READING THE BOOK OF ACTS: CHAPTER 18

  READING THE BOOK OF ACTS: CHAPTER 18

Wednesday, November 16, 2022

 INTRODUCING ACTS, CHAPTER 18

Paul is in the middle of his second missionary voyage. He and Silas left Syrian Antioch and traveled by foot north and west through central modern-day Turkey. In Lystra, they met Timothy. Paul saw Timothy had the potential to be a leader in the church and brought him along. The Holy Spirit forbade them to spread Jesus’ message in the large southwestern province of Asia or the northern province of Bithynia. Instead, the team traveled to the port town of Troas where they picked up Luke and sailed across the Aegean Sea to Macedonia. They had great success in Philippi, though Paul and Silas were beaten and imprisoned overnight. They met strong resistance in Thessalonica, and honest intellectuals in Berea. When Jews from Thessalonica came to Berea to threaten them, Paul escaped to Athens where he debated Stoic and Epicurean philosophers. (https://www.bibleref.com/Acts/18/Acts-chapter-18.html)

1) Verses 1-9, In Corinth, Pt. I MRS. ELNORA

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. ⁴ Every Sabbath he reasoned in the synagogue, trying to persuade Jews and Greeks. 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.” 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. ⁹ One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: “Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent.

NOTATIONS:

SECTION QUESTIONS:

1. Why was Aquila in Cornith? (V.2)

2. What was Paul teaching in Corinth? (V.5)

3. What did Paul tell the Jews when they opposed his teaching? (V.6)

4. What did God tell Paul in the vision? (V.9-10)

2) Verses 10-17 In Corinth, Pt. II, DESTINY

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. ¹² While Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews of Corinth made a united attack on Paul and brought him to the place of judgment. ¹³ “This man,” they charged, “is persuading the people to worship God in ways contrary to the law.” ¹⁴ Just as Paul was about to speak, Gallio said to them, “If you Jews were making a complaint about some misdemeanor or serious crime, it would be reasonable for me to listen to you. ¹⁵ But since it involves questions about words and names and your own law—settle the matter yourselves. I will not be a judge of such things.” ¹⁶ So he drove them off. ¹⁷ Then the crowd there turned on Sosthenes the synagogue leader and beat him in front of the proconsul; and Gallio showed no concern whatever.

NOTATIONS:

• This passage reveals the inner feelings of the Apostle
• Opposition against Paul was increasing causing Paul to become afraid and doubtful on whether or not he should leave Corinth. 
• In such circumstances, God will minister to his saints and encourage their hearts. 
• The promise of God's presence is sufficient to deliver them from fear and give the assurance necessary to accomplish the will of God.
• The words to Paul do not refer to Christ' general presence but to his omnipresence. 

SECTION QUESTIONS:

1. What did Gallio say to the accusers of Paul? (V.14-15)

2. What did the crowd do to Sosthenes? (V.17)

3) Verses 18-28, Priscilla, Aquila, & Apollo, JEANNIE

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. 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. ²² When he landed at Caesarea, he went up to Jerusalem and greeted the church and then went down to Antioch. ²³ After spending some time in Antioch, Paul set out from there and traveled from place to place throughout the region of Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples. ²⁴ Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was a learned man, with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures. ²⁵ He had been instructed in the way of the Lord, and he spoke with great fervor^[a] and taught about Jesus accurately, though he knew only the baptism of John. ²⁶ He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately. 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. ²⁸ For he vigorously refuted his Jewish opponents in public debate, proving from the Scriptures that Jesus was the Messiah.

NOTATIONS:

• Priscilla and Aquila meet Apollos, a dynamic Jewish speaker. His knowledge, however, only encompasses the baptism for repentance that John the Baptist taught and some things about Jesus. Priscilla and Aquila explain to him salvation by the death and resurrection of Jesus, and Apollos becomes a great Christian teacher. After receiving the training he needs, in chapter 19 we will find that he goes to Corinth teaching the Word of God.

SECTION QUESTIONS:

1. Why did Paul cut off his hair? (V.18)

2. Who was Apollos? (V.24-25)

3. What did Apollos do in Achaia? (V.28)

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A Prayer Confession

Lord God, help us to minister like Paul in the power of the Spirit by proclaiming the Word of God and overcoming the powers of evil through the name of Jesus. Empower and prepare us to confront evil when you call us to do so. The power of Jesus overcomes any ability of satan. Thank you Lord for the miracle of the resurrection of Jesus and for the power of this message to transform lives. In Jesus' name we pray, amen.