Paul had spent eighteen months at Corinth, reasoning with the Jews and planting the seed of Christ's being the Son of God, but had had very little success.
He left, and Apollos came behind him, and had tremendous success.
This passage reveals that Apollos was successful for two reasons:
1. PAUL PLANTED THE SEED, APOLLOS REAPED THE HARVEST.
Illus: A pastor had worked hard in the Lord's labor field under some trying times. The soil was hard, and had many weeds that had to be taken out before a good crop could be planted, and growth could take place. This pastor was faithful. He worked under some tremendous opposition, and at times had only a measly salary to live on. He later felt that God was through with him there, and they brought a new pastor in. The church began to grow and multiply. The congregation, within the first year was able to give the new pastor twice the salary the previous pastor had been making. Question: Was this new pastor a better pastor, is this the reason the church grew? It could have been that the new pastor was reaping all the benefits of the hard labor that the former pastor had put into the work.
Paul recognized that God had used him to prepare the soil, and that God then used Apollos to come after him to "water and reap."
Some of the greatest churches in this nation were started by men who were bi-vocational. They struggled to see a church built for the Lord.
• They met in some store front building.
• They sang out of old song books that were given to them.
• They struggled to buy property for a church to be built on.
• They struggled to construct a building to worship in.
Finally, after years of struggling, the work was established in the community.
But the work never seemed to grow that much. Later, the pastor leaves to start another work doing the same difficult things he had done before. A new pastor comes along, and all of a sudden, the church begins to grow by leaps and bounds.
It is because the new pastor is so much better? It could be, but more than likely it is because God has called some to PLANT and some to WATER.
Paul alludes to this in 1 Cor. 3:6, which says, "I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase."
Paul was being sure that neither he nor Apollos got the credit, "...but God gave the increase."
2. APOLLOS WAS ABLE TO REACH SOME, THAT PAUL WAS NOT ABLE TO REACH FOR THE LORD.
Another reason for Apollos' great success, was due to the fact that one person can not reach everyone.
The fact is, there are people that you can reach, that I cannot. There are people that I can reach for the Lord, that you cannot.
Let’s look at the apostle Paul as he faithfully plants the Word of God, and see also, how Apollos comes along behind him and reaps the harvest in Corinth, and later in Ephesus.
I. THE VOYAGE
Verses 1-2, "After these things Paul departed from Athens, and came to Corinth; 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."
We see some things in the following verses that Paul discovered, that we need to consider. What did he discover?
A. HE WAS LIKE THEM
Look at verse 3, "And because he was of the same craft..."
We read that Paul met this famous couple, Aquilla and Priscilla, when he arrived in Corinth, and that they had chosen to move to Corinth after being ordered out of Rome.
We have reason to believe that this couple was financially prospering, for history tells us that in the catacombs, there are inscriptions on the walls which indicate that Priscilla had come from an affluent family.
The thing that drew Paul to this lovely couple, was that they were of the same trade. Paul received offerings from the church, but many times the offerings were not enough to sustain him, so he was bi-vocational.
Illus: Some of the dearest men of God on this earth today, are men who love God enough to take a work that no one else will take, because the finances are so low. Men like this will take the work, and give it their best, and subsidize their income by taking another job.
Paul subsidized his income by making tents. This is also what Aquilla and Priscilla did, so they all had this in common.
B. HE LIVED WITH THEM
look at verse 3, "...he abode with them..."
Their relationship was such a good relationship, that Paul was even able to live with them.
C. HE WORKED WITH THEM
Look at verse 3, "...and wrought: for by their occupation they were tentmakers."
We looked at THE VOYAGE, but let us now look at-
II. THE VEXATION
It was good that Paul was with his good friends, but as he labored for the Lord, he met some resistance. Look at-
A. THE RESISTANCE
Verses 4-6, "And he reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks. And when Silas and Timotheus were come Macedonia, Paul was pressed in the spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus was Christ. And when they opposed themselves, and blasphemed, he shook his rainment, and said unto them, Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean: from henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles."
Be reminded, Paul had worked with these people about 18 months.
Notice, the Bible says, "And he reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath..."
While some had been converted, the vast majority either rejected everything Paul said, or just let it go in one ear and out the other.
It finally got so bad, that the Bible tells us Paul stood before them and said, "...Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean: from henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles."
This is exactly what the Lord told us to do in such cases - Matthew 10:14, "And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet."
The next verse tells us that it will be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the Judgment day, than it will be for those who reject the messengers who would tell them that Jesus is the Christ. What! Do people still reject that message? Yes! Some reject it, and act as if that is the end of the matter. God's Word tells us that this is not the end of the matter for them. Their punishment will be so bad, that when they consider what happened when God rained fire and brimstone down on Sodom and Gomorrah, it will seem as nothing in comparison!
He met with some RESISTANCE, but look at-
B. THE RELIEF
Verses 7-8, "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. 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."
It brings joy to the heart of any man who is ministering for the Lord, when people will eagerly receive the Word of God. A pastor can get mighty discouraged when he thinks of all those who reject the Word for their lives, but what a joy it is to a pastor or a Sunday School teacher, to focus in on those who receive God's Word.
We looked at THE VOYAGE and THE VEXATION, but let us look at-
III. THE VISION
A. THE PROMISE OF HIS PRESENCE
Verses 9-10a, “Then spake the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision, Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace: For I am with thee...”
Illus: Suppose you were outnumbered by a gang that was trying to do you bodily harm. Suppose about the time they began to attack you, a car full of your friends drove up, and all of a sudden, the strength and numbers were on your side.
God assured Paul that He was with him. The same promise is ours, and if God be for us, who can outnumber His strength.
Look what the Lord promised Paul.
B. THE PROMISE OF HIS PROTECTION
Verse 10b, "...and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee:.."
Man can make all kinds of threats to do us harm, but the fact is, they can only do what God allows them to do. Without the strength that God provides, man cannot talk, walk, or even lift a hand. God wanted Paul to be assured that he did not have to be afraid to speak boldly, and plant the seed of God's Word, because man could not do a thing without Him, and He would not let them harm him.
C. THE PROMISE OF HIS PEOPLE
Look at verse 10c-11, "...for I have much people in this city. And he continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them."
Illus: A pastor was in Rome, and for the first time in his life, he knew what it was to live on this earth and feel like a stranger. He was surrounded by people, but he knew that he had very little in common with those he rubbed elbows with. Their life-style was different, and they talked a different language.
But this pastor found it comforting, that while in Rome, he met other Americans like himself.
This is the way life is for Christians here on earth. We rub elbows with people every day that have a different life style than we have, they do not live the way we live, nor do they talk the same language we talk.
God wanted Paul to know, that He was with him, but also He said, “I have much people in this city.”
It is wonderful to be in a place where God has “Much people.”
Conclusion:
I. THE VOYAGE
A. HE WAS LIKE THEM
B. HE LIVED WITH THEM
C. HE WORKED WITH THEM
II. THE VEXATION
A. THE RESISTANCE
B. THE RELIEF
III. THE VISION
A. THE PROMISE OF HIS PRESENCE
B. THE PROMISE OF HIS PROTECTION
C. THE PROMISE OF HIS PEOPLE
