Mar 08, 2015
Acts 18:1-11


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http://zachadams.org/acts/acts18_1-11.mp3

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Outline:


Acts 18:1, “After these things Paul departed from Athens and went to Corinth.” 



Motion of the Text: Paul leaves Athens alone (Luke is still in Philippi and Silas and Timothy have yet to join him from Berea) and travels 48 miles southwest to the city of Corinth.


Profile of Corinth: With a massive canal linking the Aegean Sea with the Mediterranean and two harbors to facilitated the traffic between the two, Corinth was a commercial center for the Roman world. Since most all shipping traffic between the eastern and western worlds relied on her strategic importance, Corinth boasted a wealthy population of almost half a million. 


Beyond this… With a constant and healthy supply of merchants coming in and out of the city, even among Roman standards, Corinth was renown for her immoral vices and debauchery. Possessing a massive temple dedicated to Aphrodite (the goddess of love and beauty) which featured over 1000 full time prostitutes, Corinth was the original “Sin City!”


In Roman times to be called a “Corinthian” meant you were either sexually perverse or a drunkard. Even prostitutes from other cities were called “Corinthian companions.”



Acts 18:2, “And Paul found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla (because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to depart from Rome); and he came to them.” 



Alone and in a city as darkened as Corinth Paul was in need of Christian companionship. Never forget the Christian life is not a solo proposition. It requires like-minded friends to accompany us on our journey of faith. It would seem God was one step ahead of Paul allowing his path to cross with that of “a certain Jew named Aquila” and “his wife Priscilla.” 


In introducing Aquila and Priscilla Luke tells us they had come to Corinth from Rome as a result of an edict issued by Claudius in 49 AD expelling all Jews from the Roman capital. 


According to Roman historian Suetonius, Claudius was forced to take such measures as a result of unrest within the Jewish community of Rome. Suetonius claims these internal confrontations were taking place as a result of a man called “Chrestus.”


While we have no Biblical mention of the Gospel’s arrival to Rome (some evidence it may have been Peter and Mark) we do know a church had already been established by 49 AD. It therefore seems likely (and consistent with the reactions of the Jews to Paul’s ministry) that the preaching of Jesus yielded this unrest within the Jewish community of Rome. 


And since there was yet no distinction between Christianity and Judaism, Claudius simply expelled all Jews (including Christians) in order to restore the peace. Because we have no mention of Aquila and Priscilla’s conversion we can assume they were already believers and had been members of the Roman church before connecting with Paul here in Corinth. 


Side Note: At some point both Aquila and Priscilla would briefly return to Rome, but not before teaming up with the Apostle Paul here in Corinth and later in Ephesus.


Aquila and Pricilla are unique for while we have no mention of them ever preaching the Gospel, there is no doubt they lived out the Gospel in two specific ways. Note: These are two easy, practical ways everyone can demonstrate their Christian faith.


1. They supported their local church. In writing to the Romans (16:3-5) Paul would encourage the believers to “greet Priscilla and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, who risked their own necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles. Likewise greet the church that is in their house.” Then again in writing from Ephesus to the Corinthian church (1 Corinthian 16:19) Paul would say, “Aquila and Priscilla greet you heartily in the Lord, with the church that is in their house.”


2. They supported Godly servants. As we see here in Corinth, Aquila and Priscilla not only befriended Paul, but established a relationship with the Apostle that would last a life time. At the very end of his life, writing in 2 Timothy 4:19, Paul goes out of his way to make sure his regards are passed along to “Prisca and Aquila.” And this ministry was not limited only to Paul. As we’ll see later in the chapter, while in Ephesus, Aquila and Priscilla end up mentoring a young man named Apollos.


I’d also like to point out another reason Aquila and Pricilla are unique and demand our attention… They present for us the only example of a successful Christian marriage in the New Testament. Aquila and Pricilla loved Jesus, loved His church, and loved each other. Interestingly, never once do we find these two mentioned in Scripture independent of the other. They served Jesus together as a unit. They were a team in the truest since. 


It’s also been pointed out that every time you find them mentioned in Scripture the order of their names is varied (references above, vs. 2, vs. 18). Aquila was not more important than Priscilla and Priscilla never more than Aquila. They worked together in a cohesive way! 



Acts 18:3, “So, because Paul was of the same trade, he stayed with them and worked; for by occupation they were tentmakers.” 



Aside from a common relationship with Jesus, Luke tells us Paul connected with Aquila and Priscilla because they all had “the same trade” or literally “the same craft.” Luke says “for by occupation they were tentmakers.” Some have broadened the translation to “leather worker.” 


Either way, the reference that Paul “stayed with them and worked” indicates Aquila and Priscilla supported Paul in Corinth by giving him a job.


Q: Why is this the first time we have mention of Paul’s trade?


A: This was the first time since Tarsus that Paul needed earn a living apart from ministry. It seems textually consistent (first mention implies a reason for previous exclusion) that up until this point Paul had been financially supported by the church (whether it be his home church in Antioch or one of the others he had planted) allowing him to focus on full time ministry.


Because the funds were not available (likely because Silas and Timothy had yet to arrive), in Corinth Paul made tents to support himself leaving his free time to engage in ministry. 



Acts 18:4-6, “And Paul reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and persuaded both Jews and Greeks. When Silas and Timothy had come from Macedonia, Paul was compelled by the Spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus is the Christ. But when they opposed him and blasphemed, he shook his garments and said to them, “Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.” 



As we have seen over and over again Paul’s outreach to the Jews continued to prove problematic. Despite his love for his brethren and passion in proclaiming to them Jesus as their Savior, these Corinthian Hebrews “opposed Paul” and “blasphemed” Christ. 


At this point Paul has had enough and in a dramatic moment Luke tells us “he shook off his garments” indicating his intention to leave them and focus his ministry attention on “the Gentiles.” In a real sense Paul is giving up on these Jews! He’s waving the white flag. David Guzik observes, “This was a dramatic way of expressing his rejection of their rejection.”


Please understand… Your job is to communicate the truth - The hearers job to receive in faith - and God’s to save the soul. Sadly, there comes a time when it’s ok to give up as long as you’ve been diligent to fulfill the calling God has given you. In John 4:37 Jesus acknowledge that “one man sows and another man reaps.”


What makes this moment all the more interesting is that on his way out Paul told them… “Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean.” It seems likely Paul was playing off of an idea first introduced in Ezekiel 33:7-9, “So you, son of man: I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; therefore you shall hear a word from My mouth and warn them for Me. When I say to the wicked, 'O wicked man, you shall surely die!' and you do not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at your hand. Nevertheless if you warn the wicked to turn from his way, and he does not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but you have delivered your soul.”


Realize, as a watchmen, we all have a responsibility to declare the word of the Lord to the lost people around us. If they fail to heed our warning the judgment will be on them; however, if we fail to sound the warning God will hold us to account. The stakes are high!



Acts 18:7-8, “And Paul departed from there and entered the house of a certain man named Justus, one who worshiped God, whose house was next door to the synagogue. Then Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his household. And many of the Corinthians, hearing, believed and were baptized.”



Paul throws down the gauntlet - closes down his ministry in the synagogue - and says he’s heading to the Gentiles. What happens next is funny because Paul literally moves in next door (the home of Justus). Then in an interesting twist, in response to this act, Luke tells us “the ruler of the synagogue” a man named “Crispus” - so convicted by what Paul said - “believed on the Lord with all his household.” (Crispus is mentioned in 1 Corinthians 1:14.)


Don’t over look the last few words we read… In a city so lost in their wickedness and immorality “many of the Corinthians hearing” the Good News of Jesus “believed and were baptized.” What reached a culture mired in immorality? A message of condemnation? A message of law? A message of equivocation? No… It was the message of salvation!



Acts 18:9-11, “Now the Lord spoke to Paul in the night by a vision, “Do not be afraid, but speak, and do not keep silent; for I am with you, and no one will attack you to hurt you; for I have many people in this city.” And he continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.”



At first glance our text is rather shocking… I mean the very command for Paul to “not be afraid” reveals the existence of a fear creeping up within the Apostle; and yet, Paul was known as fearless. He was bold. He had endured persecution. He was tenacious.


But in Corinth it appears Paul is struggling. Now in fairness don’t detach Paul from his humanity! I’m sure the pattern for his ministry had grown tiering… After pouring his heart and soul into evangelism… After seeing lives transformed by the Gospel… After planting and establishing churches… His joy seemed to be always cut short! 


Being beaten and verbally slandered by his brethren, forced to run for his life under the cover of darkness, leaving behind friends without a good bye… The pattern had to be getting old. You can imagine Paul wanted to hang around and experience the fruit of his labor for once. 


Fear doesn’t exist in a vacuum. Fear has at its core a sense of impending loss which is why when a person is left with nothing to loose they tend to also have nothing to fear. 


People fear cancer not because of pain, but because of the loss it brings… Cancer means a loss of life or at a minimum the quality of life. The loss of family. The loss of a future.


People fear loosing their job because of loss… Loosing a home. Loosing a lifestyle. Loosing security. Loosing a sense of purpose, social status, and direction.


In much the same way Paul was afraid of opposition in Corinth because of the things he knew he’d loose… Community with his friends, the opportunity to minister to these young Corinthian believers, the rest and comfort of settling in for a season. It would seem from our text that in his fear Paul was even thinking about toning it down a bit… Playing it cool. 


Because we all experience fear there is a lot we can learn by looking at how God addressed Paul’s fear here in Corinth… Six things in particular:


1. God acknowledged the existence of fear… “Now the Lord spoke to Paul!”


While on the surface everything seemed to be going well for the Apostle Paul (Silas and Timothy had joined him - He’d developed a new friendship with Aquila and Priscilla - The Gospel was changing lives and a church was beginning to take form in Corinth), God knew the inner workings of Paul’s heart. God knew the fear Paul had yet to vocalize.


2. God encouraged resolve in the face of fear… “Do not be afraid!”


Knowing Paul’s fear God’s first words are rather strong. He doesn’t handle Paul with kid-gloves or allow him to remain ignorant of these inner feelings. Instead God issues a definitive command. “Paul, I know what’s going on in your heart. I know your reasoning. I understand your fear. But you cannot allow this poisonous thought to take root. Do not dwell on it! Do not succumb to it! Make the choice to not be afraid!” 


Always keep in mind… While fear is not a tool of God’s using it is one of the most warn instruments in Satan’s workbox. Where faith is always found in the advance it is fear that either petrifies a man in his present position or manifests a full bore retreat. 2 Timothy 1:7, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”


3. God commanded action in spite of fear… “Speak and do not keep silent!”


You know the easiest way to place a thought into captivity… The quickest way to dispel its power and influence is to immediately act contrary to the very thought itself. It’s simply a truth that the longer you allow fear to fester the harder it is to overcome. Movement stymied by paralysis over time turns into prettification. Example: Zip-line!


In Paul’s case because he feared continuing to speak would inevitably yield opposition, it was essential he do the very thing fear was trying to deter. The only way to resist the negative effects of fear is to immediately act against it. For Paul it was essential he speak all the more loudly and with a renewed vigor if he was to overcome his fear!


4. God pointed to a reality that transcended fear… “For I am with you!”


Faced with fear and with the command to act contrary to that fear, what singular motivation did Paul need to overcome? A greater will-power? Knuckling down? The power of positive thinking? No! What Paul needed to remember first and foremost was that there was a sovereign God in control of all things. 


“For I am…” is an interesting phrase for in the Greek it’s literally “dioti egô eimi.” Think about what God is saying… “Paul, do not be afraid! Speak and do not keep silent! Because… I am!” Please note this phrase “egô eimi” is the very name God gave for Himself in Exodus 3 when He told Moses from the burning bush, “I am that I am.” 


Jesus would dramatically use the same two words in Mark 6 we He spoke to the disciples on the sea of Galilee, “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid!” 


Understand… The motivation to act contrary to our fear is not within, but in Him! 



And yet, beyond the fact there is a sovereign God, in the place of fear you should take great courage knowing this sovereign God is “with you!” Friend, when you come to realize God “will never leave you nor forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5) any sense of impending loss (the driver of fear) will quickly subside for if my all is found in the God who’s always with me then what am I’m really going to loose? Jesus would gloriously declare to all of His followers, “Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age!” (Matthew 28:20)


You see the motivator to act in the face of fear is not a greater sense of what I’m going to loose (the more my knowledge increase the greater my fear), but it’s the wonderful reminder of all that I have in Jesus! 


5. God emphasized a promise… “No one will attack you to hurt you!”


While it’s true this particular promise was individually tailored to the Apostle Paul applied specifically for his time in Corinth, all obedience is aided by an understanding that God has made promises to His children - promises He’s always faithful to make good on.


6. God bestowed a greater purpose… “I have many people in this city.”


Psychologically, there may be no greater mechanism to get a person to acts in spite of fear than the existence of a greater purpose that would be lost through inaction. 


Any veteran will attest that in the moment where fear could naturally render you paralyzed, the knowledge that the lives of your comrades and success of the mission depends on your swift action has an incredible motivating effect. Women will risk life and limb casting aside all notions of fear if one of their cubs is in trouble.


For Paul, knowing that God had “many people in this city” ripe for the harvest was all the motivation he needed to boldly proclaim the Gospel even when he feared the consequence. God had a work for him so Paul determined to remain active. 


In the face of fear it’s ok to acknowledged its existence, but you need to refuse it power over your life by acting in spite of that fear. And realize the motivation to do this is not found within, but found by looking to Him - A God who is not only with you, who has not only given you unfailing promises through His Son Jesus, but still has an incredible purpose for your life! Faith in Jesus is the only true power that enables a person to move beyond the stagnating position of fear.

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