OVERVIEW:
Paul’s ministry at Corinth (chapter 18); Paul’s ministry at Ephesus (chapter 19); Paul begins his journey to Jerusalem (chapter 20); Paul’s arrival in Jerusalem (chapter 21).
HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:
By the time we open our Bibles to Acts 18 in today’s reading, Paul and his missionary team have preached throughout Syria and Cilicia (15:41), the cities of Lystra and Derbe (16:1), throughout Phrygia and Galatia (16:6), the cities of Philippi, Thessalonica, and Berea in Macedonia (16:11-12; 17:1, 10), and Athens, Greece (17:15). In virtually every place, the preaching of the gospel and the teaching of the word of God have been met with great opposition and persecution. In 2nd Corinthians 11:23-28, Paul described his persistent sufferings in these terms: “In labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.” Wow! What a resume! If God’s “whatever, wherever, whenever” for you and me included such persecutions, would we still obey Him? Remember, Jesus said to His disciples in Matthew16:24, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” (Matthew 16:24)
Acts 18 begins with Paul traveling from Athens to Corinth, a city in the Roman province of Achaia. (18:12) Corinth was a wealthy city, a center of intellectualism, and a city famous for its excess, carnality, and perversion. Every day was Mardi Gras in Corinth. It was the New Orleans, Amsterdam, or Bangkok of biblical times! To be a Corinthian was to almost automatically be associated with sexual promiscuity. In fact, “Corinthian woman” was a proverbial phrase for a prostitute, and “to play the Corinthian”, was to play the whore, or indulge in whorish behavior. Paul was sent there to shine the light of the glorious gospel of Christ into their great darkness.
Prior to Paul’s arrival, God had already arranged a meeting between Paul and a Jewish couple (Aquila and Priscilla) who had been exiled there from Rome. This couple became faithful followers of Christ, using all of their resources to further the gospel of Jesus Christ. Aquila and Priscilla were sound in doctrine, having been used of God to correct Apollos’ outdated teaching in Acts18:25-26. Paul called this couple his “helpers in Christ Jesus” in Romans 16:3, even noting that they had “laid down their own necks” for his sake. (Romans 16:4) All of the Gentile churches also gave thanks for Aquila and Priscilla (Romans 16:4), and when they returned to Rome, their home became the meeting place of the church. (Romans 16:5) Aquila and Priscilla knew what marriage was all about: a joint venture in advancing the gospel of Jesus Christ!
Paul carried out a fruitful ministry in Corinth for “a year and six months.” (18:11) In that time, some prestigious men came to Christ: Justus, whose house was structurally connected to the Jewish synagogue; Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue; and eventually, another chief ruler of the synagogue and the man who had initially caused a riot over Paul’s preaching: Sosthenes. (18:17; 1st Corinthians 1:1-2) In due time, Paul, along with Aquila and Priscilla, departed for Ephesus where Aquila and Priscilla were left, Paul continuing on to Caesarea, and eventually returning home to Antioch of Syria. (18:22-23)
While at Ephesus, Aquila and Priscilla met a Jew from Alexandria, Egypt named Apollos, a powerful preacher who needed to be brought up to date doctrinally. When they encountered him, Apollos was still preaching the gospel of the kingdom of heaven and performing the “baptism of John”. Apollos had no idea that Jesus the Messiah had already come and gone, that God’s plan for Israel had been postponed, and that the Church Age was already in effect. Aquila and Priscilla enlightened this evangelist and brought him into the present by explaining the events of the past 22 years. (18:26) Apollos humbly and joyfully receives the new revelation, begins preaching that Jesus is the Christ, and moves on to Corinth. (19:1)
While Apollos is at Corinth, Paul begins his third missionary journey, passing through Phrygia and Galatia (18:23) and landing at Ephesus (19:1), where he finds some of Apollos’ converts. As Jesus said, “The disciple is not above his master.” (Matthew 10:24) Like their discipler (Apollos), all that these guys really understood about the New Testament was connected with the Jewish baptism of John the Baptist. Like Apollos, they, too, were totally unaware that the Messiah had already come and gone. Obviously, these disciples of Apollos had not been born again, because salvation comes only through Jesus Christ (see John 14:6), and the indwelling of the Holy Ghost is the evidence of that salvation! Romans 8:9 says it very plainly, “Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.” These disciples, however, have never even heard of Jesus Christ or the Holy Ghost! (19:1-4) Paul preaches the gospel of grace to them, they call on the name of Jesus, they are then baptized in water in Jesus’ name, and they immediately receive the Holy Ghost, speaking with tongues and prophesying. (19:4-6) Remember, tongues are a sign to skeptical Jews! (1st Corinthians 1:22; 14:22) The events here at Ephesus are exactly like the events in Samaria (Acts 8:14-16), in that Paul’s apostolic authority and his message is validated by the sign of tongues. These Jewish disciples of Apollos now know with certainty that Paul’s gospel is the true gospel.
Paul had a fruitful few years at Ephesus (19:9-10, 18-20), and the word of God had free course throughout Asia (modern day Asia Minor). However, his success was stifled by a massive riot which forced him to begin his journey to Jerusalem. (19:21; 20:1) On his way to Jerusalem, Paul revisits many of the places wherein he had initially preached the gospel and planted churches, ministering to and edifying the disciples.
Paul, knowing that Jerusalem would mark the beginning of his end, is not afraid to die for the name of the Lord Jesus (21:13), because long ago, at his salvation, Paul had surrendered his life into the hands of His Saviour and Lord. Paul said, in 2nd Timothy 1:12, “For I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.” Paul fearlessly and confidently declares in 2nd Timothy 4:6-8, “For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.”
Oh God, like Paul, may we live our lives with great confidence and assurance, fearlessly abandoned to You and to Your will for our lives.