Paul Preaches at Corinth Acts 18:1-11
Acts • Sermon • Submitted
0 ratings
· 19 viewsNotes
Transcript
Fellowship in Christ
Fellowship in Christ
Last week, Paul debated and taught the philosophers in Athens. I did not mention this last week, but Athens was one of the few places that a church was not established during Paul’s visit. That is the reason some theologians will tell you that it was a failed mission. We know that the LORDS Word will not return void and that a few people became believers because of Paul’s effort and leading of the Spirit.
Do not ever feel like a failure when people do not receive the message. That person may straight out rebuke with a hardened heart or it is a seed that may take some time to take root.
Tonight, Paul ends up in Corinth. The name may sound familiar because Paul wrote 1 & 2 Corinthians to the church at Corinth. We are going to uncover some truths of the Living Word tonight that may challenge you. I pray that you are challenged tonight and that the LORD speaks to each of our hearts and minds tonight. Let’s Join Paul in Corinth.
1 Then Paul left Athens and went to Corinth.
Now, I want to share briefly that Corinth was not a nice place. It was on the coast and overrun with “lewd men of the baser sort.” Meaning that there were wicked people all around, and they were the worst of the worst.
Think about a place that you have been that is so nasty that you can’t get out of there quick enough. That is where Paul went to preach.
2 There he became acquainted with a Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, who had recently arrived from Italy with his wife, Priscilla. They had left Italy when Claudius Caesar deported all Jews from Rome.
3 Paul lived and worked with them, for they were tentmakers just as he was.
A tidbit of history first. In 41 AD, Claudius Caesar prohibited Jews from gathering with one another in Rome. Later on, in 49 AD he banished them all together. Priscilla and Aquila were religious refugees in Corinth. Based on what we know about them, they were already believers in Christ. That means that the Gospel message had already found its way to the heart of the Roman empire, before Paul ever wrote the letter to the Romans.
We are going to spend a little time on this verse because, well, I love it, and there is so much for us to learn!
Acts A. Tentmakers in the City (vv. 1–4)
People with similar interests and occupations can cooperate together to forward the progress of the gospel.
It is no accident that Priscilla and Aquila ended up in a place like Corinth where Paul would also end up. I fully believe that we are all here tonight, in the sanctuary, and online, by the divine intervention of God. For many of us, thinking about where we have been, what we have done, and ending up here does not make sense! It makes sense to Jesus.
Paul had to support himself and the ministry. He worked as a tent maker as did Priscilla and Aquila, to support their ministry. Paul worked a trade and preached and ministered. As did all of the disciples, including Priscilla and Aquila.
Carolyn and I model ourselves after this couple. My bikes name is Priscilla and Carolyn’s cars name is Aquila.
This is an amazing couple. Now, remember that these were real people. They had their disagreements, they got on each-others nerves from time to time. The one thing that they always agreed on was Jesus Christ and the mission of sharing the Gospel message.
We know from scripture that they held church in their homes. Paul tells us in three different letters that Priscilla and Aquila held church in their homes when in Corinth, in Ephesus, and in Rome, where they eventually returned.
Even more fascinating in this: Of the six times in scripture that Priscilla and Aquila are mentioned, Priscilla is mentioned first four of those times. It is believed that Priscilla was stronger in the faith than Aquila. When I hear people spouting garbage about women teachers in the church, I point to Priscilla and say “Priscilla was a first century missionary who worked with Paul, how are you going to argue that?”
This couple will return again before our chapter ends. Before we leave them here, notice the Bible never indicates anything about Paul’s ministry to them, only about their ministry to him. In three different cities over some sixteen years he depended upon them, not they on him.
4 Each Sabbath found Paul at the synagogue, trying to convince the Jews and Greeks alike.
Paul’s MO, go to the synagogue where the non-believers are and share the Gospel message of Jesus Christ. Again, notice the word used; “convince.” He continued to reason with those who would listen.
Faithfulness in Christ
Faithfulness in Christ
5 And after Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia, Paul spent all his time preaching the word. He testified to the Jews that Jesus was the Messiah.
Silas and Timothy rejoin Paul in Corinth. IF you ever do a study of Corinth, you will see that Paul needed all the support he could get. Silas and Timothy took on the role of supporting their Pastor, Paul, so that he could preach and teach about Jesus the Messiah full-time. This comes directly from Jesus about supporting preachers, ministers, and Pastors:
7 Don’t move around from home to home. Stay in one place, eating and drinking what they provide. Don’t hesitate to accept hospitality, because those who work deserve their pay.
Paul would also address this to the Corinthians:
14 In the same way, the Lord ordered that those who preach the Good News should be supported by those who benefit from it.
What we continually witness Paul doing is fulfilling the command of Christ, the same command that we are given, the same command I pray we are fulfilling when we leave here.
15 And then he told them, “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone.
What is going to happen when we preach the Good news? The same thing that happened to Paul in Corinth.
6 But when they opposed and insulted him, Paul shook the dust from his clothes and said, “Your blood is upon your own heads—I am innocent. From now on I will go preach to the Gentiles.”
The Jews were forcefully opposed to and insulting Paul. Brothers and sisters, it will get to a point when we are sharing the Gospel with someone that we just stop. I can not tell you what point that is for you, but once we have done all we can do in sharing the message, we have done all that we can. In doing so, we are following the words of Jesus:
14 If any household or town refuses to welcome you or listen to your message, shake its dust from your feet as you leave.
This is going to sound kind of harsh, but Jesus Christ said this for a reason. See, if the Jews passed through Gentile territory, they believed that they became dirty and would have to clean their clothes and sandals, shake the dust off to clean themselves of the filth. Jesus turned this around to tell us that we have been in the dirt and the filth. If someone pushes you away or resisting, they are pushing the Word of God away.
Have peace in your heart. Simply shake the dust off, and move on. We do not stop sharing the message with others, we simply move on from those who do not want to hear it and are too stubborn to listen. We are to protect our hearts and our minds and move on to those who will receive the message.
That is exactly what Paul did next and why we never give up on God’s Word!
7 Then he left and went to the home of Titius Justus, a Gentile who worshiped God and lived next door to the synagogue.
8 Crispus, the leader of the synagogue, and everyone in his household believed in the Lord. Many others in Corinth also heard Paul, became believers, and were baptized.
This must have infuriated the Jews in the synagogue! Titius Justus lived next door and turned his home into a Christian church! That took some serious courage and commitment. Crispus, the leader of the synagogue and his family became believers along with many pagans in the area.
Faith in Christ
Faith in Christ
We can be faithful to Christ in our walk without placing all of our faith in Christ. What I mean is we can go through the actions, do the right things, and still try to get ahead of God. I highly doubt that Paul wanted to stay in Corinth, yet he was still, he was patient, and he waited on the LORD.
9 One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision and told him, “Don’t be afraid! Speak out! Don’t be silent!
10 For I am with you, and no one will attack and harm you, for many people in this city belong to me.”
What des this mean for us tonight? We must show respect to others, we look for common ground in sharing the Gospel, and we don’t allow our feelings to inhibit us from sharing the message.
If you think the Holy Spirit is leading you to speak, pray deeply. Seek counsel. If it is truly the Spirit, do not be afraid to share the only hope this world has for salvation.
One of the things that the worship team in this church does, that I do before every teaching or sermon is lift what we are doing up to the LORD. We pray for His guidance through the Holy Spirit. The music is an offering unto the LORD. The teachings are an offering unto the LORD. When you minister to others, when you are sharing Jesus Christ, you are presenting an offering unto the LORD.
11 So Paul stayed there for the next year and a half, teaching the word of God.
Led by the Holy Spirit to stay in a place like Corinth for a year and a half. Sharing Jesus Christ with many who wanted to learn but more who did not want to hear it. Just like today’s world, Jesus Christ shines a very bright light into the darkest sins of peoples lives. Many people do not want that kind of conviction in their lives. The attitude is “you do you, and I will do me.” People do not want the truth to disrupt the sin filled lives they live.
Your job when you leave here is to share His message in whatever way may present itself. The Gospel message is what changes lives and you have been chosen to deliver that message.
If you want to see what Paul wrote to the Corinthians in this part of Luke recorded in Acts, take the time to read 1 Corinthians 2:1-5.
God bless you tonight. Lets Pray.