Acts 18 - Paul Goes to Corinth And Meets Priscilla and Aquila - Apollos Goes to Corinth to Teach and Prove Jesus is the Messiah

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In Corinth

Paul left Athens and traveled to Corinth, a five-sided island, which is called an "isthmus". Corinth was an affluent area and immorality abounded as sailors stopped at its many ports to explore various vices.  It became known for its sexual immorality.  

But since it was home to so many travelers and other merchants, it would become a very strategic place and beachhead for the gospel. Paul met Aquilla and Priscilla, who were Jewish tentmakers. He reasoned in the synagogues and though some opposed him, many came to faith and were baptized including, Crispus the synagogue leader. 

This began one of the important friendships of the New Testament – Paul and Aquila and his wife Priscilla. Paul called them his fellow workers who had risked their own necks for my life (Romans 16:3-4)

Paul stayed there for a year and a half amidst a great amount of persecution from the Jewish people in Corinth. Importantly, the Lord gave Paul a personal message in a vision about his own safety.

"Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city."

As the Lord looks down at the city, He sees His people. It is comforting to think that in whatever city we live or work in, God has people there. 

When the Jewish leaders angrily brought him to the Consul of the city, he dismissed the case saying he didn't want to get involved in their differences about religion. 

Priscilla, Aquila and Apollos

When Paul left Corinth, he went to Ephesus with Priscilla and Aquilla. He then left them there and returned back to Jerusalem ending his second missionary journey. While the people wanted Paul to stay there, he had an obligation to return to Jerusalem. Many believe Paul took the hair he had cut off there as a fulfillment of the Nazirite vow, which he had made in obedience to the Law. 

It was important for Paul to fulfill the vows he had made to the Lord. To not do so would have been an impediment to the gospel, as the Jews would have dismissed him for not honoring what he said he would do. Finally, Paul returned to his home church in Syrian Antioch. It must have been a time of great reunion and rejoicing in all the Lord had done in his first two missionary journeys.

It is good for us to take time and celebrate what God is doing in and through us and in our church and in our lives. We need to be thankful for the transformation Jesus is bringing into people's lives. Baptisms, testimonies, and heartfelt fellowship are all fruits of God's transforming work through Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit!

Paul started his third missionary journey by going from there to Asia Minor to places like Galatia and Phrygia, where he had been before. He strengthened the believers there and I'm sure shared the good news of what God had been doing with them as well. 

Meanwhile a man named "Apollos", who was a very gifted teacher and orator, arrived in Ephesus. He had a very thorough knowledge of scriptures. When Priscilla and Aquilla met him they led him into a deeper relationship and understanding of the way of Christ. Apollos was then sent by the Ephesians to Corinthians. He reasoned with the Corinthians and proved to them Jesus was the Messiah. 

Apollos was a gift teacher and apologist. It shows how God brings together different people at different times in the church with the gifts needed to further the gospel! 

Are you using your spiritual gift to help build your church so it can reach more people in the city the church is located?