Acts 18

ACTS 18 - Paul in Corinth

NOTES BY VERSE

Note: each ** comment in this document is listed in numerical order according to the verse(s) from this chapter

** Paul was a 50+ year old who walked 4800 km on his missionary journeys, which included:

• Athens - intellectual capital

• Ephesus - center of emperor worship

• Corinth - commercial capital and center of immorality

• The morally depraved Corinthians were not into discussion and debate as those in Athens

• The churches and struggles they faced in Corinth weighed heavily on Paul and thus became a desired destination for him

Acts 18:1 NIV

[1] After this, Paul left Athens and went to Corinth.

1 Corinthians 5:1-2 NIV

[1] It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that even pagans do not tolerate: A man is sleeping with his father's wife. [2] And you are proud! Shouldn't you rather have gone into mourning and have put out of your fellowship the man who has been doing this?

** False prophets accused Paul of being a counterfeit because he did not charge for his services <M130>

• Paul also resorted to manual labor to support himself which also offended the Corinthians

• Paul asked his accusers how refusing support is a sin…?

2 Corinthians 11:7 NIV

[7] Was it a sin for me to lower myself in order to elevate you by preaching the gospel of God to you free of charge?

Acts 18:1-3 NIV

[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 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.

1 Corinthians 9:1,11-12 NIV

[1] Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you not the result of my work in the Lord? [11] If we have sown spiritual seed among you, is it too much if we reap a material harvest from you? [12] If others have this right of support from you, shouldn't we have it all the more? But we did not use this right. On the contrary, we put up with anything rather than hinder the gospel of Christ.

1 Corinthians 9:17-18 NIV

[17] If I preach voluntarily, I have a reward; if not voluntarily, I am simply discharging the trust committed to me. [18] What then is my reward? Just this: that in preaching the gospel I may offer it free of charge, and so not make full use of my rights as a preacher of the gospel.

** Sometimes we have to show or prove to others their thinking about us is wrong

• Christian Jews were not expected to abandon Judaism, any more than Gentile Christians were to abandon their culture and heritage

• Paul’s mission to the Gentiles stimulated rumors that he was anti-Judaism

• To reassure the Jewish Christian community, Paul paid the expenses of four persons who were completing a Nazarite vow

• This was considered a ‘good deed’ in Judaism and would show that Paul was not anti-Judaism <R1795>

Acts 21:23-24,26 NIV

so do what we tell you. There are four men with us who have made a vow. [24] Take these men, join in their purification rites and pay their expenses, so that they can have their heads shaved. Then everyone will know there is no truth in these reports about you, but that you yourself are living in obedience to the law. [26] The next day Paul took the men and purified himself along with them. Then he went to the temple to give notice of the date when the days of purification would end and the offering would be made for each of them.

Acts 18:4 NIV

[4] Every Sabbath he reasoned in the synagogue, trying to persuade Jews and Greeks.

** In general, God calls us to be submissive and respectful toward authority (not exhibiting a pompous attitude) unless they tell us to sin by going against what God desires of us <F64>

• There are a numerous passive and active responses we can utilize as believers in Christ to those in authority who want to force us to sin against our conscience:

a) Pray for authorities (1Tim 2:1-2)

b) Model for authorities (1Peter 3:1-2)

c) Appeal to authorities when living in society that provides the means to do this (Moses before Pharaoh, Daniel concerning food, woman appealing to the unjust judge)

d) Confront authorities with the word of God (Nathan confronting King David, Daniel confronts King Nebuchadnezzar)

e) Defy authority (women refusing to kill baby boys, three men refusing to bow down to image of King Nebuchadnezzar)

f) Flee from ungodly authorities (like Paul fleeing from one place to another) being ready to bear the consequences

• Americans are unique in their brazenness toward authority because they can confront without impunity; the US Constitution is on their side

• Most believers in church history, could not brazenly oppose authority

• For instance, Paul was punished and thrown in prison often because he defied authority and lost his freedom while doing so <B292>

1 Timothy 2:1-2 NIV

[1] I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people--- [2] for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.

1 Peter 3:1-2 NIV

[1] Wives, in the same way submit yourselves to your own husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives, [2] when they see the purity and reverence of your lives.

Daniel 1:8,11-16 NIV

[8] But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way. [11] Daniel then said to the guard whom the chief official had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, [12] “Please test your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink. [13] Then compare our appearance with that of the young men who eat the royal food, and treat your servants in accordance with what you see.” [14] So he agreed to this and tested them for ten days. [15] At the end of the ten days they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food. [16] So the guard took away their choice food and the wine they were to drink and gave them vegetables instead.

1 Chronicles 17:1-4,15 NIV

[1] After David was settled in his palace, he said to Nathan the prophet, “Here I am, living in a house of cedar, while the ark of the covenant of the Lord is under a tent. ” [2] Nathan replied to David, “Whatever you have in mind, do it, for God is with you.” [3] But that night the word of God came to Nathan, saying: [4] “Go and tell my servant David, 'This is what the Lord says: You are not the one to build me a house to dwell in. [15] Nathan reported to David all the words of this entire revelation.

Daniel 3:4-6,12 NIV

[4] Then the herald loudly proclaimed, “Nations and peoples of every language, this is what you are commanded to do: [5] As soon as you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe and all kinds of music, you must fall down and worship the image of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up. [6] Whoever does not fall down and worship will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace.” [12] But there are some Jews whom you have set over the affairs of the province of Babylon---Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego---who pay no attention to you, Your Majesty. They neither serve your gods nor worship the image of gold you have set up.”

Acts 18:5-6 NIV

[5] When Silas and Timothy came from Macedonia, Paul devoted himself exclusively to preaching, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Messiah. [6] But when they 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 innocent of it. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.”

** People often object to conversing about spiritual matters and God's truth, so how much do you pursue when others don't want to talk?

• Remember that everyone has their own timing and boundaries

• There will be varied response from numerous people

• Pray whether you should continue to pursue with them boldly or wait/pray till they are ready

Acts 18:6,9-11 NIV

But when they 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 innocent of it. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.”

[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 in Corinth for a year and a half, teaching them the word of God.

Acts 19:8-10 NIV

Paul entered the synagogue and spoke boldly there for three months, arguing persuasively about the kingdom of God. [9] But some of them became obstinate; they refused to believe and publicly maligned the Way. So Paul left them. He took the disciples with him and had discussions daily in the lecture hall of Tyrannus. [10] This went on for two years, so that all the Jews and Greeks who lived in the province of Asia heard the word of the Lord.

Acts 20:7 NIV

On the first day of the week we came together to break bread. Paul spoke to the people and, because he intended to leave the next day, kept on talking until midnight.

** We are to commune with our brothers and sisters in Christ, working with them and fulfilling our vows to the Lord for the glory of God

Acts 18:7-8 NIV

[7] Then Paul left the synagogue and went next door to the house of Titius Justus, a worshiper of God. [8] Crispus, the synagogue leader, and his entire household believed in the Lord; and many of the Corinthians who heard Paul believed and were baptized.

Acts 18:2-3 NIV

[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 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.

Acts 18:18 NIV

Acts 18:27 NIV

[27] When Apollos wanted to go to Achaia, the brothers and sisters encouraged him and wrote to the disciples there to welcome him. When he arrived, he was a great help to those who by grace had believed.

** David knew that vengeance is the Lord’s, and he praised God for what He WILL do eventually

• This is observed as the Psalm progresses

• God does not fault us for being in despair, as experienced by Jesus disciples and Paul

Psalm 54:3-4ff NIV

[3] Arrogant foes are attacking me; ruthless people are trying to kill me---people without regard for God. [4] Surely God is my help; the Lord is the one who sustains me...

Acts 18:9-11 NIV

** I am not responsible when people choose to live in their own delusion, but I am responsible to advocate for God’s TRUTH when given opportunity — whether through word and/or action — and then let them decide what to do with it

• As Christians, we are not called to be doormats, automatically bowing down to the opinions of others for the sake of ‘keeping the peace’

• At the same time, countering delusion doesn’t always entail uttering a verbal response but may involve a quiet disapproval; there were times Christ spoke up and other times He kept silent

• Ask God to guide you to the most effective response you can give for the situation you face

• In the end, ask whether my response honors God and demonstrates what/who I prioritize in life?

2 Corinthians 10:5 NIV

[5] We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

1 Timothy 4:16 NIV

[16] Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.

Mark 14:57-61a NIV

[57] Then some stood up and gave this false testimony against him: [58] “We heard him say, 'I will destroy this temple made with human hands and in three days will build another, not made with hands.' ” [59] Yet even then their testimony did not agree. [60] Then the high priest stood up before them and asked Jesus, “Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?” [61] But Jesus remained silent and gave no answer.

Acts 18:9 NIV

[9] One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: “Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent.

** The Lord will physically protect us especially when we continue to live and proclaim the truth of Jesus Christ

Acts 18:9-11 NIV

Acts 27:42-43 NIV

[42] The soldiers planned to kill the prisoners to prevent any of them from swimming away and escaping. [43] But the centurion wanted to spare Paul’s life and kept them from carrying out their plan. He ordered those who could swim to jump overboard first and get to land.

** Aquila and Priscilla were an hospitable couple who opened their home and used God’s provisions for the benefit of others

Acts 18:18-19 NIV

[18] Paul stayed on in Corinth for some time. Then he left the brothers and sisters and sailed for Syria, accompanied by Priscilla and Aquila. Before he sailed, he had his hair cut off at Cenchreae because of a vow he had taken. [19] They arrived at Ephesus, where Paul left Priscilla and Aquila. He himself went into the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews.

** Opinions from family and friends should not take precedence over God's will, but can be taken as advice when they fall in line with God's will

Acts 18:20-21 NIV

[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.

Acts 18.

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