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.
--One of the first Corinthians to believe the Gospel was Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue! He believed in the Lord and just like the Philippian jailer of Acts 16, those of his household also believed and was baptized (please note the order: belief before baptism).
--Many other Corinthians believed the Gospel and were baptized, too. Paul mentions a few of these believers in1 Corinthians 1 but quickly added he wasn’t sent to baptize but to preach the Gospel. Many preachers would do well to remember this.
--In one of the seemingly rare instances after Pentecost, the Lord spoke to Paul directly. During the night, the Lord spoke in a vision and told Paul some very comforting and encouraging words: “Don’t be afraid and don’t hold your peace (or, more literally, “Stop being afraid and keep on speaking (https://biblehub.com/text/acts/18-9.htm)”. The Lord had more to say in the next verse.
--The Lord’s last words to Paul, here, reinforced the first part of the message. The Lord had said, “Stop being afraid and don’t stop speaking” then added three more promises: “I am with you”, and, “no one is going to hurt you, because I have many people in this city”.
--Paul had apparently only seen the first-fruits of this ministry but more was to come He stayed there for at least another 18 months.
--But before he left, he was about to face another challenge—a big one.
3 Paul as a man on trial
Text, Acts 18:12-17, KJV: 12 And when Gallio was the deputy of Achaia, the Jews made insurrection with one accord against Paul, and brought him to the judgment seat, 13 Saying, This fellow persuadeth men to worship God contrary to the law. 14 And when Paul was now about to open his mouth, Gallio said unto the Jews, If it were a matter of wrong or wicked lewdness, O ye Jews, reason would that I should bear with you: 15 But if it be a question of words and names, and of your law, look ye to it; for I will be no judge of such matters. 16 And he drave them from the judgment seat. 17 Then all the Greeks took Sosthenes, the chief ruler of the synagogue, and beat him before the judgment seat. And Gallio cared for none of those things.
Thoughts:
--Gallio was the brother of Seneca, a noted Roman philosopher and orator (Robertson and others). He was proconsul (“deputy”, KJV) of Achaia
--The Jews came together “in one accord (the “hive mind” has been in existence for thousands of years)” bringing Paul to Gallio’s judgment seat. One wonders how carefully Paul was treated.
--These Jews made a vague, perhaps deliberately obscure, reference to “the law” in the charge against Paul. The Jews, interestingly, had relative freedom of religion in Corinth.
--Gallio had nothing to do with the charge or the case. He threw out the case and those who brought it before him!
--In a twist of fate, the Jews had apparently wanted to beat Paul but the Greeks beat Sosthenes the new (?) ruler of the synagogue. Gallio cared nothing for any of this,
--In a stranger twist of fate, Sosthenes eventually became a believer in Messiah Jesus too! Paul mentioned him in the first verse of 1 Corinthians!
--And even after all this, Paul still wasn’t done in Corinth. But, eventually, he did leave.
Scripture quotations taken from the King James Version of the Bible (KJV).
