Acts 18:11-22

review

So, Paul is in Corinth and a bunch of rough around the edges people get saved and Jesus appears to him in a dream and comforts him, Acts 18:9-10 “do not be afraid” …“because I am with you” and “I will protect you”.

So, Paul stays another year and a half teaching these new christians the Word of God.

Today’s text

Acts 18:12–22 CSB

While Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews made a united attack against Paul and brought him to the tribunal. “This man,” they said, “is persuading people to worship God in ways contrary to the law.” As Paul was about to open his mouth, Gallio said to the Jews, “If it were a matter of wrongdoing or of a serious crime, it would be reasonable for me to put up with you Jews. But if these are questions about words, names, and your own law, see to it yourselves. I refuse to be a judge of such things.” So he drove them from the tribunal. And they all seized Sosthenes, the leader of the synagogue, and beat him in front of the tribunal, but none of these things mattered to Gallio. After staying for some time, Paul said farewell to the brothers and sisters and sailed away to Syria, accompanied by Priscilla and Aquila. He shaved his head at Cenchreae because of a vow he had taken. When they reached Ephesus he left them there, but he himself entered the synagogue and debated with the Jews. When they asked him to stay for a longer time, he declined, but he said farewell and added, “I’ll come back to you again, if God wills.” Then he set sail from Ephesus. On landing at Caesarea, he went up to Jerusalem and greeted the church, then went down to Antioch.

Do not try and resolve spiritual matters with civil law.

people try and use the law to push their religious beliefs

1 Corinthians 6:1 (CSB)

6 If any of you has a dispute against another, how dare you take it to court before the unrighteous, and not before the saints? If you have a problem with another believer, bring it to the church.

Acts 18:12-17 happen sometime in between this year and a half

united attack - nothing like a common enemy to bring people together

pharisees, sadducees, hellenistic.

christianity is the most persecuted religion in the world.

worship God contrary to the law?

worship = devout - devoted to God

contrary to the law - A new way of being devoted to Yahweh that is different to the law

this is true.

Matthew 5:17–18 (CSB) 17 “Don’t think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. 18 For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or one stroke of a letter will pass away from the law until all things are accomplished.

Hebrews 8:13 (CSB)

13 By saying a new covenant, he has declared that the first is obsolete. And what is obsolete and growing old is about to pass away.

a bill - you get the bill, you pay the bill, now the bill is obsolete but you keep the bill for reference.

Jesus is not abolishing the law, He is paying the Laws requirements.

Hebrews 10:4–10 (CSB) 4 For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins… 8… You did not desire or delight in sacrifices and offerings, whole burnt offerings and sin offerings (which are offered according to the law), 9 … He takes away the first to establish the second. 10 By this will, we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all time.

Now the law is settled through Jesus, we have a new way of devoting ourselves to God.

So, they are right we no longer come to God via the sacrifices of bulls and goats but by the blood of Jesus, the sacrifices old covered the sin, until the blood of Christ removed it completely.

matter of wrongdoing or serious crime

separating religious matters from civil matters

reasonable

within his Jurisdiction  and responsibility.

stay within our own boundaries of responsibility

put up with you jews

you hear the exasperation in the voice

this would indicate the ongoing conflict

the Jews were always pushing their own agenda.

Acts 18:15 (ESV)

15 But since it is a matter of questions about words and names and your own law, see to it yourselves. I refuse to be a judge of these things.”

CSB - if it is a question about…

words - Theological stances

names - Claims about Jesus

your own law - religious practices

the government has no place to judge on these matters.

see to it yourself i refuse to be judge of these things

Gallio is right not judge on these matters

If he judged on it, he would have set a standard across the nation.

Pontus Pilate got caught up in this with Jesus.

Pilate took the innocent approach and tried to free Jesus, but Gallio takes the neutral approach

Acts 18:16 (CSB)

16 So he drove them from the tribunal.

I said it last week, when people see the bickering in the church, they just drive everyone out and have nothing to do with it.

Acts 18:17 (CSB)

17 And they all seized Sosthenes, the leader of the synagogue, and beat him in front of the tribunal, but none of these things mattered to Gallio.

it is likely that Crispus the previous leader of the synagogue lost his job because he became a christian

what have we lost for the gospel?

we are so quick to receive all the good things from God, and all the blessing, but

what have we lost for God?

As christians we are called to a different way of life,

what has God called us to lose out our lives?

I see 2 reasons for beating Sosthenes up in front of the council

Wanted someone to blame - he probably got the groups together to initiate this united attack

how quick people turn on each other when things don’t go to plan.

tried to get a reaction from Gallio - but he basically blanked them.

when people see that things are not going well they do things to try and get a reaction out of you. You see it all the time in debates, when the one person knows they have lost they just start calling you names.

———————————————————————-

Acts 18:18–23 (CSB)

Take a Break

18 After staying for some time, Paul said farewell to the brothers and sisters and sailed away to Syria, accompanied by Priscilla and Aquila. He shaved his head at Cenchreae because of a vow he had taken. 19 When they reached Ephesus he left them there, but he himself entered the synagogue and debated with the Jews. 20 When they asked him to stay for a longer time, he declined, 21 but he said farewell and added, “I’ll come back to you again, if God wills.” Then he set sail from Ephesus. 

22 On landing at Caesarea, he went up to Jerusalem and greeted the church, then went down to Antioch. 

23 After spending some time there, he set out, traveling through one place after another in the region of Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples.

Priscilla and Aquila

If you remember Priscilla and Aquila were exiles from Rome, when the governor kicked out all the Jews for causing riots over christianity.

they headed to Corinth as a stop gap they met Paul and they worked together for a year and a half and they decide to head off with Paul.

He shaved his head… because of a vow he had taken

could be Aquila that shaved his head

Nazarite vow - Num 6:1-21

abstain from alcohol, wine and grape products, no cutting hair, no touching dead bodies

they were suppose to go to the temple and cut there hair and offer a sacrifice

The vow is seen as a symbolic representation of dedication, purity, and separation from the world and sin. 

sort of like lent today, giving up something for a short period of time to dedicate yourself to God.

debated with the Jews. 20 When they asked him to stay for a longer time, he declined, 21 but he said farewell and added, “I’ll come back to you again, if God wills.” Then he set sail from Ephesus.

some manuscripts add “By all means it is necessary to keep the coming festival in Jerusalem.” but I’ll come back…

The necessity to God and be refreshed by God. Paul knew he was no longer under the law.

I think Paul is tired - He was been traveling for 3 years and I think he wants to get home and rest.

the dangers of burnout.

when I am burnt out I get cranky, I make wrong decisions and I my mind is not thinking straight. I don’t take the time to explain, I have a short fuse, I end up becoming self centred, everything is a chore.

Philippians 4:8 (CSB) 8 Finally brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honourable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable—if there is any moral excellence and if there is anything praiseworthy—dwell on these things.

When you are burnt out your mind does not think about these things, we begin to see the negatives and the hardships, the problems and obstacles. we just need to work harder to solve the problem. No we need to relax, take a break, and refresh ourselves.

how many times I have been burnt out and stressed over a problem and it is not till I go away and have a break do the simple answer starring me in the face is visible.

It’s good to realise that and go take a break.

and that is what Paul does

Paul says “If God wills i’ll come back” and he does get back there on his third journey.

After spending some time there,

He Gets back, heads up to Jerusalem and greats them and gives a missionary report of what has happened, and stays for the festival, heads down to Antioch and takes this well needed break

once he was refreshed

he set out, traveling through one place after another in the region of Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples.

it is only when we are refreshed and we strengthen other.