Paul at Corinth Acts 18:1-11
Paul moves on from Athens to another leading Grecian city—Corinth. What a centre for sin it had become at this time. At the cross-roads of the trading empires of the world it was proverbial for licentious living and wickedness.
Paul came here alone. He is still travelling without Timothy and Silas, who arrive later, v5. It was as we shall see a daunting prospect to come to Corinth with the gospel. And yet Paul came. Clearly he came at the leading of the Lord. The prompting and guidance of the Spirit played a leading role in Paul’s ministry. Cp 16:6-9. In Corinth there is also evidence of the Lord’s direction, v5, v9-10.
I SUPPORT IN THE WORK.
While each of Christian has a personal calling and duty, no Christian can function alone. Cp Gal 6:2-5. We function best in an environment of mutual help.
Aquila and Priscilla, v1. He found the company and support of these two refugees. They too were strangers in the city. This was a friendship for life. Cp v18, Rom 16:3, 2Tim 4:19.
Paul the tentmaker, v2. Paul had skills that he used to support himself in the work of God. He felt his calling to such a degree that he pursued it at whatever cost to himself. His life at this time was obviously marked by the need to work as he did. His policy in Corinth was later to become controversial, 1Cor 9:1-6, 12, 14-15, 2Cor 11:7-12. He was motivated by a desire to be different to the money-grabbing culture.
His ministry, v4. He preached the gospel every Sabbath in the synagogue to the Jews. He reasoned with them, fully discussing the truth of Christ—Cp 17:2. His purpose was to persuade/convince them of the faith.
His fellow labourers, v5. Timothy and Silas arrive and it prompts a fresh vigour and directness in Paul’s ministry.
II A VIOLENT REACTION TO HIS MESSAGE.
Cp v6.
A watershed moment has come in Paul’s life. He may not have known it at the time he was stirred to speak as he did in v5 that a crisis was coming.
The Jews blasphemed, v6. They spoke lightly and contemptuously of the solemn truth of God he presented. To reject the Biblical truth of Christ the Messiah is to be guilty of blasphemy. The Jews would not have counted their rejection of Christ as such! To them, they were defending their orthodoxy.
A solemn response from Paul.
His own faithfulness. He had discharged his duty to them and was free from their blood. In this expression he is referencing the words of God to Ezekiel—Ezekiel 33:7-9. Here is a reminder of the sobering responsibility of the preacher especially and of every Christian generally.
Their responsibility. They have taken upon themselves the guilt of their own destruction, having rejected the plain witness to Christ they had received.
He left them. There was nothing more to say. The Lord withdrew from them. This was a defining moment in the history of the Jewish nation. The greatest evangelistic ministry of the time was withdrawn from the diaspora.
The Gentiles’ opportunity. Paul now turns to focus his ministry on the Gentile world.
Conversions, v7-8. Men closely associated with the Jewish religion were saved! Clearly they forsook their blaspheming companions and joined with Paul. Many of the Corinthians were also converted, forming the nucleus of the congregation in that city.
III AN ENCOURAGING WORD FROM GOD.
Cp v9-10.
There is a limit to the benefit of supportive friends; a limit to the benefits of seeing some success in the ministry. There is always a need for direct, personal support from the Lord Himself.
A time of fear and opposition. Paul lived and preached under intimidation and threats.
He was to speak boldly in the face of this intimidation. This was the command of God, his duty at this time.
Reasons he could do so:
The presence of God with him.
The promised protection of God. No man could hurt him! Cp Ps 118:6, Rom 8:31.
The purpose of God to save.