Keep on Speaking!
Paul’s journey continues as he boasts in the LORD, the promised One of God who came to save us from our sin. Just as our LORD delivered the Israelites in the desert, and showed them the Promised Land of Canaan, the Messiah has come to save us from the sin that condemns and the eternal Promised Land for His believers.
Paul has left Athens now and goes to Corinth only a short distance from Athens.
Read Acts 18: 1-22
Background: The city of Corinth was important, not once but twice. The Romans destroyed the original city in 146 BC after a struggle between Achaia and Rome. Julius Caesar rebuilt the city in 44 BC. Now just over 100 years old, St Paul visits this city.
The city was very cosmopolitan. The city’s location was also strategic. Trade ships would stop in Corinth. The goods of their ships would be off loaded while the ships were moved across the Isthmus, and then reloaded to continue their journey. It seems like a lot of work; but it saved over 200 miles of treacherous waters around Sicily. The inhabitants of the city welcomed the ship’s crew and their money. Corinth was a very sexually immoral city. They worshipped many gods, primarily Greek—Apollo, Aphrodite, Hermes and Athena. The most significant was the goddess Aphrodite. A temple dedicated to her was located at the top of the Acropolis.
The time is about 50-51 A. D. Acts 18 tells us that the Roman emperor, Claudius had ordered all the Jews to leave Rome. (Circa 49 AD) Claudius reigned from 41-54 AD. His fourth wife, Agrippina, poisoned him and took charge of the empire for her son, Nero. It is in this environment that Paul and his entourage aentered.
- We are immediately introduced to two key players in God’s plan.
- ________________________
- ________________________
- Let’s review their travels from the early verses.
- Home: ____________________
- Moved to: ___________________
- Expelled and moved to: __________________
- Followed Paul to: _____________________
Aquila and Priscilla
They were a married couple who came from Italy to Corinth after the emperor Claudius ordered Jews expelled from Rome, became Christians, and assisted Paul in his ministry. They were tentmakers by trade (2 Tim. 4:19). They came into contact with Paul, who was a tentmaker, in Corinth (Acts 18:2). It is not clear whether they became Christians before or after meeting Paul but, they became workers in the gospel, and accompanied Paul to Ephesus (Acts 18:19). There they instructed Apollos in the Christian faith (18:25). A church met in their home, and they joined Paul in writing to the Corinthian church (1 Cor. 16:19).
Aquila and Priscilla were apparently influential among the “churches of the Gentiles” (Rom. 16:3). This reference in Romans probably indicates that Priscilla and Aquila moved back to Rome. Some scholars think the church at Ephesus received a copy of the last chapter of Romans. The reference to the couple in 2 Timothy 4:19 may indicate the couple was in Ephesus.
Paul thanked Aquila and Priscilla for risking their own lives for him (Rom. 16:4). The circumstances of this incident are unknown, although it may have occurred during Paul’s trouble with Demetrius the silversmith (Acts 19:23-41).
- We are told that Paul continued his previous strategy of “reasoning” with the Jews and Greeks in the synagogue. What was the result according to verse six? How did Paul respond to their opposition?
- After leaving the synagogue, he found refuge in the house of Titus Justus. Justus was probably a member of the synagogue but believed Paul’s message. Who else believed according to verse eight?
- ___________________________
- ___________________________
- ___________________________
- Verse nine is another key point in Paul’s life as a servant of the Almighty. Describe the scene.
- The phrase “do not be afraid” is used 65 times in Scripture, beginning in Genesis 15:1. How are the Lord’s words comforting to you and me today? Go back to Genesis 15:1 to see how the Lord used this same phrase the very first time. Are the two instances similar?
- God told Abram that He would shield him. What is the source of our shield? Check Ephesians 6:16.
- We are now going to witness God’s shield in action. Describe the events listed in verses 12-17.
- Paul stayed in Corinth for 1-1/2 years (verse eleven). He left Corinth for Syria, stopping at Ephesus. We are not told how long Paul was in Ephesus, but all appearances are very short. Who did Paul leave in Ephesus?
Paul’s departure from Ephesus to Syria marks the end of his second missionary journey. Take a few minutes to recall some key events that took place in his various stops.
Key Events
- _________________________________________
- _________________________________________
- _________________________________________
- _________________________________________
- _________________________________________
- _________________________________________