if you look at the text, it simply says he went to Corinth and then found some friends. Well, Corinth was a strategic stop on Paul’s journey of PURSUNG THE CALL of Jesus Christ. And what we know about the external events is written by Luke, but what we know about what was happening inside of Paul, comes from his own words. You see Paul would later write 2 letters to the Corinthians, and while he was there at this time, he actually wrote 2 other books in our New Testament, 1 and 2 Thessalonians. In those we can find several times where Paul mentions his emotional state during this time. Concerning his arrival in Corinth he writes,
1 Corinthians 2:3 he said, “And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling. . .”
In 1 Thessalonians 3:7, he mentions his emotional state around his testing in Corinth and says, “for this reason, brothers, in all our distress and affliction we have been comforted about you through your faith.”
I could give you more examples, but we can see from his own words that Paul was afraid, beaten up, worn down and dealing with discouragement.
He arrives by foot to Corinth alone, Timothy and Silas had not yet arrived. Paul suffered ridicule, opposition, accusation, imprisonment, along the way and after his eloquent speech at Mars Hill in chapter 17, only a few believed.
Maybe he was wondering why he was doing all this. Maybe he questioned God’s call. In any case, he was discouraged and defeated but he finds himself in Corinth, maybe the most ungodly city in the Roman empire.
In this moment, in his despair, God was at work. Let’s peer into what was happening in Paul’s life and how God was responding to it.
After his discouragement at Mars Hill, God Brings Paul Comfort through. . .
New godly friends
The only thing worse than being discouraged, is being discouraged alone. To have no one who “gets you,” who can listen to you. That’s where Paul finds himself, but not for long. Needing to find work to provide for himself, he goes to the trade of his family. Every young person, no matter what else they may apply their life to, learned a family trade, no doubt Paul’s dad was a tanner of hides and tent maker.
Paul finds work among two people who were absolute God-sends for him.
After this Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. 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, and because he was of the same trade he stayed with them and worked, for they were tentmakers by trade. And he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and tried to persuade Jews and Greeks.
Paul meets Aquila and his wife Priscilla. These two would not only help by providing work, they also would be dear friends to Paul long after.
So, look at this progression. Paul is serving the Lord in Athens; he leaves defeated and comes to Corinth. He didn’t immediately start preaching, but God sent him friends to strengthen him. He started looking for opportunities to share Christ and resumed his ministry at the Jewish outpost there seeking to convince people of the truth of Jesus Christ.
HEAR ME: There are no Lone Ranger Christians. I need you; you need me. Paul needed Aquila and Priscilla!
Are you discouraged? The answer may be sitting right next to you!
When you’re down, don’t isolate yourself, that’s what Satan wants you to do. He looks for those weakened by struggles. He wants you to get away from any godly encouragement, from any words of comfort. When you’re down, be wise and seek out godly friends.
In discouraging times, seek encouragement from friends
So, not only did God send him true friends who cared about him, Paul got direction from God in this time of discouragement.
Direction from God
If he was wondering where God was and what it’s all worth, he didn’t have to wonder anymore.
Paul and Silas showed up with provision, a gift of money from the Macedonian Church.
It was all becoming clear now. God had prevented Paul from going to several places that Paul felt needed him. God kept saying, “no, wait.” I’m sure Paul was frustrated about waiting, you probably get that way too.
BUT finally, the Lord said, ok, “go”. And God sent him to Macedonia. Why? Many reasons, but one would be seen right here. God was working out Paul’s provision for the future. With this gift Paul was able to focus solely on his preaching and teaching ministry.
Now, as Paul was dealing with stubborn people who would not listen to him, he walks away from this crowd of Jews. In these events, God places Paul in a strategic place, several key leaders become Christ followers and God delivers an important direction to Paul.
When Silas and Timothy arrived from Macedonia, Paul was occupied with the word, testifying to the Jews that the Christ was Jesus. 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.” And he left there and went to the house of a man named Titius Justus, a worshiper of God. His house was next door to the synagogue. 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. And the Lord said to Paul one night in a vision, “Do not be afraid, but go on speaking and do not be silent, 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.” And he stayed a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.
Paul ends up staying in Corinth longer than any other city except Ephesus. Instead of running ahead of God, he receives God’s promise and continues God’s work.
In this passage we see the wonderful heart of God when the Lord says to Paul, “for I have many in this city who are my people.” God already knows that many people will come to faith so He tells Paul, stay at it.
Are you struggling with direction right now? Not sure what to do, where to go? Well, when in doubt don’t! God will reveal in His timing. The Lord tells us 1. What to do, and 2. When to do it. Wait for both.
When we’re discouraged, often we want to run out and just “do something,” anything. But often that leads to great failure.
In discouraging times, wait for direction from God
So, God speaks to Paul and uses Paul there, but Paul was still facing opposition. What would he do? Well, he did what we should do, he stood on the promise of God’s protection.
AINT NOTHING CAN TAKE YOU OUT TILL GOD SAYS SO!
Paul enjoyed God’s protection.
God’s protection
But when Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews made a united attack on Paul and brought him before the tribunal, saying, “This man is persuading people to worship God contrary to the law.” 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. 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.” And he drove them from the tribunal. 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.
It seems Sosthenes was also leaning toward Christianity, he may not have come to Christ yet, but later Paul recognizes him in 1 Corinthians 1:1.
Gallio was new on the job and got his position because his brother was a famous leader of the time. His statements set a precedent for Roman law that actually allowed the Christian faith to continue to spread throughout the region. He viewed it not as a legal matter, but an internal Jewish one.
You see, Paul showed up broke, discouraged, and wondering why and God had a plan all along.
Maybe today you’re in the throes of discouragement, don’t take matters in your hands. Allow God to work His plan.
In discouraging times, allow God to handle your crisis
SONG – It is well
