Acts 18:1-16

Paul in Corinth

After this Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. There he found 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, and, because he was of the same trade, he stayed with them, and they worked together—by trade they were tent makers. Every sabbath he would argue in the synagogue and would try to convince Jews and Greeks.

When Silas and Timothy arrived from Macedonia, Paul was occupied with proclaiming the word, testifying to the Jews that the Messiah was Jesus. When they opposed and reviled him, in protest he shook the dust from his clothes and said to them, ‘Your blood be on your own heads! I am innocent. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.’ Then he left the synagogue and went to the house of a man named Titius Justus, a worshiper of God; his house was next door to the synagogue. Crispus, the official of the synagogue, became a believer in the Lord, together with all his household; and many of the Corinthians who heard Paul became believers and were baptized. One night the Lord said to Paul in a vision, ‘Do not be afraid, but speak and do not be silent; for I am with you, and no one will lay a hand on you to harm you, for there are many in this city who are my people.’ He stayed there for a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.

But when Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews made a united attack on Paul and brought him before the tribunal. They said, ‘This man is persuading people to worship God in ways that are contrary to the law.’ Just as Paul was about to speak, Gallio said to the Jews, ‘If it were a matter of crime or serious villainy, I would be justified in accepting the complaint of you Jews; but since it is a matter of questions about words and names and your own law, see to it yourselves; I do not wish to be a judge of these matters.’ And he dismissed them from the tribunal.

How amazingly fast the gospel spread – in these verses we read of Athens, Corinth and Rome, along the north side of the Mediterranean Sea, while Aquila and Priscilla had come, via Italy, from Pontus (in present-day Turkey) and, later, Silas and Timothy would  arrive from Macedonia.  No doubt, the Roman Empire with its roads, military presence and far-reaching colonial expansion had much to do with this. “All things work together for good for those who love God”, as Paul observed to the Christians in Rome (Romans 8:28) – travelling had become both easier and safer.

It is clear, however, that those who had become captive to the gospel met with considerable opposition, not least from Jewish communities in various parts of the empire. Paul took the strategic step of moving from the synagogue to the home next door –and the result was astounding. People both from the Jewish community and from the wider Corinthian community became captive to the gospel. Vastly encouraged, Paul stayed a significant time with them, consolidating this young and growing church with teaching. But this did not last, further opposition drew in the local authorities – who wanted nothing to do with the issues.

Blessings as we pray that we will witness to the Gospel each day by our words and our actions.  Be safe!  Be well!  He is Risen Indeed!

 To Ponder:

• Reflect on a time when it was desirable for you to make a radical change in your way of working – did it work well for you? Why or why not?
• How do you respond to opposition – with reason and argument or not?
• How were/are you ‘prepared’?