Acts 18:1-11 Click here for Bible Verses
Hi GAMErs!
Today’s passage is Acts 18:1-11. Let’s go!
Acts 18:1-3 (NIV)
1 After this, Paul left Athens and went to Corinth.
2 There he met a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had ordered all the Jews to leave Rome. Paul went to see them,
3 and because he was a tentmaker as they were, he stayed and worked with them.
On verses 1-3: Paul, Aquila and Priscilla had a lot in common: they had all recently moved to Corinth (Paul from Athens, Aquila and Priscilla from Rome); they were all tentmakers; they were all Jewish by heritage; and there is a good chance that Aquila and Priscilla were already Christians by the time they met Paul. With so much in common, it made sense to them to go into business together. Just as Paul had Aquila and Priscilla, thank God for those like-minded people God has placed in your life with whom you can work and do life together. May you make the most of those relationships and not take them for granted.
Acts 18:4-7 (NIV)
4 Every Sabbath he reasoned in the synagogue, trying to persuade Jews and Greeks.
5 When Silas and Timothy came from Macedonia, Paul devoted himself exclusively to preaching, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ.
6 But when the Jews opposed Paul and became abusive, he shook out his clothes in protest and said to them, “Your blood be on your own heads! I am clear of my responsibility. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.”
7 Then Paul left the synagogue and went next door to the house of Titius Justus, a worshiper of God.
On verses 4-7: When Paul experienced rejection and abuse at the hands of his Jewish opponents in the synagogue in Corinth, Paul moved on to the house of Titius Justus next door. Likewise, when you experience rejection while trying to live out God’s calling, don’t sulk or give up. But get up and move on. You never know what could be waiting for you at the next door over.
Acts 18:8-11 (NIV)
8 Crispus, the synagogue ruler, and his entire household believed in the Lord; and many of the Corinthians who heard him believed and were baptized.
9 One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: “Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent.
10 For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city.”
11 So Paul stayed for a year and a half, teaching them the word of God.
On verses 8-11: So far in virtually every city Paul went to, Paul experienced trouble and persecution while trying to preach about Jesus. But now, while in Corinth, the Lord speaks to Paul personally, telling him not to be afraid and assuring him that no one is going to harm him because the Lord has many people in the city of Corinth. (In verses 12-17 we will see a great example of God making good on this promise.)
What can we learn from this?
– God is a comforter and a friend. He speaks His Word into our hearts so that we can have confidence, hope, purpose, and assurance. How desperately we need to hear God’s Word.
– Also, notice that based on the Lord’s word that he heard, Paul stays in Corinth to teach the Word of God. Instead of constantly doubting and questioning God’s Word, go in faith based on what the Lord tells you. That’s how you grow and are blessed.
Father, thank You for the Aquila’s and Priscilla’s you place in my life, with whom I can work and do life together. Thank You that life is so much richer when we don’t do it alone but with like-minded others. Thank You most of all for being my comforter and my friend. Thank You for Your Word which gives me hope, confidence and assurance. In Jesus’ name, AMEN!
