Daily Bread 2010 - Acts 18
Daily Bread 2010 – Acts 18
In Corinth
1After this, Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. 2There 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 the Jews to leave Rome. Paul went to see them, 3and because he was a tentmaker as they were, he stayed and worked with them. 4Every Sabbath he reasoned in the synagogue, trying to persuade Jews and Greeks.
5When Silas and Timothy came from Macedonia, Paul devoted himself exclusively to preaching, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ. 6But when the Jews 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 clear of my responsibility. From now on I will go to the Gentiles."
7Then Paul left the synagogue and went next door to the house of Titius Justus, a worshiper of God. 8Crispus, the synagogue ruler, and his entire household believed in the Lord; and many of the Corinthians who heard him believed and were baptized.
9One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: "Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. 10For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city." 11So Paul stayed for a year and a half, teaching them the word of God.
12While Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews made a united attack on Paul and brought him into court. 13"This man," they charged, "is persuading the people to worship God in ways contrary to the law."
14Just as Paul was about to speak, Gallio said to the Jews, "If you Jews were making a complaint about some misdemeanor or serious crime, it would be reasonable for me to listen to you. 15But 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." 16So he had them ejected from the court. 17Then they all turned on Sosthenes the synagogue ruler and beat him in front of the court. But Gallio showed no concern whatever.
Although Paul was the leader of these missionary journeys, he had a lot of help. Because Paul was not funded from any given church yet, he was called a “tentmaker”. Literally Paul worked with his hands to support himself so he could be in the Synagogue on the Sabbath to preach the Gospel to persuade the Jews and the Greeks.
We also see when Silas and Timothy came to his aid, he was able to devote himself more exclusively to preaching and teaching the Gospel. The assumption is without their help he was distracted by other matters. It is so easy for any church worker, or any church or pastor for that matter, to get distracted by things other than the primary mission, to preach and teach the Gospel.
As Paul started becoming successful and many people were “persuaded” by his preaching and teaching opposition started arising. As you read the story is very similar to how opposition arose when Jesus started making converts. At the end of this reading, in verses 12-16, when the Jews bring him to the proconsul of Achaia (Greece), the trial looks eerily similar to Jesus’ trial. As Gallio dismisses the trial, the mob rises up against the synagogue ruler.
We also see in Corinth there was a large receptivity to the Gospel. The Lord tells Paul in a vision that there are “many in this city who believe”. We call this today, “receptivity”. Certain areas or cities will be more responsive to the Gospel than others. After all, we are reminded that are battle is not against flesh and blood, but principalities and powers of this present darkness. This reminds us that our job is to preach and teach, but it is God and the Holy Spirit’s job to create receptivity in people’s hearts. That is why prayer is so important to break down the spiritual barriers which lessen receptivity.
Dear Jesus we pray for those in our city that we have not even met yet, who are open to the life changing Gospel. Give us boldness and help us not to be afraid to share this message which leads to abundant life, now and forever, in Your name we pray, Amen.
In Corinth
1After this, Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. 2There 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 the Jews to leave Rome. Paul went to see them, 3and because he was a tentmaker as they were, he stayed and worked with them. 4Every Sabbath he reasoned in the synagogue, trying to persuade Jews and Greeks.
5When Silas and Timothy came from Macedonia, Paul devoted himself exclusively to preaching, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ. 6But when the Jews 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 clear of my responsibility. From now on I will go to the Gentiles."
7Then Paul left the synagogue and went next door to the house of Titius Justus, a worshiper of God. 8Crispus, the synagogue ruler, and his entire household believed in the Lord; and many of the Corinthians who heard him believed and were baptized.
9One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: "Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. 10For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city." 11So Paul stayed for a year and a half, teaching them the word of God.
12While Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews made a united attack on Paul and brought him into court. 13"This man," they charged, "is persuading the people to worship God in ways contrary to the law."
14Just as Paul was about to speak, Gallio said to the Jews, "If you Jews were making a complaint about some misdemeanor or serious crime, it would be reasonable for me to listen to you. 15But 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." 16So he had them ejected from the court. 17Then they all turned on Sosthenes the synagogue ruler and beat him in front of the court. But Gallio showed no concern whatever.
Although Paul was the leader of these missionary journeys, he had a lot of help. Because Paul was not funded from any given church yet, he was called a “tentmaker”. Literally Paul worked with his hands to support himself so he could be in the Synagogue on the Sabbath to preach the Gospel to persuade the Jews and the Greeks.
We also see when Silas and Timothy came to his aid, he was able to devote himself more exclusively to preaching and teaching the Gospel. The assumption is without their help he was distracted by other matters. It is so easy for any church worker, or any church or pastor for that matter, to get distracted by things other than the primary mission, to preach and teach the Gospel.
As Paul started becoming successful and many people were “persuaded” by his preaching and teaching opposition started arising. As you read the story is very similar to how opposition arose when Jesus started making converts. At the end of this reading, in verses 12-16, when the Jews bring him to the proconsul of Achaia (Greece), the trial looks eerily similar to Jesus’ trial. As Gallio dismisses the trial, the mob rises up against the synagogue ruler.
We also see in Corinth there was a large receptivity to the Gospel. The Lord tells Paul in a vision that there are “many in this city who believe”. We call this today, “receptivity”. Certain areas or cities will be more responsive to the Gospel than others. After all, we are reminded that are battle is not against flesh and blood, but principalities and powers of this present darkness. This reminds us that our job is to preach and teach, but it is God and the Holy Spirit’s job to create receptivity in people’s hearts. That is why prayer is so important to break down the spiritual barriers which lessen receptivity.
Dear Jesus we pray for those in our city that we have not even met yet, who are open to the life changing Gospel. Give us boldness and help us not to be afraid to share this message which leads to abundant life, now and forever, in Your name we pray, Amen.
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