ACTS LESSON 39

    We will begin this lesson in Acts 18:1 "After these things Paul
departed from Athens, and came to Corinth;" Acts 18:2 "And found a
certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, lately come from Italy, with
his wife Priscilla; (because that Claudius had commanded all Jews to
depart from Rome:) and came unto them."

    This Claudius is Caesar.  When he ordered the Jews to leave Rome,
it appears Aquila and Priscilla came to Corinth.  We don't know how
long Paul waited in Athens for Timothy and Silas.  We do know it would
have taken about a month for the servant to take back the news that
Paul wanted them to come, and then for them to make the trip, because
it was a long way.  Corinth was about 40 miles from Athens, so it
would have taken two or three days to get there.  Most of the Jews run
out of Rome, came to Corinth.

    Acts 18:3 "And because he was of the same craft, he abode with
them, and wrought: for by their occupation they were tentmakers."

    Paul was going to work some as a tentmaker and he stayed with
these tentmakers in Corinth.  Tentmaking was an honorable profession.
Paul was a Pharisee, so he understood Jewish customs, as well.  He
would fit in well with Aquila and Priscilla.

    Acts 18:4 "And he reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath, and
persuaded the Jews and the Greeks."

    Notice the different wording here.  He reasoned.  In the other
places he disputed.  We see, also, that he persuaded them, the Greeks
and Jews.

    Acts 18:5 "And when Silas and Timotheus were come from Macedonia,
Paul was pressed in the spirit, and testified to the Jews [that] Jesus
[was] Christ."

    Pressed in the spirit here means compelled of the Spirit.  Paul
had been working part time as a tentmaker, now the Holy Spirit has set
him on fire to preach the gospel message.  Whether Silas and Timothy
being there had strengthened him, or not, we cannot say.  He boldly
proclaims Jesus as the Christ (these Jew's Messiah).

    Acts 18:6 "And when they opposed themselves, and blasphemed, he
shook [his] raiment, and said unto them, Your blood [be] upon your own
heads; I [am] clean: from henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles."

    Paul could take no more opposition to the name of Jesus Christ.
His people, the Jews, had rejected Jesus.  The shaking of his garments
was an act of saying, I am through trying to convince you.  He was
obligated to try to tell them, but they didn't listen.  His obligation
is over.  He was called to the Gentiles, as well as the Jews.  In Acts
9:15, God tells Ananias of this call.

    Acts 18:7 "And he departed thence, and entered into a certain
[man's] house, named Justus, [one] that worshipped God, whose house
joined hard to the synagogue."

    This man named Justus lived just next door to the synagogue.  This
probably does not mean that Paul lived with Justus, but that he
preached at Justus' house.  The voice of Paul would have carried, so
that those attending synagogue would have heard the message, also.
Justus was a believer.

    Acts 18:8 "And Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed
on the Lord with all his house; and many of the Corinthians hearing
believed, and were baptized."

    Crispus was one of the few people that Paul himself baptized.  He
was chief ruler of the synagogue, and it would have been proper for
Paul to baptize him.  In I Corinthians 1:14 we read, "I thank God that
I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius."  These Corinthians
were probably many of them Jews; because this house where Paul
preached was next to the synagogue and they could hear Paul preaching.

    Acts 18:9 "Then spake the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision,
Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace:"  Acts 18:10 "For I
am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have
much people in this city."

    Paul has run into trouble nearly everywhere he has ministered.  In
every instance, he had not been able to settle down and really preach
for any length of time, because the Jews would come in and force him
to leave.  We see, here, that God is telling Paul to settle down and
preach boldly, that God Himself will protect him from any harm.  What
a promise!  The Lord tells Paul that there are many people here who
will receive Jesus into their hearts.  This will really be the forming
and early years of the Corinthian church.

    Acts 18:11 "And he continued [there] a year and six months,
teaching the word of God among them."

    This is a time of peaceful ministry for Paul.  This 18 months was
time to form a sound base for this church.  Paul will later write I
and II Corinthians to this very church he started here.

    Acts 18:12  "And when Gallio was the deputy of Achaia, the Jews
made insurrection with one accord against Paul, and brought him to the
judgment seat,"

    After 18 months of peace for Paul, suddenly the Jews came against
him and brought him before the judgement seat.

    Acts 18:13 "Saying, This [fellow] persuadeth men to worship God
contrary to the law."

    Notice, they are not accusing Paul of worshipping a false god.
They say he persuades men to worship God.  They are complaining about
the way he worships, not who he worships.
    Acts 18:14 "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:"

    Paul does not have to defend himself.  Gallio does it for him.  It
appears that Gallio is a little annoyed that they would bring any
accusation against Paul.  He says, in a sense, he has done no wrong,
why do you accuse him?  He, also says, he would listen to their
grievance, but they really don't have one.

    Acts 18:15 "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]."

    He says again here, this is not for a court to judge.  It would be
like asking a court today to decide between two denominations of
churches.  This is not a civil matter.

    Acts 18:16 "And he drave them from the judgment seat."

    They had wasted his time, and he was very annoyed with them.

    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."

    These people who caught the ruler of the synagogue up and beat
him, must have been sympathetic to Paul.  Gallio would not stop them,
because this too was a matter of church concern, and not a civil
matter.  These Greeks were probably a mixture of people who disliked
the Jews.

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                           Acts 39 Questions


1.  When Paul left Athens, where did he go?
2.  What husband and wife did Paul meet?
3.  Why was this couple in Corinth?
4.  Why did Paul choose to live with them?
5.  Where did Paul reason every sabbath?
6.  Who was Paul teaching?
7.  Who came from Macedonia to help Paul?
8.  What was Paul pressed in the spirit to do?
9.  When the Jews blasphemed, what did Paul do?
10. Where would Paul go not to minister?
11. Whose house did Paul go to?
12. Where did Justus live?
13. Who was chief ruler of the Synagogue?
14. Who with him received the Lord?
15. Who were two men mentioned in I Corinthians that Paul baptized?
16. In verse 9, God spoke to Paul how?
17. What did He tell Paul to do?
18. Why was Paul not to fear?
19. How long did Paul preach here?
20. Who was deputy of Achaia when the Jews made insurrection against
    Paul?
21. What did they accuse Paul of?
22. What did Gallio say to them?
23. Why would he not judge in this?
24. What did Gallio do to the Jews?
25. What did the Greeks do to Sosthenes?
26. What did Gallio do about this?

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