ACTS 18. LAW AND DISORDER AT CORINTH Paul’s defense at Mar’s Hill left the clouded minds of the so-called “enlightened minds” of the philosophers of Athens quite divided. The attitude of the Athenians was such that there was no reason to stay in that city and try to convince those who did not want truth but wanted what they believed was “their truth.” The Holy Spirit is the One who guides God’s servants to stay in a place or leave. He also guides us as to where we should go.
Corinth was a major center of the Roman empire, with a population of around 400,000 people of mixed origins. It was well situated as a major commercial center with two sea ports not far away and a major land route to other parts of Greece and further north and east to the Middle Eastern parts of the empire. As the political capital of Achaia, a strong and firm hand of authority was found in Gallio, who was the proconsul and had even-handed and yet strong control of the government. As a religious center, Corinth was the center of worship of Aphrodite, the fertility goddess. It was well known to be a morally corrupt city that was given to sexual perversions in the name of religion. There were a thousand prostitutes at the temple of Aphrodite. To “act like a Corinthian” meant that one’s reputation was that of a sexually immoral person. Paul likely wrote the book of Romans from Corinth, so the description given in Romans 1:22-31 is from his first-hand observation.
Against the dark background of the corrupt city of Corinth, the Lord's attitude toward that city's people is very significant. “I have many people in this city.” What a marvelous insight into the depth and greatness of God’s grace! God knows all the “ins and outs” of every situation, including the dynamics of places, people, and events. We cannot fathom the depths of heartache and despair that other people are in, even when they seem so openly pleasure-seeking. Despite moral and spiritual corruption and the obscenity that goes along with those things, there is probably, in many people, a longing, an eagerness, and likely an inquiring mind for some relief from sin and human degradation.
The Holy Spirit directed Paul to the people of that sinful place. We may never know in our lifetime why the Spirit of God led us to a certain community with the Gospel and why He had us bypass other places, but that is not necessarily our concern. God knows all about it, and our responsibility is to trust and obey His guidance. If we realize that when God calls us to reach out to a certain place and find our financial needs are more than we can presently meet, it is appropriate that a servant of the Lord applies himself to his trade. In that way, he may have access to people he may not have contacted in any other way.
When Paul began his work in Corinth, he joined Aquila and Priscilla, working at his trade and staying with them. All Jewish boys were taught a trade when they were young so that wherever they went, they would not depend on others, but rather that people would come to them and connect with them businesslike. This interesting couple had come to Corinth from Rome when the Jews were banned from the city of Rome because of conflict between the Jews. It was likely an anti-Christian attempt by orthodox Jews to stop the outreach of the Gospel. As far as the Roman government was concerned, Christians were just another Jewish sect that was upsetting their religion, and it wasn’t going to be allowed to upset the whole city.
It would have been a great joy to Paul to have fellowship with them and labor with them at the “tent-making” trade while enjoying their common interests in the Gospel. Aquila and Priscilla were, in a sense, strangers and pilgrims because he had come from Pontus to Rome and then from Rome to Corinth. Later, they went from Corinth to Ephesus. To stay for a lengthy period of time in the work of the Lord and yet be able to move to another place after a period of years can only be done by supporting yourselves. Any couple who desires to be of use in new places will find plenty of opportunities. God arranges ways to use those who are available to Him. Paul could also support others besides himself as he worked with that couple in the leather trade. He could not be charged by the wealthy Corinthians of being in the work of the Lord “for the money.” He was a man under divine authority, not one who was being manipulated by the financial support of other people.
At the same time, he did not let his “day job” deter him from the real reason God sent him to such a wicked city. He followed the same practice in other places, such as going to the synagogue and preaching on the Sabbath day. He would have been very aware of the evil corruption of the immoral activities in the name of religion in Corinth, but he was also conscious of his own “brethren” and their need for the Gospel.
In any new work, patience, perseverance, and preparation are required. The beginning of a work may take a long time before we see anything done outwardly. We may not think anything is happening and are in danger of being discouraged until we see some little evidence of the Lord working in people's souls. Before an assembly in Corinth began, God did a work in people's hearts. He knows the hearts and desires of everyone. We may be fearful and think we have failed until we take the time to review why and how we were called there in the first place.
When the other brothers joined him there, that seemed to make a difference to Paul’s motivation. He had been preaching in the synagogue and had done the “groundwork.” Then the Holy Spirit “compelled” him to declare publicly to those Jews that “Jesus is the Christ.” That certainly changed their attitude toward him. His open response to their rejection was unmistakable. Shaking his garments was saying, “Alright, I am done with you. I will go to those who will listen.”
ACTS 18:1-17. The Corinthian Challenge Apathy, complacency, and self-satisfaction are hard barriers to overcome with the Gospel message. In a sense, Athens was not as important a center as Corinth. Corinth was a busy, bustling center of commercial activity, while Athens was where men sat around discussing opinions and far-out ideas and exchanging the words of men’s wisdom as if they were really important. Those things do not reach people where they live. Corinth was where the rich were rich, the poor were poor, and those in the middle were tradesmen, so the population was quite divided. That caused a divided fellowship among believers in the assembly later.
In the work of the Lord, it is important for us to promote unity among the Lord’s people. Cultural, racial, social, and financial barriers should be broken down as we join together as brothers and sisters in the Lord. Our worship, fellowship, and public testimony should be unified where “there is neither Jew nor Greek, neither is there bond nor free, there is neither male nor female for ye are all one in Christ.” The example of Paul, Aquila, and Priscilla would have set a good example and direction among those who were saved there regarding how we are all to do what we do, as unto the Lord and not unto man. The wisdom of this world, prevalent in Athens, still maintains a strong hold on people who think they are above others because they are more educated. Satan takes advantage of those who attend universities without a very strong faith in the word of God and in Jesus as Lord of their lives. There is still no problem finding people in universities who will argue about the Bible, religion, or the existence and ways of God. Not too many will think for themselves because they are influenced by those whose dogmatic teaching intimidates them. Paul was well-taught and skilled in many subjects, but he kept before him the commission to which he was called and the Lord he knew personally.
As a tent-maker, v.3. “Because he was of the same craft, he abode with them and wrought.” The principle remains today as it was then. “If any would not work, neither should he eat.” Paul was not bothersome to anyone and was willing to work night and day to avoid that charge and help provide for others. He had the courage to preach the Gospel to the professors on Mar’s Hill, and he was humble enough to do journeyman’s work as a tradesman to pay his way. “Whatsoever ye do, “do it heartily unto the Lord, do it in the name of the Lord, and do it to the glory of God.
Whatever we do and wherever we are called to do it, let us always remember that this is for the Lord and not for people's approval. There will always be those who complain we do too much or too little, go too fast or too slow, go too far, or come too short. The Corinthians, who were well-off financially, were inclined to look down on Paul as a mere tradesman and found several reasons to criticize him. He wrote to them about that at a later date. We need to remember that we are servants of the Lord, and when we know He has led us to a place, we need to attend to what has to be done of whatever nature the work is.
As a reasoner, v.4. “He reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath day.” As the apostle to the Jews, Paul would have “reasoned” out of the scriptures of the Old Testament in the same way he had at other synagogues in other cities. His practice was to show from the scriptures who the Messiah was and what He would do. Then, he brought the subject around to where the hearers knew that Jesus was the Messiah. The word of God preached and explained makes the truth of the Person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ real to people.
For us to try to convince people that what we think is superior to their ideas is a waste of effort unless we make our appeal to the scriptures. Our reasoning needs an unchanging basis, and that is the scriptures that are in the Bible. There is no point in trying to base our testimony on the books of men or comparing the writing of one philosopher with another. What we have experienced ourselves because of what we have learned from the Bible has weight. People can’t knock down what we have experienced personally. The truth of God is like bread from heaven that feeds the souls of those who hunger and thirst after righteousness. Those are the people who will be filled.
As a witness, v.5. “Testified to the Jews that Jesus is the Christ.” To be able to give a personal testimony to the saving grace of God illustrates the truth of the Gospel. The life-changing power of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior lends great weight to a given message. Paul preached what he knew and had experienced first-hand. That would keep his message from being a cold and correct sermon to a warm-hearted testimony from a person who cared for the audience to whom he was speaking. Those who heard him speak from his heart would know he was concerned for their eternal welfare and truly believed what he was teaching them.
There is a special “unction” of the Spirit that those who know Christ live, live for Christ, and preach Christ and Him crucified move hearers to seek what the preacher has for themselves. It is part of the preparation for preaching, to prepare one’s soul for such an important task as speaking for the Lord. Unfelt truth is not long remembered. Never short-cut the preparation and care of one’s own spiritual condition. To be a faithful witness of divine truth is not a light or casual matter.
As a protestor, v.6. “Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean.” To publicly protest against unreasonable opposition and open rejection of the Gospel may sometimes be essential to make people aware of what they are doing. For those Jews to reject, the message of life was to accept the sentence of death. The Spirit of God does not always strive with people when they openly and forcibly reject the blessed news of the Gospel. It grieves the soul of one who preaches the Gospel to see individuals listen and then reject the Lord. It is harder yet to see a crowd refuse to accept God’s truth because one or two people want God to come to them on their own terms. Even more, when a whole community turns against God’s word, it seems hopeless.
As a soul-winner, v.7-8. “Many of the Corinthians, hearing, believed.” Just because things don’t happen as expected doesn’t mean God is finished with the people in a place. We tend to look only at outward appearance, but God looks at people's hearts. The sinfulness of the Corinthians compared with the self-righteous Jews was likely obvious, but there were those in the city who were sick of sin, and God knew it. Those bidden to the Gospel feast at the first wouldn’t come, but others did. Sometimes, those we least expect to be interested in their soul’s salvation are the ones God saves. The table at the Gospel feast will be filled with saints when the King comes.
It is encouraging to us, as it likely was to Paul, that God can use the word of the Gospel preached to bear fruit at a later time. Gaius Titius Justus believed in the Gospel and lived next door to the synagogue. Crispus, a ruler of the synagogue, was also saved, so there must have been quite a stir when Paul baptized the two of them – one a Roman and the other a Jew, both saved in Greece. Preaching the Gospel, despite opposition, is not in vain. The word of God does not return empty.
As one beloved by God, v.9-10. “Then spoke the Lord to Paul.” Sometimes, when we make a decision that calls for immediate action, we “second-guess” ourselves and wonder if we did the right thing. God has His ways of assuring us when those times come. It may be a verse of scripture that seems to fit the need or a biblical illustration that comforts our soul. Perhaps someone we know and trust affirms what we felt we had to do. The most important is to “let the peace of God rule (be the umpire) in your hearts.”
The message from the Lord Paul received would have been most welcome and gladly claimed as the answer and assurance he needed. It contained a word of cheer for him at a disappointing time; “Be not afraid.” There was a word of counsel from the Lord; “Speak and hold not thy peace.” The words from the Lord would assure him, “I am with thee.” And then there was a further word of promise; “No man shall hurt thee.” What a word of hope from the Lord that would have been to His faithful servant; “I have many people in this city!”
As one despised by men, v.12-17. “The Jews made insurrection with one accord against Paul.” Paul knew he wouldn’t be hurt physically in Corinth, but “Sosthenes, our brother,” was beaten right in front of Gallio. The success of the Lord’s work is not always measurable in ways we normally would choose. Statistics do not tell the whole story. At a later date, Sosthenes was laboring in the Gospel with Paul, and the benefit came from the Lord’s work through his suffering.
Gallio was the older brother of Seneca, Nero’s counselor. Those men were of Spanish descent but were both known for their calmness under pressure and their fairness in decision-making. Gallio was the proconsul of the southwestern part of Greece. He knew Paul was innocent of the accusations of the Jews, so without even listening to Paul’s defense, he drove the Jews out of the court and put a stop to their actions. Paul stayed in Corinth for a year and a half, preaching, teaching, and establishing the believers as an assembly of believers. His instruction is referred to in the two epistles he wrote to them, which we have in the New Testament of our Bibles.
Acts 18:18-22. An End and a Beginning. Paul was in no hurry to leave Corinth, even after the rioting Jews took their case to Gallio and were rejected by him. Don't leave too quickly when there is no clear guidance on when to leave one place and go to another. “Act in haste, repent at leisure” is a comment some people make. The Bible says, “He that believeth shall not make haste.” The time at Corinth had been very profitable in Gospel activity. There had also been time given to teaching and establishing the new assembly in the truths of the word of God, which had been given in a special way to the apostles, who were the foundation upon which we are built. Spiritual gifts had become obvious among the saints who gathered there in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Perhaps Paul had made a vow in Corinth relating to thanksgiving to the Lord for protection during his time in Corinth and for the success of the work there. The shortest period of time for a Nazarite vow was thirty days, during which time one’s hair was not cut. The hair would have been taken and offered at the temple as a burnt offering when other sacrifices were made. This may have been the point Paul made in 1st Corinthians 9 when he wrote that to the Jews, he became as a Jew under the law, that he might “gain the Jews,” and “gain them that were under the law.”
Paul's spiritual connection with Priscilla and Aquila was such that they went with him to Ephesus when he left Corinth. Their trade as leather workers and tent-makers made it possible for them to leave one place and quickly shop in another. This willingness to move forward with Paul into a new field of service for the Lord was a great help in establishing the Lord's work at Ephesus.
Christian couples who are willing to support themselves and yet move to another location for the sake of the work of the Lord will find lots of opportunities to be effective in labors for the Lord and their business labors as well. Sometimes, the work needed to support ourselves is the door open before us in our Gospel exercise. In the case of Priscilla and Aquila, it opened the door to “teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you” for the benefit of Apollos.
Ephesus had been closed by the Holy Spirit at the beginning of his second missionary journey but was reached as he neared the end of his long time away from his home assembly. The city was known for commerce and was the government capital of the province of Asia (Asia Minor). The large Jewish population was wealthy and influential in Ephesus. Josephus wrote in his book that the Jews had been given special privileges to observe their own customs. Paul went to the synagogue as had been his custom in other places to “reason with the Jews.”
Interestingly, they wanted him to stay and continue his teaching. Sometimes, we have our minds made up about the agenda we want to follow and the timetable we have laid out. That may or may not be an inclination of the flesh rather than a result of waiting on the Lord to indicate His will. A calmness of spirit and “the peace of God” are sometimes missing when we want to push ahead with our own plans.
To us who read this account of Paul at Ephesus, the open door and interest and his compelling concern to get to Jerusalem for the feast seem strange and out of character when we compare his previous actions. Besides his arrival at Caesarea and the visit to the church in Jerusalem, there is no real record of anything significant happening. He returned to his home assembly at Antioch and stayed there for some time at the end of his second missionary journey. Paul certainly had a deep love for the saints in Jerusalem, and he might have had an almost homesick desire to see them, which led to this journey that likely ended on a high note at the feast in Jerusalem.
Acts 18:23-28. The Beginning of the third Journey. Paul never lost his vision for the “regions beyond,” but he wasn’t a hit-and-run type of Gospel preacher. That missionary zeal never kept him from returning to the places where he had previously seen assemblies established to the name and glory of the Lord Jesus Christ. He knew the importance of teaching the churches of Galatia and other places so that they would continue in the ways and teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Galatia and Phrygia were places where good work in the Gospel was done initially, but Judaizing teachers who came and taught after the pioneers taught different doctrines. The false teachers sought to get the new believers back to lawkeeping and work as necessary for salvation. That was a denial of the efficacy of the work of Christ on the cross. That undermined the fundamental truth of salvation by grace. The meeting years before in Jerusalem by trusted apostles and brethren had concluded that salvation had been granted to the Gentiles by God without the Gentiles becoming Jewish proselytes. There were some people still around who wanted Judaism to be the exclusive way of salvation.
Unfortunately, the Galatian believers were inclined to accept that teaching and were turning away from Paul's teaching after this visit to the assemblies there. There was an increasing interest in legalism and its sad effects, which made carnal believers want a list of “dos and don’ts” rather than respond to the teaching and guidance of the Holy Spirit, who guided Paul and others there in the first place. When we “try the spirits (teachings),” the Holy Spirit bears witness with our spirit as to the truth of God.
Acts 18:24-28. Apollos comes to Ephesus. Alexandria in Egypt was the second most important city in the Roman empire. Education, philosophy, and scholarship were centered there. The Jewish philosopher Philo was a noted teacher. Still, he did not accept the Old Testament scriptures as anything more than the historical, poetic, and opinions of prophets, who wrote down accounts of their ethnic and cultural background. He mixed the teaching of Plato into the teaching of the Old Testament scriptures, which had been translated into Greek (the Septuagint) about one hundred and fifty years before Christ came.
How the Gospel came to Alexandrea is not described, but Apollos had heard from John the Baptist’s disciples the necessity of the baptism of repentance for the Jews. He believed the teaching of John that Jesus is the Messiah, whom John introduced to the Jews as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. What Apollos preached when he first came to Ephesus is unclear, but apparently, he did not know the Gospel. The death, burial, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ and the fact that Jesus is the personal Savior of sinners weren’t taught by Apollos.
Yet, Jesus, being the Messiah, made Apollos, a Jewish man with a Greek name, “fervent in spirit.” He knew the scriptures well from the Jewish perspective, but his message was limited. The Lord Jesus ascended into heaven about twenty years earlier, yet he boldly continued to preach what he knew about Jesus in the Ephesus synagogue. The sovereign God had arranged that Aquila and Priscilla would be there, and as they listened to Apollos, they detected he was a man with the courage to preach what he knew boldly, but he needed help to give the correct message of Jesus Christ.
Wisely, the Christian couple took him aside privately to instruct him in the way of God “more perfectly (accurately)." The fact that an eloquent, well-educated, articulate teacher would listen and pay heed to the words of wisdom of a couple who worked together with their hands to meet their needs speaks well of Apollos. Priscilla and Aquila's patience and Apollos's humility are good examples of what God intends for us, His people, today. They did not denounce Apollos publicly, and he paid attention to what they privately explained to him from the scriptures.
It is common for those who think they know a lot to make sure everybody knows that. When there are those who don’t know what they are talking about or what they teach isn’t right, there is an appropriate way to help them without unnecessarily embarrassing or humiliating them. It may take some time, but instead of condemning them, wisely instruct them in the way of God, not your own opinions. When the teaching time has passed, the one being taught will understand what God says rather than what those who guide them into the “way of God more perfectly” say. That is an important difference. A deeper knowledge of the Lord, the truth of the reasons for the death of Christ on the cross, the significance of His resurrection, and His present work on our behalf at God’s right hand are really important for every person to know.
The believers at Ephesus could write a commendation for Apollos to the Corinthian assembly when he went to Achaia. They mentioned in the letter that he was a great help to the believers. They also mentioned that grace, not works, was clear in his teachings, mind, and heart. That was in contrast to the Judaizers who had begun circulating among the believers in various places. Apollos followed the way the Lord explained who He was when He began at “Moses” and, through the Old Testament, taught the “things concerning Himself.”
Twenty years later, Apollos did the same, “showing from the scriptures that Jesus is the Christ.” He became a blessing to the believers at Corinth like he had been blessed at Ephesus through the ministry of Priscilla and Aquila. When the Holy Spirit works through ordinary people, great things can be accomplished through the power of the word of God preached and taught. All of us need to grow spiritually in the things of God so that we have insight into the scriptures, an accurate knowledge of them, and how to pass the truth of God to others. When we realize another person needs to be instructed further in the truth of God, how we do it, our attitude, our tone of voice, and our use of words of correction and instruction should be Christ-like. Corrections should be clear and concise and should be given in a way that will promote the desire for further instruction.
SPIRITUAL DISCERNMENT