Turning the World Upside Down: Fear Not! Acts 18:1-18a

I. Paul’s Successful Ministry in Corinth vs. 1-8

A. Paul felt dejected and left Athens so much so that he didn’t wait for Timothy and Silas to arrive.

B. Traveling 50, he arrives in Corinth. Corinth was such a wicked city that for 500 years there was a common saying “To Corinthianize” which meant to be made wicked.

C. There Paul finds a Jewish couple, who are also tentmakers like himself. Either Paul led them to Christ, then moved in with them, or he moved in with them, and then led them to Christ. It wasn’t unusual to live with your employers, many people lived where they worked.

D. Aquila and Priscilla left Rome due to antisemitism. This racist attitude will work in their favor later.

E. When Timothy and Silas come they brought good news from Thessalonica, and an offering from Philippi. I Thess. 3:6-10

1 Thessalonians 3:6–10 NASB95

But now that Timothy has come to us from you, and has brought us good news of your faith and love, and that you always think kindly of us, longing to see us just as we also long to see you, for this reason, brethren, in all our distress and affliction we were comforted about you through your faith; for now we really live, if you stand firm in the Lord. For what thanks can we render to God for you in return for all the joy with which we rejoice before our God on your account, as we night and day keep praying most earnestly that we may see your face, and may complete what is lacking in your faith?

2 Corinthians 11:9 NASB95

and when I was present with you and was in need, I was not a burden to anyone; for when the brethren came from Macedonia they fully supplied my need, and in everything I kept myself from being a burden to you, and will continue to do so.

Philippians 4:14–15 NASB95

Nevertheless, you have done well to share with me in my affliction. You yourselves also know, Philippians, that at the first preaching of the gospel, after I left Macedonia, no church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving but you alone;

F. With Paul being able to devote all his time to ministry, he does a great work, but it is not without opposition. This is the second time Paul rebukes the Jews this way.

G. He wins the synagogue leader and his family, and moves next door. Paul is waiting for retribution to happen like it has before. But....

II. Paul’s Needed Encouragement in Corinth vs. 9-10

A. Jesus tells Paul and us. Don’t be afraid. Quit inventing worries. Matt. 6:25-34

Matthew 6:25–34 NASB95

“For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? “Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? “And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life? “And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. “But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith! “Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’ “For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. “So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

B. Keep speaking, don’t be silent.

C. God is with us, and protects us.

D. God has many people, meaning we are not alone!

III. Paul’s Protection in Corinth vs. 11-18a

A. For Paul, this was putting down roots. He stays 1 1/2 years before trouble from the outside brews.

B. The antisemitism that was pervasive in that day helps Paul go unscathed.

C. The Jews needed somebody to blame, so they beat up their own ring leader.

D. Paul stays many days. I would say no more than 6 months.