Acts 18:1-24

We have been following along with Paul on his second missionary journey. Most recently we stopped briefly in Athens where Paul did not encounter a receptive crowd to the Gospel message. We end the second missionary journey in Corint.

• The uttermost parts of the Earth
  • The second missionary journey
    • To Corinth (Acts 18:1-6)
      • Corinth was the capital city of the Roman province of Achaia and located only 50 miles from Athens.
      • Historically, it had been a very prosperous city, but by Paul’s time it had experienced decline.
      • With a population of 200,000 people, the demographic was of mixed culture, religion, and ethnic origins.
      • It was full of pagan temples – including the famous temple to Aphrodite
      • The term to “Corinthianize” was commonly used to escribe the sexual immorality of the city
    • Some new associates (Acts 18:2)
      • Jewish
      • Came from Pontus – which is now Turkey
      • Lived in Rome
      • Forced out and came to Corinth
      • Were tentmakers by trade
    • A common bond (Acts 18:3)
      • Paul was also a tentmaker
        • He continued to work his trade
        • He never took support from the people to home he ministered (2 Corinthians 11:7-15 and 2 Thessalonians 3:8-9)
        • Tentmakers worked in leather. Paul was from an area where they worked in cloth made of goat’s hair. It is likely he had skill in working with leather as well.
        • Every Rabbinical student had to learn a trade as well as study for the priesthood which explains Paul’s trade
    • To the Jew first (Acts 18:4-6)
      • Paul continued his pattern of ministering to the Jews first
      • Silas and Timothy’s arrival gave Paul more time to commit to the teaching of his Jewish prospects, until the message was rejected by them.
      • Paul’s preaching to the Jews until the rejected the Gospel is indicative that God calls us to all people. The Jews heard the Gospel but were not ready to receive. We aren’t always called to minister where we will encounter open hearts.
    • To the Gentiles
      • A new phase of ministry in Corinth (Acts 18:7-11)
        • Successful results even though Paul left teaching in the synagogue, there were Jews who came to believe (Acts 18:8)
      • Assurance (Acts 18:9-11)
        • God confirmed the direction Paul was taking and assured him of safety
        • The promise of many people will come to Christ
        • A lengthy stay in the city – a year and six months
      • Not without difficulty (Acts 18:12-17)
        • An old complaint (Acts 18:13)
          • Their specific complaint was against the fact that Roman law forbade the practice of religion not legally recognized by Rome
          • Judaism was recognized by Rome and Christianity is a branch of Judaism therefore no laws were broken
        • No official action (Acts 18:14-17
          • Evidence of God’s promise for Paul’s safety
    • Ephesus
      • Aquila and Priscilla accompany Paul as his associates. He leaves them in Ephesus to minister while he continues on with the promise to return.
      • A haircut
        • Paul took a Nazarene vow
        • This may have been a vow expressing thanksgiving for protection while in Corinth, or it may have been seeking God’s will for the future
        • The vow was usually for a stated time
          • When completed the hair would be cut in a special ceremony
          • In Jerusalem the hair was burned as a symbol of offering one’s self to God
        • This suggests that part of the reason for not staying in Ephesus was to get to Jerusalem for the ceremony
    • Back to home base (Acts 18:22)
      • From Caeserea to the church in Jerusalem to Antioch