Sermon Text
Acts 18:1–17
Paul in Corinth
[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. (ESV)
Study Guide
Big Ideas
- Jesus and the Old Testament...again
Whenever Paul attempts to reason with the Jews that Jesus is the Christ, he always argues from the Old Testament. Always. Why? Because the Old Testament, with all of its types, antitypes, shadows, and promises, is all about Jesus. He is not an add-on to the Old Testament. Rather, he is the very foundation—the heart and soul of it. To reject Christ is to miss the entire point of the Old Testament.
- Protection promised, protection provided
Paul did not live an easy life (2 Corinthians 11:23-29). Nearly everywhere he traveled and preached he faced opposition, riots, personal attacks, and physical violence. Yet God was gracious and merciful to him and his suffering was not endless. God knew Paul’s suffering and the limitations of his finitude and promised Paul protection for a season of approximately 18 months as he contended for the Gospel (Acts 18:9-11).
- Protection from the magistrates
Throughout Acts, some Jews incite trouble for the Apostles. At times they did this by stirring up the local magistrates (Acts 17:6 & 18:12). However, in this text, Gallio, the proconsul of Achaia, refuses to participate in the Jews’ opposition to Paul, because their issue with Paul was theological, not legal. In doing so, God provided protection for Paul from the Jews through the local magistrates who are God’s servants (Romans 13:4).
Study Questions
- How does rejecting Jesus change the way we understand the Old Testament? In what ways is Jesus prefigured and promised in the Old Testament?
- Sometimes we just need a break. How has God provided you with seasons of rest during difficult times in your life?
- God is sovereign over all, even godless magistrates. How might this truth encourage you during a time of political turmoil?
Call to Worship
Psalm 141
Give Ear to My Voice
A Psalm of David.
[1] O LORD, I call upon you; hasten to me!
Give ear to my voice when I call to you!
[2] Let my prayer be counted as incense before you,
and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice!
[3] Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth;
keep watch over the door of my lips!
[4] Do not let my heart incline to any evil,
to busy myself with wicked deeds
in company with men who work iniquity,
and let me not eat of their delicacies!
[5] Let a righteous man strike me—it is a kindness;
let him rebuke me—it is oil for my head;
let my head not refuse it.
Yet my prayer is continually against their evil deeds.
[6] When their judges are thrown over the cliff,
then they shall hear my words, for they are pleasant.
[7] As when one plows and breaks up the earth,
so shall our bones be scattered at the mouth of Sheol.
[8] But my eyes are toward you, O GOD, my Lord;
in you I seek refuge; leave me not defenseless!
[9] Keep me from the trap that they have laid for me
and from the snares of evildoers!
[10] Let the wicked fall into their own nets,
while I pass by safely. (ESV)
Prayer of Confession
Lord, you have opened your arms to welcome us as your children. You alone can forgive our sin. You alone can mend the scars of our shame. When we were found guilty, the blood of your perfect Son, Jesus, was spilled so that we could be declared innocent. Lord, thank you for your mercy toward us. May we run to no other source of refuge. May we wash in no other fountain. May we receive from no other fullness. Or rest in no other relief than in the cross of Jesus our Savior. Amen.
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