Paul in Corinth

 By: Dr. Dale Weckbacher

 

Text: Acts 18:1-17

 

Acts 18:9-10

Now the Lord spoke to Paul in the night by a vision, “Do not be afraid, but speak, and do not keep silent; ¹⁰ for I am with you, and no one will attack you to hurt you; for I have many people in this city.”

(NKJV)

 

Paul's ministry has been in motion. He enters a city, speaks in the local synagogue, and persuades some of the Jews that Jesus is the Christ and their Messiah. However, other Jews accuse Paul of blasphemy, and he is forced to move on. In Corinth, the outcome is different, with him finding work to sustain himself there and receiving a vision promising protection. When in ministry, a disciple of Christ must follow the path directed by the Holy Spirit, whether it means staying somewhere for a short or longer time. Paul’s ministry is an example of both.

 

Paul leaves Athens and goes to Corinth, where he meets a Jew named Aquila who had recently come to Corinth from Italy (Acts 18:1-2). Since Paul and Aquila were both tentmakers, Paul stayed with him and his family, and they worked together (Acts 18:3). Paul also reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath and persuaded both Jews and Greeks (Acts 18:4). After the arrival of Silas and Timothy, Paul was compelled by the Spirit and testified to the Jews that Jesus is the Christ (Acts 18:5). However, after the Jews opposed and blasphemed him, he shook his garments, telling them their blood is on their own heads, and that from now on he will go to the Gentiles (Acts 18:6). Paul then departed and entered the house of Justus, a worshipper of God whose house was next door to the synagogue (Acts 18:7). Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with many of the Corinthians also hearing, believing, and being baptized (Acts 18:8).

 

Then the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision by night, telling him not to fear, but to speak and not keep silent, because the Lord is with him and no one will attack or hurt him because He has many people in the city (Acts 18:9-10). Paul continued teaching the word of God in Corinth for a year and a half (Acts 18:11). As a test of this word from the Lord, the Jews revolt against Paul, accusing him of persuading men to worship God in a manner contrary to the law (Acts 18:12-13).

 

When Paul was about to open his mouth in his defense, Gallio, the proconsul, speaks up, telling the Jews that if these accusations were of wrongdoing or wicked crimes, he would judge the matter (Acts 18:14). However, the accusations against Paul are a question of words, names, and the Jewish law, so he tells them to investigate the matter themselves, driving them from the judgment seat (Acts 18:15-16). The Greeks then took Sosthenes, the ruler of the synagogue, and beat him before the judgment seat, with Gallio taking no notice (Acts 18:17).

 

After being run out of Thessalonica and spending time in Athens, Paul arrives in Corinth where he finds work to sustain him financially (Acts 18:3) and divine protection so he can teach (Acts 18:9-10). However, even though Paul spent a year and a half in Corinth, after leaving the city, the Church drifted from the truths of his teachings. Instead of unity in the church, there were divisions (1 Corinthians 1:10-13). There was also immorality in the church with no effort made to correct it (1 Corinthians 5:1-8). In addition, the honoring of the Lord’s Supper had turned into a drunken, gluttonous feast (1 Corinthians 11:17-22). The church in Corinth did not have the complete canon of Scripture as we do, which includes the letters to the Corinthians, but they did have Paul’s teachings for a year and a half and forgot them when he was gone.  

 

Being a disciple of Christ who stands firm on the truths declared in the Bible will bring persecution, but we can depend on God’s provision and protection. However, when we lose sight of this, we can, like the Corinthians, become detached from Biblical teaching, resulting in divisions, immorality, drunkenness, and gluttony. This is why disciples of Christ must be like the Bereans and daily study the Bible (Acts 17:11). Disciples of Christ must also put on the whole armor of God and pray without ceasing (Ephesians 6:10-18). Failure to follow these spiritual disciplines opens us up to deception, something rampant in the Church today.

 

If you belong to a church that does not teach biblical truth or does not practice prayer as a foundation, you should leave and find one that does so you do not fall for deception. If you are a church leader and have drifted from Biblical truth, I ask you to repent and return to it before the church you lead falls into deception.

 

If you are reading this and have never prayed for forgiveness for your sins and to make Jesus the Lord of your life, I invite you to do so now by praying with me.

 

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans 3:23) and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans 6:23).  I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse me as you promise in your Word (1 John 1:9).  I believe you died, spent three days in the grave, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.

 

This prayer is not some magical prayer, but it must be a genuine expression of your heart. If that is why you prayed, rest assured, your sins are completely forgiven, and you have eternal life. I now encourage you to let someone know of your decision. I also urge you to find a church of truth that teaches from the Bible and is empowered by the Holy Spirit, so you can grow in your faith. May God convict, challenge, and bless everyone reading this post.