Welcome to Tuesday Bible Study here at afaithtalk. I’m so glad you’ve come. Today we’re in Acts 18, faith is crucial. If you’re not ready for this one and want to catch up, just go pick the chapter you’re in, as all the previous ones are here.
Before we begin today, let’s pray:
Lord Jesus, thank You for this chapter and for all of it written down. Thank You for Paul and Silas, and Timothy and Aquila and Priscilla and Barnabas and all the believers who were in Antioch too. Lead us and show us all that we need to see today. Lord, it’s all for Your glory, thank You.
Please read Acts 18:1-3
Paul at Corinth
1 After this Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. 2 There he met a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife, Priscilla, because [the Roman Emperor] Claudius had issued an edict that all the [a]Jews were to leave Rome. Paul went to see them, 3 and because he was of the same trade, he stayed with them; and they worked together for they were tent-makers.
Can you imagine? Say you’ve lived your whole life somewhere and one day the one in charge makes an edict that says you have to leave the country. Yet God had plans for Aquila and Priscilla and they encountered Paul. What a blessing I bet that was, for all three of them.
Preaching the Good News
Please read Acts 18:4-7
4 And he reasoned and debated in the synagogue every Sabbath, trying to persuade Jews and Greeks;
5 but when Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia (northern Greece), Paul began devoting himself completely to [preaching] the word, and solemnly testifying to the Jews that Jesus is the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed). 6 But since the Jews kept resisting and opposing him, and blaspheming [God], he [b]shook out his robe and said to them, “Your blood (damnation) be on your own heads! I am innocent of it. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.” 7 Then he moved on from there and went to the house of a man named [c]Titius Justus, who worshiped God and whose house was next door to the synagogue.
To shake out ones robe is like what Jesus said when he told those He sent to shake the dust off their feet. It’s one thing to feel opposition, but quite another when that opposition chooses to act on their feelings. What a shame that in their opposition of the Good News they would blaspheme God. At least Timothy and Silas came.
Peace and Assurance for the Faith
Please read Acts 18:8-11
8 Crispus, the leader of the synagogue, believed in the Lord together with his entire household [joyfully acknowledging Him as Messiah and Savior]; and many of the Corinthians who heard [Paul’s message] were believing and being baptized. 9 One night the Lord said to Paul in a vision, “Do not be afraid anymore, but go on speaking and do not be silent; 10 for I am with you, and no one will attack you in order to hurt you, because I have many people in this city.” 11 So he settled there for a year and six months, teaching them the word of God [concerning eternal salvation through faith in Christ].
What an encouragement Paul must have felt when Jesus told him that. And what wonders that there were many in Corinth who believed. We can joyfully acknowledge Jesus as Messiah and Savior. Christ & Deliverer. Our ever-present Lord and King. You just must have faith.
Opposition Against the Faith
Please read Acts 18:12-17
12 But when [d]Gallio was proconsul of Achaia (southern Greece), the Jews made a united attack on Paul and brought him before [e]the judgment seat, 13 declaring, “This man is persuading people to worship God in violation of the law [of Moses].” 14 But when Paul was about to reply, Gallio said to the Jews, “If it were a matter of some misdemeanor or serious crime, O Jews, I would have reason to put up with you; 15 but since it is merely a question [of doctrine within your religion] about words and names and your own law, see to it yourselves; I am [f]unwilling to judge these matters.” 16 And he drove them away from the judgment seat. 17 Then the Greeks all seized [g]Sosthenes, the leader of the synagogue, and began beating him right in front of the judgment seat; but Gallio paid no attention to any of this.
It always amazes me how close to violence the opposition is. They couldn’t get Paul, so they got the leader of the opposition instead.
Have Faith
Please read Acts 18:18-22
18 Paul stayed for a while longer, and then told the [h]brothers and sisters goodbye and sailed for Syria; and he was accompanied by Priscilla and Aquila. At Cenchrea [the southeastern port of Corinth] he had his hair cut, because he was keeping a [Nazirite] vow [of abstention]. 19 Then they arrived in Ephesus, and he left the others there; but he entered the synagogue and reasoned and debated with the Jews. 20 When they asked him to stay for a longer time, he refused; 21 but after telling them goodbye and saying, “I will return again if God is willing,” he set sail from Ephesus.
22 When he had landed at Caesarea, he went up and [i]greeted the church [at Jerusalem], and then went down to Antioch.
Ephesus
Ephesus was an ancient port city in Greece, but now it’s located in Turkey, the ruins of it are anyway. This is why it takes me quite a lot of ‘don’t look too far’ type things to ‘see’ what it must have been like back when Paul and the rest of these stories occurred. Since it was a port city, it makes sense that Paul traveled from there on a boat back to Caesarea and then went on the rest of the trip back to Antioch (yet another place that is no longer what it used to be.) So it’s highly beneficial to not think contemporary when you read Scripture. At least these stories. Instead take lessons from them as you read and know that those lessons are timeless even if places are not.
Please read Acts 18:23-28
Paul’s Third Missionary Journey
23 After spending some time there, he left and traveled through the territory of Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening and encouraging all the disciples.
24 Now a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was an eloquent and cultured man, and well versed in the [Hebrew] Scriptures. 25 This man had been instructed in the way of the Lord, and being spiritually impassioned, he was speaking and teaching accurately the things about Jesus, though he knew only the baptism of John; 26 and he began to speak boldly and fearlessly in the synagogue. But when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained more accurately to him the way of God [and the full story of the life of Christ]. 27 And when Apollos wanted to go across to Achaia (southern Greece), the brothers encouraged him and wrote to the disciples, [urging them] to welcome him gladly. When he arrived, he was a great help to those who, through grace, had believed and had followed Jesus as Lord and Savior, 28 for he powerfully refuted the Jews in public discussions, proving by the Scriptures that Jesus is the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed).
Footnotes
[a] Acts 18:2 Jews – This action may have been prompted by conflicts within the Jewish community caused by the spread of Christianity.
[b] Acts 18:6 shook out his robe – An act symbolizing rejection.
[c] Acts 18:7 Titius Justus – One early ms reads Titus; two early mss omit the name.
[d] Acts 18:12 when Gallio was proconsul of Achaia – Junius Gallio’s term as proconsul was brief a.d. 51-52, but is validated by an ancient inscription found at Delphi. This is important because it establishes the date of Paul’s visit to Corinth while on his second missionary journey and sets the date of his letters to the church at Thessalonica.
[e] Acts 18:12 the judgment seat – The proconsul tried cases from a large, raised stone platform situated in front of his official residence.
[f] Acts 18:15 unwilling to judge – Gallio, the proconsul of Achaia, in essence ruled Paul’s teachings to be a form of Judaism and therefore legal under Roman law.
[g] Acts 18:17 Sosthenes, the leader of the synagogue – As leader of the synagogue Sosthenes would have presented the charges against Paul. Apparently something related to this made him the target of the attack. If this Sosthenes is the same man mentioned in 1 Cor 1:1, he later became a believer and follower of Christ.
[h] Acts 18:18 brothers – Lit brethren.
[i] Acts 18:22 – greeted the church – This marks the end of Paul’s second missionary journey.
Even today there are eloquent and contemporary faithful and powerful speakers for the faith. Not everywhere, but they can be found.
Grow your faith. Exercise your faith. Share your faith.