The Book of Acts: Discipleship In Action Pt. 82 Divine Direction and Christian Fellowship

God allowed a lengthy apostolic ministry at Corinth. 

Acts 18:9-11  Then spake the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision, Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace: 10)  For I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city. 11)  And he continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them. 

A mighty work began in the corrupt city of Corinth. Jesus spoke words of comfort and encouragement to the apostle Paul in a vision, after Timothy and Silas rejoined him.

Jesus made it very clear that He would not allow any man to hurt Paul while he preached the gospel of Christ because He was going to save many people in this city. 

Luke tells us that Paul remained in Corinth teaching and preaching the Word of God for a year and a half. 

Jews sought to charge Paul with violating Roman law.

Acts 18:12,13  And when Gallio was the deputy of Achaia, the Jews made insurrection with one accord against Paul, and brought him to the judgment seat, 13)  Saying, This fellow persuadeth men to worship God contrary to the law.

People opposing the gospel wherever Paul preached had a common weapon they sought to use against the apostle. 

Roman law made it a capital offense to introduce any new religion. Only those approved by Rome were permissible, meaning that all the idolatrous and paganistic religions flourished. Thus, they tried to bring charges of this nature against Paul while he was at Corinth. 

Think about the irony of the Jews position. Paul used their Old Testament scriptures to prove that Jesus was the Christ of God, and they rejected this truth and rejected their King and Savior. 

Instead, they persecuted Paul and Christianity, which means they stood up for the continuance of idolatry. The Jews knew the first commandment very well and should have been vocal in denouncing idolatry and paganism, but most were not. 

The Proconsul turned away the Jews. 

Acts 18:14-16  And when Paul was now about to open his mouth, Gallio said unto the Jews, If it were a matter of wrong or wicked lewdness, O ye Jews, reason would that I should bear with you: 15)  But if it be a question of words and names, and of your law, look ye to it; for I will be no judge of such matters. 16)  And he drave them from the judgment seat. 

Paul was ready to make his defense before the Roman judgment seat, but Gallio the proconsul saw right through their deceitful plan. He discerned that the Jews dragged Paul to the court of law because they were filled with malicious jealousy against the gospel of Christ. 

He declared that no person's rights had been violated by Paul. Furthermore, he stated that there was no evidence of any grievous crime being committed. Nothing had happened that was an offense punishable by a magistrate. 

Therefore, he had no reason to consider their false charges, and Gallio used force to drive them away from the judgment seat. 

An innocent man beaten. 

Acts 18:17  Then all the Greeks took Sosthenes, the chief ruler of the synagogue, and beat him before the judgment seat. And Gallio cared for none of those things.

His decision enraged the Grecian Jews and possibly some of the Gentiles in the crowd, and they violently assaulted the ruler current of the synagogue, named Sosthenes. They beat Sosthenes as if he were a terrible criminal, guilty of some heinous crime. 

Why were they so angry at Sosthenes? He was the ruler who replaced Crispus when the latter was converted to Christ. Sosthenes also followed Christ (See 1 Corinthians 1:1) and was partial to Paul's position.  

God knows when courts and judges are corrupt.

Isaiah 59:14,15  And judgment is turned away backward, and justice standeth afar off: for truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter. 15)  Yea, truth faileth; and he that departeth from evil maketh himself a prey: and the LORD saw it, and it displeased him that there was no judgment. 

Notice it says that Gallio cared for none of these things. A beating of an innocent man was conducted in the presence of the court where justice should protect the innocent.

This seems to be a case where judgment was turned aside, where justice was not carried out and truth fell in the street. Those that sought to do right as Sosthenes did, found themselves victims of evil doers. 

Yet, Jehovah saw that righteous judgment was not upheld and He was displeased. It is no less so today, when judges and courts do not judge righteous judgment (John 7:24). 

Paul traveled back to Syria.

Acts 18:18  And Paul after this tarried there yet a good while, and then took his leave of the brethren, and sailed thence into Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila; having shorn his head in Cenchrea: for he had a vow.

The persecuting Jews learned from their experience with the proconsul that they had no hope of raising criminal charges against the apostles. 

Roman law provided for the personal safety of every Roman citizen so the Jews were afraid to proceed any farther. 

It was well known that Paul was possessed full rights of Roman citizenship, therefore his person was safe as long as he did nothing contrary to the laws.

The result is that Paul stayed a good while longer at Corinth before finally departing. He proceeded to sail to Syria with Aquila and Priscilla.

Luke does not tell us why Paul had taken a vow, but the apostle did at some point in time. The vow expired which is why Paul had his hair cut. 

Generally, a vow is a pledge of separation and dedication of oneself to God, seeking His direction and empowerment. In some ways a vow is similar to the purposes of fasting. 

Paul stopped briefly at Ephesus. 

Acts 18:19  And he came to Ephesus, and left them there: but he himself entered into the synagogue, and reasoned with the Jews. 

Paul and his company arrived at Ephesus. He entered the synagogue and following his pattern, he began a dialogue with the Jews. This is the very place that he wanted to visit earlier, but instead the Spirit of God sent him to Macedonia (Acts 16:6). 

Luke did not record any results of Paul's interactions with the Jews of Ephesus, but we will see later, that the seed of the Word had been sown by Paul. Others would come and water it. 

Acts 18:20,21  When they desired him to tarry longer time with them, he consented not; 21)  But bade them farewell, saying, I must by all means keep this feast that cometh in Jerusalem: but I will return again unto you, if God will. And he sailed from Ephesus. 

Aquila and Priscilla were good Christian friends and helpers of Paul. They wanted him to stay on at Ephesus but Paul was determined to keep a feast at Jerusalem. He did promise that if God allowed it, he would return to Ephesus. 

Paul returned to Antioch, preaching along the way. 

Act 18:22,23  And when he had landed at Caesarea, and gone up, and saluted the church, he went down to Antioch. 23)  And after he had spent some time there, he departed, and went over all the country of Galatia and Phrygia in order, strengthening all the disciples. 

Paul finally arrived at Caesarea and after greeting the church where Philip ministered, he returned to Antioch. His travel back to his sending church was a few hundred miles and this allowed Paul to check in on churches planted in Galatia and Phrygia. 

The words "in order" mean that Paul followed the Roman connecting roads which brought him to churches that he helped start many years earlier. 

He enjoyed fellowship with those believers and after telling them of what God was doing, Paul taught apostolic truth, to make sure they did not deviate from sound doctrine. 

Thoughts to Ponder...

Paul trusted the Lord and was not harmed while he preached at Corinth for eighteen months. Jesus protected him and blessed the Word as it was communicated.

Jesus will also bless the Word as you and I share it with others. 

When the gospel has success, you can count on facing opposition. This has been a consistent pattern in the book of Acts. Paul preached freely and boldly, people were born again and the Devil did not like it. 

May we be bold to declare God's truth and be ready to endure whatever persecution our enemy stirs up. 

He stirred up the Jews to make false charges against Paul, but the proconsul dismissed them. However, we also noted that God sees all things that happen and He is displeased when judges and courts do no make right decisions that are based upon His truth.

May we be slow to judge others and quick to stand up for what is Biblically right and true. 

Last, wherever God takes us through this life, let us be good ambassadors of the gospel of Christ, sharing His truth, helping others understand it, so that we might live for God's glory and worship Him aright. 

Bob