Daily Bread 2011 - Acts 18
Tuesday, May 31st
In Corinth
1 After this, Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. 2 There 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, 3 and because he was a tentmaker as they were, he stayed and worked with them. 4 Every Sabbath he reasoned in the synagogue, trying to persuade Jews and Greeks. 5 When Silas and Timothy came from Macedonia, Paul devoted himself exclusively to preaching, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ. 6 But 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.” 7 Then Paul left the synagogue and went next door to the house of Titius Justus, a worshiper of God. 8 Crispus, the synagogue ruler, and his entire household believed in the Lord; and many of the Corinthians who heard him believed and were baptized.9 One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: “Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. 10 For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city.” 11 So Paul stayed for a year and a half, teaching them the word of God.
What Does This Mean?
Paul goes from Athens to Corinth (which we know later became a strategic church). He met Aquila and Priscilla, whom he was able to work with because they were "tentmakers". As he preached that Jesus was the Christ (Messiah), he was met with lots of dissension and even abuse. Paul did not stay around and take the abuse, but shook his clothes off in protest and let them know that they were now responsible.
Then, he goes next door to a man named Titius Justus, who he knew worshipped God; but had not yet come to Christ. Then, it says Crispus the synagogue ruler was there, and came to faith and he and his household were baptized. How he got in is not clear, but obviously he was curious from what Paul had preached in the synagogue earlier. It also says many more Corinthians heard him believed and were baptized.
What seemed like a bust to Paul, turned out to be a lot more fruitful than what he originally thought? Then the Lord spoke to him in a vision and told him not to be afraid for there were many more in the city that were his.
What Does This Mean For Us?
This story is a great reminder to us that sometimes we can’t see with our human eyes what God is doing. Paul was probably discouraged with the reception he got from the Corinthians, but later many came to faith, including the synagogue ruler. Though Paul was tempted to move on, the Lord told him to stay as there were many more of His children that He prepared for the harvest.
There are many times in ministry where we might be tempted want to move on or give up. But we never know what God is doing behind the scenes. Our only job is to stay faithful to preaching the Good News we have received. God is the only one who can change a human heart. If God has called you somewhere, you should not leave until it is clear the Lord has called you to somewhere else, even when you are not seeing the results with your human eye. God may be preparing a huge harvest in the days ahead. We know from the book of Corinthians that eventually this became a very important church in the spreading the gospel from a strategic place in the world.
Gracious God, your ways are higher than our ways. Remind us to let you direct our steps and not get so caught in our human measurements of success that we forget to see things from your perspective. Amen.
In Corinth
1 After this, Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. 2 There 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, 3 and because he was a tentmaker as they were, he stayed and worked with them. 4 Every Sabbath he reasoned in the synagogue, trying to persuade Jews and Greeks. 5 When Silas and Timothy came from Macedonia, Paul devoted himself exclusively to preaching, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ. 6 But 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.” 7 Then Paul left the synagogue and went next door to the house of Titius Justus, a worshiper of God. 8 Crispus, the synagogue ruler, and his entire household believed in the Lord; and many of the Corinthians who heard him believed and were baptized.9 One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: “Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. 10 For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city.” 11 So Paul stayed for a year and a half, teaching them the word of God.
What Does This Mean?
Paul goes from Athens to Corinth (which we know later became a strategic church). He met Aquila and Priscilla, whom he was able to work with because they were "tentmakers". As he preached that Jesus was the Christ (Messiah), he was met with lots of dissension and even abuse. Paul did not stay around and take the abuse, but shook his clothes off in protest and let them know that they were now responsible.
Then, he goes next door to a man named Titius Justus, who he knew worshipped God; but had not yet come to Christ. Then, it says Crispus the synagogue ruler was there, and came to faith and he and his household were baptized. How he got in is not clear, but obviously he was curious from what Paul had preached in the synagogue earlier. It also says many more Corinthians heard him believed and were baptized.
What seemed like a bust to Paul, turned out to be a lot more fruitful than what he originally thought? Then the Lord spoke to him in a vision and told him not to be afraid for there were many more in the city that were his.
What Does This Mean For Us?
This story is a great reminder to us that sometimes we can’t see with our human eyes what God is doing. Paul was probably discouraged with the reception he got from the Corinthians, but later many came to faith, including the synagogue ruler. Though Paul was tempted to move on, the Lord told him to stay as there were many more of His children that He prepared for the harvest.
There are many times in ministry where we might be tempted want to move on or give up. But we never know what God is doing behind the scenes. Our only job is to stay faithful to preaching the Good News we have received. God is the only one who can change a human heart. If God has called you somewhere, you should not leave until it is clear the Lord has called you to somewhere else, even when you are not seeing the results with your human eye. God may be preparing a huge harvest in the days ahead. We know from the book of Corinthians that eventually this became a very important church in the spreading the gospel from a strategic place in the world.
Gracious God, your ways are higher than our ways. Remind us to let you direct our steps and not get so caught in our human measurements of success that we forget to see things from your perspective. Amen.
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