Acts of the Apostles, Acts 18:1-28

Acts of the Apostles, Acts 18:1-28 Paul's Year and a Half at Corinth Ruins of Ancient Corinth

Introduction • From Athens, the educational center of Greece, Paul goes to Corinth, its commercial center. • The people here, as in most metropolitan cities are more worldly than those in the smaller cities in the heartland. • Later, Paul will write two letters to the Christians in this city, chiefly to correct their many serious problems.

Corinth Their religious and philosophical worldview had no adequate basis for objective moral norms

Corinth • Therefore a trade center • Very wealthy • Learning center • Isthmus with skids built over • Religious pluralism-- • Demeter & Bacchus cult • Aphrodite temple • 1000 + temple prostitutes • Mystery religions

Corinth Summary: • Alcohol &Drugs • Wealth & materialism • Occult • Rampant sexuality • Moral anarchy The emptiness of a life based on self-gratification leaves us crying out: Is this all? But not resistant to Christ!

Acts 18:1-4 • 18:1 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 Claudius had ordered all the Jews to leave Rome. Paul went to see them, 3 and because he was a tentmaker as they were, he stayed and worked with them. 4 Every Sabbath he reasoned in the synagogue, trying to persuade Jews and Greeks.

After Paul came to Corinth, the first people he met and joined in their work were Aquila and his wife Priscilla, tentmakers like him. • Aquila was from Pontus, a province in Asia Minor, now in northern Turkey. • But Aquila and Priscilla had moved to Rome some time past. Now they were in Corinth in enforced exile because the Emperor Claudius had driven all Jews out of Rome. • This exile will not last long because in the 16th chapter of Romans we learn they are back in Rome and have a church in their house. Suetonius, Claudius, 25:4 Claudius “expelled the Jews from Rome because they were indulging in constant riots at the instigation of Chrestus.” “Chrestus” could be an alternative spelling for “Christus”

v3 Is it OK to pay full time workers? • “If others have this right of support from you, shouldn't we have it all the more? . . . • 14 In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel. • 15 But I have not used any of these rights. . .” - 1Cor 9:13-15 (NIV) • “Tent-making” • = a valid and often preferred approach to ministry financing • because it requires no church funds, it should be the norm for all Christians • - When the church needs certain people full or part time, they ought to be paid a reasonable wage - Although paying selected Christian workers is biblical, this should never be a means of personal enrichment - Accounting and handling of funds should be public and beyond reproach II Cor. 8:21 “For we are taking pains to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord but also in the eyes of men.”

Paul was proud of the fact that he supported himself and those who traveled with him, “working with his own hands,” as he put it. All Jewish boys were trained in an occupation. • In his youth, his parents must have been wealthy enough to send him to Palestine to be taught the Jewish religion by none other than Gamaliel, one of the most famous teachers in Jewish history. • He must have also attended a Greco-Roman university to learn the history, culture and classics of Greece and Rome.

Acts 18:5-6 • 5 When Silas and Timothy came from Macedonia, Paul devoted himself exclusively to preaching, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ. 6 But when the Jews opposed Paul and became abusive, he shook out his clothes in protest and said to them, "Your blood be on your own heads! I am clear of my responsibility. From now on I will go to the Gentiles."

The Corinthian Ministry 4 And he was reasoning in the synagogue every Sabbath and trying to persuade Jews and Greeks. 5 But when Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia, Paul began devoting himself completely to the word, solemnly testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ. “Tent-making” = a valid and often preferred approach to ministry financing - because it requires no church funds, it should be the norm for all Christians

Acts 18:5-6 • 5 When Silas and Timothy came from Macedonia, Paul devoted himself exclusively to preaching, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ. 6 But when the Jews opposed Paul and became abusive, he shook out his clothes in protest and said to them, "Your blood be on your own heads! I am clear of my responsibility. From now on I will go to the Gentiles."

He had been making tents all week and going to the synagogue every Sabbath Day to reason with the Jews. • But when Silas and Timothy joined him he quit making tents and worked full time to make disciples for Jesus. • As usual, the Jewish leaders feared that Paul would take away their followers, so they began to abuse Paul and oppose his teaching. • He had gone first to Jews as Jesus commanded. They rejected the message so he went to the Gentiles.

Would Paul ever go to the Jews again? • “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”-Romans 1:16 (KJV)

Why would Paul be willing to reach out to the Gentiles? • “When I say to the wicked, `O wicked man, you will surely die,' and you do not speak out to dissuade him from his ways, that wicked man will die for his sin, and I will hold you accountable for his blood. 9 But if you do warn the wicked man . . . you will be saved yourself” - Ezekiel 33:8-9 (NIV) “14 If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that home or town.” Matt 10:14 (NIV)

Acts 18:7-8 • 7 Then Paul left the synagogue and went next door to the house of Titius Justus, a worshiper of God. 8 Crispus, the synagogue ruler, and his entire household believed in the Lord; and many of the Corinthians who heard him believed and were baptized. • This sounds as if the small congregation Paul created through the gospel met in the house of Justus who lived next door to the synagogue. Church of Paul in Corinth

Each Jewish synagogue had a ruler or president who assigned duties for the synagogue service. Crispus was that man in this synagogue. He and his family became Christians and moved next door to worship with the new church. • Many other Corinthians, possibly including some members of the synagogue, but others as well, were baptized. • From inferences in 1 Corinthians 11, I think it was not long before the church left Justus’ house and had its own meeting place. Synagogue Lintel, Corinth, Greece

As in every case of conversion in the Book of Acts, the converts were baptized in water for the forgiveness of sins. If a person reads through the cases he will find that baptism is the one thing that is always mentioned (See the chart of Conversions in Acts 2:38;). • The theory that in Acts there is a transition between salvation by works and salvation by faith alone is untenable. Baptism is simply the obedience of faith and not a work to earn salvation (Romans 6:17).

Acts 18:9-11 • 9 One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: "Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. 10 For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city." 11 So Paul stayed for a year and a half, teaching them the word of God. • What a wonderful assurance this must have been to Paul! Thus he could stay without fear until his work was accomplished in this place, a year and a half.

“I have many people in this city.” “The Lord knows those who are His” (2 Timothy 2:19). God, Who knows the heart, knows who will respond to the gospel and who will not. • The value of knowing the gospel, beyond the forgiveness of sins that the sincere seeker for truth may already have, is a more complete knowledge of God. • It is to know His promises and blessings, a way of life that is elevated above superstition and anxiety and the fellowship of a wonderful group of people, the church.

Acts 18:12-13 • 12 While Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews made a united attack on Paul and brought him into court. 13 "This man," they charged, "is persuading the people to worship God in ways contrary to the law." • As usual, after a time, the unbelieving Jewish leaders make their false accusations against Paul, this time in a Roman court. The Roman courts, as a matter of policy, will not decide religious disputes. Bema (Judgment Seat) at Corinth

Acts 18:14-15 • 14 Just as Paul was about to speak, Gallio said to the Jews, "If you Jews were making a complaint about some misdemeanor or serious crime, it would be reasonable for me to listen to you. 15 But since it involves questions about words and names and your own law-settle the matter yourselves. I will not be a judge of such things.“ • Gallio refused to hear the case since it did not concern Roman law or involve monetary damages or physical harm. Inscription in Delphi mentioning Gallio as Proconsul of Achaia

Acts 18:16-17 • 16 So he had them ejected from the court. 17 Then they all turned on Sosthenes the synagogue ruler and beat him in front of the court. But Gallio showed no concern whatever. Rom. 12:14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.

Evidently Sosthenes had become the ruler of the synagogue after Crispus left. He had talked these Jews into bringing these charges against Paul in this venue. Now they were angry with him and took out their rage on him. • I think he learned not to make promises he couldn’t keep and build up expectations that might not be realized. • I’ll bet the Jews left Paul alone after that.

Man named Sosthenes becomes a Christian but he was not the same man! • “Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and our brother Sosthenes, 2 To the church of God in Corinth. . . “ - 1Cor 1:1-2 (NIV)

Acts 18:18-19 • 18 Paul stayed on in Corinth for some time. Then he left the brothers and sailed for Syria, accompanied by Priscilla and Aquila. Before he sailed, he had his hair cut off at Cenchrea because of a vow he had taken. • After a year and a half in Corinth Paul wants to return to Antioch and report to the church that had sent him out. Priscilla and Aquila travel with him as far as Ephesus. Ruins at Cenchrea

Paul’s Vow. Paul might have bound himself with a temporary Nazirite vow at Corinth or even at Antioch before he left on this journey. When he left Corinth, his vow was fulfilled. My belief is that his vow involved overcoming his fear about staying in Corinth and speaking out to preach the gospel there.

The hair he had allowed to grow during the period of his vow at Corinth he cut at Cenchrea, the seaport of Corinth, where he embarked for Asia. • He carried the hair to Jerusalem to be burned on the altar before God as a testimony that he had fulfilled his vow. • See also Acts 21:24 (NIV) “Take these men, join in their purification rites and pay their expenses, so that they can have their heads shaved.” -

For information about the Nazirite and the Nazirite vow, see Numbers 6. • Cenchrea was the seaport for Corinth. A church was later established there and Phoebe was one called a deacon (Romans 16:1 RSV). The Greek word transliterated “deacon,” unlike most Greek nouns is gender neutral.

In the early church, widows who met the qualifications in 1 Timothy 3:11 (“The women likewise must be…” RSV and 1 Timothy 5:9-12: “let a widow be enrolled…”) served the church doing “woman’s work:” hospitality, teaching women and children and taking care of widows and orphans. • These congregations didn’t need special orphans’ homes.

Acts 18:18-22 • 19 They arrived at Ephesus, where Paul left Priscilla and Aquila. He himself went into the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews. 20 When they asked him to spend more time with them, he declined. 21 But as he left, he promised, "I will come back if it is God's will." Then he set sail from Ephesus. 22 When he landed ata Caesarea, he went up and greeted the church and then went down to Antioch. Sand. The Latin word for sand is “arena.” <<<<<<<< Ephesus – Ancient Pier

Ephesus was the chief city in the Roman province of Asia, the province that contained the seven churches of Revelation. There were at least ten churches in this province at the time Revelation was written. But seven is a symbolic number that represents the universal church. That is why that number was used. • Paul leaves his tentmaker friends in Ephesus with his promise to return if God permits.

v21; James 4:13-16 says that we should speak of the future in the terms "if it is God's will". Why don't we hear this phrase more often?

From Ephesus he sails to Palestine, landing at Caesarea. Then he goes up to Jerusalem, visits the church there, then goes down to Antioch. • Acts 18:23 • 23 After spending some time in Antioch, Paul set out from there and traveled from place to place throughout the region of Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples. • After a while Paul leaves Antioch and visits and encourages the churches of Asia Minor on his way to Ephesus.

Acts 18:24-26 • 24 Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was a learned man, with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures. 25 He had been instructed in the way of the Lord, and he spoke with great fervor and taught about Jesus accurately, though he knew only the baptism of John. 26 He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately. Pompey’s Pillar – Ancient Alexandria, Egypt A

Appollos • An eloquent man • Mighty in the Scriptures • Instructed in the way of the Lord • Fervent in spirit • Spoke and taught accurately the things of the Lord • Except he knew only the baptism of John (the Immerser).

v24 It would be good if we could be described in similar terms today, Why don't more people have a thorough knowledge of the scriptures today? What can we do to improve on this?

Why didn't they oppose him in the Synagogue as described in 1Tim 5:20? “Those who sin are to be rebuked publicly, so that the others may take warning.”- 1Tim 5:20 (NIV) Can we learn from them today? “Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.” Col 4:6 “. speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ.” - Ephesians 4:15;

Apollos became one of the great teachers of the churches of Ephesus, Corinth and many others. He knew some things about Jesus but lacked some important information about His teachings. He knew about the baptism of John but not the baptism in the name of Jesus. • John had taught that his baptism was for a limited time, ending with the death and resurrection of Jesus. It was to prepare the Jews for their coming Messiah. • Christian baptism is a reenactment of the death, burial and resurrection of Christ.

Christian baptism is to put the alien sinner into the Body of Christ, to bring God’s forgiveness of sins to him and to enable him to receive the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Baptism into Christ in N.T. times even enabled the new disciple to receive the miraculous gifts of the Spirit if an Apostle laid his hands on him. Many things like this Apollos did not know so Priscilla and her husband took him aside and “taught him the way of the Lord more adequately” or completely.

Acts 18:27-28 • 27 When Apollos wanted to go to Achaia [Corinth], the brothers encouraged him and wrote to the disciples there to welcome him. On arriving, he was a great help to those who by grace had believed. 28 For he vigorously refuted the Jews in public debate, proving from the Scriptures that Jesus was the Christ. • Apollos was from Alexandria, Egypt, that from the time of Alexander the Great was a seat of Jewish learning famous throughout the world. Excavations at Alexandria

Romans 16:3-4; 1 Cor 16:19 2 Tim 4:19 What we know about Acquila and Priscilla is found in = What we know about Apollos is found in = 1Cor 1:12 “What I mean is this: One of you says, "I follow Paul"; another, "I follow Apollos"; another, "I follow Cephas"; still another, "I follow Christ." 13 Is Christ divided? . . . “

Conclusion • Paul has completed his second missionary journey. He has returned to the church at Antioch whence he had left on both of his missionary journeys. He has established many churches in Asia and in Europe. He has made many good friends. • But after a while he gets restless to return and visit the churches and his friends in them. • In our next chapter he will leave for Ephesus.

Ephesus will become the next center for missionary work among the Gentiles. It was traditionally the last residence of John the Apostle and Mary the mother of Jesus whose care had been entrusted to John. • John’s tomb and a small stone house said to be the home of Jesus’ mother are at Ephesus. Street in Ancient Ephesus (excavated)

Foreknowledge and Predestination by Ellis Jones Known to God are all His works, From eternity past.[1] He’s with each generation, From the first to the last.[2] • [1] Acts 15:18 • [2] Isaiah 41:4 Images are from the Hubble Space Telescope

The end from the beginning, In omniscience, He knows,[1] And how to save His children, While destroying His foes.[2] [1] Isaiah 46:10 [2] 2 Peter 2:9

He chose the saved in Jesus, Before the world was made.[1] Even before creation, Redemption’s plan was laid.[2] • [1] Ephesians 1:4 • [2] Acts 2:23

All names were in His Book, And were there from the start.[1] But your name can be removed If sin corrupts your heart.[2] • [1] Revelation 17:8 • [2] Exodus 32:33

He predestines and predicts The things that serve His plan.[1] He brought all things together To center in One Man.[2] • [1] Ephesians 3:9-11 • [2] Ephesians 2:21 & 22

In the rectangle is a “blowup” of a distant object. Sacrificed before the world And time and space began, That Lamb of God was Jesus; He executes God’s plan.[1] • [1] Revelation 13:8

Acts of the Apostles, Acts 18:1-28