Paul leaves Athens—the city of the philosophers—and heads south to Corinth, a city known for its hedonism and sexual immorality. Who would have guessed that in such a place as this, God would use Paul to have such a fruitful ministry? First, he meets a married couple who become dear friends and co-laborers with him in his ministry. He also gets a clear call from the Lord to start a focus on reaching the Gentiles with the Gospel of Jesus. He stays in this city longer than any other, writing I and II Thessalonians and his magnum opus, the Letter to the Romans.

[Acts 18.1-17]

18.1 After this Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. 2 And he found a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to leave Rome. And he went to see them, 3 and because he was of the same trade he stayed with them and worked, for they were tentmakers by trade. 4 And he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and tried to persuade Jews and Greeks.

5 When Silas and Timothy arrived from Macedonia, Paul was occupied with the word, testifying to the Jews that the Christ was Jesus. 6 And when they opposed and reviled him, he shook out his garments and said to them, “Your blood be on your own heads! I am innocent. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.” 7 And he left there and went to the house of a man named Titius Justus, a worshiper of God. His house was next door to the synagogue. 8 Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed in the Lord, together with his entire household. And many of the Corinthians hearing Paul believed and were baptized. 9 And the Lord said to Paul one night in a vision, “Do not be afraid, but go on speaking and do not be silent, 10 for I am with you, and no one will attack you to harm you, for I have many in this city who are my people.” 11 And he stayed a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.

12 But when Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews made a united attack on Paul and brought him before the tribunal, 13 saying, “This man is persuading people to worship God contrary to the law.” 14 But when Paul was about to open his mouth, Gallio said to the Jews, “If it were a matter of wrongdoing or vicious crime, O Jews, I would have reason to accept your complaint. 15 But since it is a matter of questions about words and names and your own law, see to it yourselves. I refuse to be a judge of these things.” 16 And he drove them from the tribunal. 17 And they all seized Sosthenes, the ruler of the synagogue, and beat him in front of the tribunal. But Gallio paid no attention to any of this.

[ WHAT ] is this passage saying and what is a key truth or thought that we learn?

+ Do some digging and find out more about Aquila and Priscilla. [Read Acts 18.18, 24-26, Romans 16.3-4, I Corinthians 16.19, and II Timothy 4.19. Note II Timothy is thought to be written right before Paul’s execution!!!] What do these verses tell you about this couple?

+ What do you think of Paul’s strong response to those who “opposed and reviled him” in v. 6? One translation reads “opposed him and blasphemed”. Why is that significant? Is there a time when we are called to stop in our attempts to reach someone with the Gospel? Read Matthew 7.6 and discuss within your group. What does it tell you that Paul found a willing convert right next door to the synagogue and that later, the ruler of the synagogue and his WHOLE family came to Christ, as well as many other Corinthians?

+ What does it say about Paul that the Lord had to tell him “Do not be afraid”? Does that surprise you? Notice how God keeps His promise to Paul in v. 10 with the events in vv. 12-16. God even uses the actions of non-believers in carrying out His promises to His children!!! Because of Gallio’s intervention, Paul was able to continue to preach the Gospel and minister to those who came to faith in Corinth for 18 months!!!

[ HOW ] is the Lord calling me to action/obedience?

+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?

+ Have you ever been afraid to share the Gospel? Why? Paul must have had some fear and trepidation for the Lord to appear to him in a vision with the comforting command of “Do not be afraid, for I am with you”. In following Christ as Lord, Paul lost his standing in the Jewish community, was constantly ridiculed and reviled, faced beatings and imprisonments and many other hardships. Read II Corinthians 11.22-32. What is our excuse for being afraid of sharing the Gospel?

Heavenly Father, forgive us for our not carrying out the Great Commission. Strengthen us with the Holy Spirit to believe Your promise that you are with us wherever we go. Give us a love for those who are lost and perishing without Christ as their Savior. Amen.

[ WHO ] am I walking with and praying for to discover Jesus?

+ What is my next step?