Paul at Corinth
Notes
Transcript
Acts 18
Before we dive into Paul’s next stop at Cornith...Let’s evaluate something.
It is estimated that Paul travel around 2,000 miles on foot, during his missionary journeys.
That would be the equivelant of walking from New Life Baptist Church to Rock Springs, Wyoming.
That would be the equivelant of walking from New Life Baptist Church to Moab, Utah.
That would be the equivelant of walking from New Life Baptist Church to Duncan, Arizona (New Mex/Arizona Line).
That would be the equivelant of walking from New Life Baptist Church to Chihuahua, Mexico.
That would be the equivelant of walking from New Life Baptist Church to 3/4 of the way accross the USA
He also traveled 1000 miles by boat. That would be the equivelant of sailing from Norfork VA to Fort Lauderdale Fl via the ICW. On a boat with no motor as my wife pointed out!
What does that say about Paul who was nearly 50 years old at the time? His commitment to share the gospel. His drive, His motivation.
Now let’s remember what we have learned about some of these journeys so far. In prison, beaten with rods, run out of town. Time after time he faced adversity. And yet he still went. He still showed up. He still answered teh call of the Spirit to take the gospel to the nations. Go ye therefore and teach all nations was not merely a suggestion for Paul. It was the GREAT COMMISSION.
And yet...there were times he didn’t want to do it. But he did it. There were times he didn’t feel up to the task. But he did it. In fact...where we are this morning… Paul struggled when he got to Corinth.
Timothy Keller has said concerning the regions that Paul evangelized:
Athens would have been equivilent to Boston. An academic city.
Epheses would have been equivilent to Los Angeles. A culutral and occultic city.
Rome would have been equivilent to Washington DC. A political city
And Corinth would have been equivilent to New York. A city of commerce.
Corinth was not only a city of commerce, it was also a city of corruption. Corruption of the soul. Corinth was a very immoral place to live. Corinth had 2 main ports. And with ports come travelers, and with travelers come all types of influences. Corinth became a place that was full of sexually immorality.
In the city center was a statue to the Greek goddess of love...Aphrodite. This temple employeed over 1000 temple prositutes, both male and female. And their job was to coerce the sailors.
So Paul was not just battling the Jews. He was battling against an entire vulgar culture.
Look at what he wrote about his time there.
And when I came to you, brethren, I did not come with superiority of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God.
For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.
I was with you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling,
and my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power,
so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God.
Paul said his time in Corinth was in weakness, fear and trmebling. I guess when you walk into a hotbed of immoral behavior...you would be fearful, weak, and trembling.
So with that backdrop, lets see what Corinth was all about.
There were 4 stages to Pauls ministry in Corinth.
Stage #1 - Bi-vocational Ministry
After these things he left Athens and went to Corinth.
And he found a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, having recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to leave Rome. He came to them,
and because he was of the same trade, he stayed with them and they were working, for by trade they were tent-makers.
And he was reasoning in the synagogue every Sabbath and trying to persuade Jews and Greeks.
As Paul enters this cesspool of a place. He does find 4 things that are encouraging.
A Christian Power Couple
A Place to Stay
A Job
A Synagogue
What did you Notice?
Fellowship, Gainful Employment, A Home, A place to Worship, Preach, Evangelize
Four of the most important things in a believers life:
Fellowship (Family)
Work
Home (Refuge, A safe space)
Worship
Fellowship is vitally important in the life of a believer. We were not created to be alone. That’s why God created a wife for Adam.
Then the Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper suitable for him.”
And in the absence of a husband or wife...God created friendship. And a great example of that was David and Jonathan
Now it came about when he had finished speaking to Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as himself.
Saul took him that day and did not let him return to his father’s house.
Then Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself.
Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was on him and gave it to David, with his armor, including his sword and his bow and his belt.
So whether it be friends or family, fellowship is important.
Paul called out of almost 40 names of people who he considered friends, family, or coworkers in the ministry:
Barnabas, Luke, Aquila, Priscilla, Silas,
Titus, Tychicus, Achaicus, Andronicus, Apphia,
Apollos, Archippus, Aristarchus, Crescens, Demas,
Epaphras, Erastus, Fortunatus, Junia, Jesus Justus,
John Mark, Mary, Lydia, Onesimus, Quartus,
Persis, Philemon, Phoebe, Sosthenes, Stephanas,
Timothy, Trophimus, Tryphaena, Tryphosa, Urbanus.
Epaphroditus, Euodia and Syntyche, and Clement.
A footnote worth mentioning...Paul also called out his detrators by name:
Hymenaeus and Alexander—Blaspheming
Hymenaeus and Philetus - False Teaching
Alexander the coppersmith - Significant harm to Paul
Demas - Abandoned Paul’s ministry for worldiness
Phygelus and Hermogenes - turned away from Paul
In Phillipi, It was Lydia who became his person of peace.
In Corinth, it was Aquila and Priscilla. This Jewish power couple who became inportant members of Paul’s ministyr team. We will see them again in a few weeks.
So Paul valued Fellowship on these journeys and in his ministry. As should we.
He also valued work.
I know a little about Bi-vocational Ministry. I’ve done it for 22 years. Sometimes (most of the time) It is hard to juggle a full time job and the pulpit and family.
I have had seasons where the work was easy and the church was hard. I have had seasons when the work was hard and the church was easy.
But it is a grind. Sundays come around every 7 days whether you are ready or not!
But there are some truths to Bi-vocational Ministry that are worth mentioning:
It’s Biblical. Paul did it. He made tents with Aquila and Pricsilla.
There is a freedom to Bi-Vocational Ministry...You are not beholden to the biggest giver. I have seen and heard stories where the most prominent giver, or most prominent family in the church controlled the pastor. I don’t have that situation. Never have. My livlihood is not tied to the pulpit.
Your work becomes your mission field. We have seen that in our insurance agency. We deal with people during some of the hardest times in their life. House fires, car accidents, kids turning 16. And it’s a ministry. We are helping folks. and we have the opportunity to pray with them and point them to Jesus.
So Paul’s time in Corinth was fueled by the Spirit strengthening him through his fellowship and his work.
Next was stage #2.
Stage #2 - Full Time Ministry
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.
But when they resisted and blasphemed, he shook out his garments and said to them, “Your blood be on your own heads! I am clean. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.”
Then he left there and went to the house of a man named Titius Justus, a worshiper of God, whose house was next to the synagogue.
Crispus, the leader of the synagogue, believed in the Lord with all his household, and many of the Corinthians when they heard were believing and being baptized.
Once the Calvary arrived, Paul transitioned to Full Time ministry. There was much work to do in Corinth. Bi-Voc works in Corinth was only for a season for Paul. Now he needed to buckle down and focus his efforts on combatting the immorality and other sins in this city.
He was able to do this due to the generous gift and offering that the Macedonian churches sent.
And here lies another truth. You may not be called to preach or teach. You may not be called to go on mission trips around the world. But you may can give to those who are.
It takes everybody to make the ministry works. Do-ers, pray-ers, and givers. You may not can go, but you can give, YOu may not can give, but you can pray. See how that works?
Now we notice the pattern of the effect of Pauls Preaching.
Paul Preaches,
Paul faces Oppostion,
Paul sees Results.
An interesting thing happens here at Corinth. Paul is done with the Jews. He shook out his garments (Wiped the dust off his feet)
“Whoever does not receive you, nor heed your words, as you go out of that house or that city, shake the dust off your feet.
But they shook off the dust of their feet in protest against them and went to Iconium.
Paul does this again, but not just to a city...to the Jews. From henceforth, he will focus his energy on the Gentiles.
But just as in every other city he preaches in...he sees results.
And notice where he went...Right Next Door.
Then he left there and went to the house of a man named Titius Justus, a worshiper of God, whose house was next to the synagogue.
Crispus, the leader of the synagogue, believed in the Lord with all his household, and many of the Corinthians when they heard were believing and being baptized.
“This rejection may be a stepping stone to success, and it may very well be the next step you take” Steve Grice
Now I want to see something amazing.
Stage #3 - Weakness and Fear
And the Lord said to Paul in the night by a vision, “Do not be afraid any longer, but go on speaking and do not be silent;
for I am with you, and no man will attack you in order to harm you, for I have many people in this city.”
Up to this point...Paul was operating out of fear and weakness. Yet he was still seeing results. This city was probably unlike anything Paul had seen. 2 seas ports, lots of strangers, lots of strange customs, lots of sin. A cesspool of immorality. A temple dedicated to a sexual immoral goddess. Prostitutes rampant. That is alot for a minister of the gospel to be surrounded with. Temptation. Evil. Debauchary around every corner.
That is why Fellowship is important. Iron sharpening iron. Having partners in the ministry can help you weather thos etough seasons. But having the Spirit of God is the most effect weapon!
The Lord gave Paul a vision...DO NOT BE AFRAID ANY LONGER. GO ON SPEAKING DO NOT BE SILENT...I AM WITH YOU. NO MAN WILL ATTACK YOU IN ORDER TO HARM YOU, FOR I HAVE MANY PEOPLE IN THIS CITY.
What an affirmation. God says, I know its tough. But I am with you.
The last few weeks during my morning devotion time, I have begun to journal. I have been journaling the ACTS methid of prayer. Adoration, Confession, Thanskgiving, Supplication.
3 days this week during the Adoration portion of my time with God I was dwelling on the three Omnis.
Omniscience - All Knowing (You know what will happen next, that’s why I can trust You)
Omnipotence - Al Powerful (You are more powerful than any force that can come against me, I need not be afraid)
Omnipresence - Ever present (You are everwhere, so I need not feel alone)
Paul experienced these 3 attributes in one sentence from God.
“I am with you,(Omnipresence) and no man will attack you in order to harm you, (Omnipotence) for I have many people in this city (Omniscience)
What a powerful expression tby God to Paul.
And that caused Paul to dig in his heels and go to work.
Stage #4 - Continued Ministry
And he settled there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.
But while Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews with one accord rose up against Paul and brought him before the judgment seat,
saying, “This man persuades men to worship God contrary to the law.”
But when Paul was about to open his mouth, Gallio said to the Jews, “If it were a matter of wrong or of vicious crime, O Jews, it would be reasonable for me to put up with you;
but if there are questions about words and names and your own law, look after it yourselves; I am unwilling to be a judge of these matters.”
And he drove them away from the judgment seat.
And they all took hold of Sosthenes, the leader of the synagogue, and began beating him in front of the judgment seat. But Gallio was not concerned about any of these things.
v11 - Paul hangs in for 18 months. Teaching the word of God in a city desperate for the good news.
v12 - And when oppression returns, God keeps His promise to Paul. I will protect you!
Paul is once again brought before the leaders by the Jews. The judgment seat. Gallio the proconsul (Governor) straight up told the Jews that this was not his problem. I am unwilling to be a judge of these matters.
God protects Paul through an uninterested governor.
“I don’t have time for this”
So Paul walks free. Sometimes God opens prison doors, and is a chain breaker...sometimes He lets the most disinterested person be your judge.
But it is all PROVIDENCE. The providence of God saved Paul and kept God promise.
Paul Returns to Antoich
Paul, having remained many days longer, took leave of the brethren and put out to sea for Syria, and with him were Priscilla and Aquila. In Cenchrea he had his hair cut, for he was keeping a vow.
They came to Ephesus, and he left them there. Now he himself entered the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews.
When they asked him to stay for a longer time, he did not consent,
but taking leave of them and saying, “I will return to you again if God wills,” he set sail from Ephesus.
When he had landed at Caesarea, he went up and greeted the church, and went down to Antioch.
A few key points to note in these closing verses.
Paul took the power couple (Priscilla and Aquila) with him to Ephesus. We will discuss these 2 further next week
He preached a bit in the synagogue but denied their request to stay. (there was more to do elsewhere, and he left capable people there to continue the work)
Went up probably refers to the church at Jerusalem, and then went down to Antioch.
PREACH CHRIST ALWAYS
This entire chapter reveals Paul’s love for the gospel. He preached Jesus everywhere he went...regardless of the consequences, and regardless of whether he felt like doing it. He preached Christ always.
MINISTRY IS ALWAYS ABOUT PEOPLE
Paul was Emphatically Preaching to people (EVANGELISM)
Paul was Emploring People to get involved in ministry. (ENLISTMENT)
Ministry is always about people. People are important to God. People are important to Jesus.
Think about the people in your life that need encouragment to take the step of faith to say Yes to Salvation. (EVANGELISM)
Think about the people in your life that need encouragment to take the step of faith to Work for Jesus (ENLISTMENT)
