Stay, I Have Many People Here
[ READ ] 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.
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.
There’s a lot going on here: Paul arrives in Corinth and meets a people he will come to love deeply even as he continues to reason with and teach them (1 Cor 1:1-9). As we can see, however, this is not an easy road. Between the tent-making, the opposition from his Jewish brethren, and the brewing trouble with the Roman government, Paul has got his hands full and probably even questions his calling from time to time (he hints at that in v6). And yet… look at the encouragement from the Father: “Do not be afraid…I am with you” (vv 9-10). God is looking out for Paul, and he’s also looking out for His people.
God called Paul to Corinth as a messenger of the gospel to His chosen people. Corinth was arguably an epicenter of sexual immorality in the Roman Empire, and yet God had many people in this city who belonged to Him.
Do you ever question why you are where you are? Maybe it’s because God wants to use you to reason with, to care for, to teach, or even just to be with the people around you. Let’s start to look around and see what the Lord sees: a people, His people, in need of a savior.
- Hayden Van Dyke
God called Paul to Corinth as a messenger of the gospel to His chosen people. Corinth was arguably an epicenter of sexual immorality in the Roman Empire, and yet God had many people in this city who belonged to Him.
Do you ever question why you are where you are? Maybe it’s because God wants to use you to reason with, to care for, to teach, or even just to be with the people around you. Let’s start to look around and see what the Lord sees: a people, His people, in need of a savior.
- Hayden Van Dyke
[ EXAMINE ] the passage. At this point, answer some questions about the meaning of the text. Take time to reflect.
+ How would you characterize Paul’s attitude towards the Corinthians? Does it change? Why?
+ Why does Paul engage in tentmaking even while he’s acting in his capacity as an apostle?
+ How would you characterize Paul’s attitude towards the Corinthians? Does it change? Why?
+ Why does Paul engage in tentmaking even while he’s acting in his capacity as an apostle?
[ APPLY ] the passage to your own life.
+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?
+ Do you think you are where you are for a reason? What reason might that be?
+ How have you interacted with the people around you? Your next door neighbor? Do you know who they are? Have you loved on them?
+ What do you notice about some of the descriptions or actions of the other folks in this passage (Titius Justus, Aquila and Priscilla, Sosthenes, Gallio)? If someone were to write about what is going on in your city, what would they say about you?
+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?
+ Do you think you are where you are for a reason? What reason might that be?
+ How have you interacted with the people around you? Your next door neighbor? Do you know who they are? Have you loved on them?
+ What do you notice about some of the descriptions or actions of the other folks in this passage (Titius Justus, Aquila and Priscilla, Sosthenes, Gallio)? If someone were to write about what is going on in your city, what would they say about you?
[ PRAY ] through the passage and your application, and ask God to change your heart and your life.
+ Pray with me:
Gracious Father, thank you for your protection and provision that I often take for granted. Just as you preserved Paul that he might walk in his calling, I ask that you be with me and give me the courage to take a bold step of faith today. Help me to see the people around me as your people – your sons and daughters whom you love and to treat them as I would my brother or sister. You are good and your mercy endures forever. Amen.
+ Pray with me:
Gracious Father, thank you for your protection and provision that I often take for granted. Just as you preserved Paul that he might walk in his calling, I ask that you be with me and give me the courage to take a bold step of faith today. Help me to see the people around me as your people – your sons and daughters whom you love and to treat them as I would my brother or sister. You are good and your mercy endures forever. Amen.
[ SHARE ] what God is teaching you with at least one person: your roommate,
your spouse, your kids, or your coworkers. Don’t keep what God taught you to
yourself.
(e.g., your family around the dinner table, a friend, co-worker or neighbor- for help join a community group at downtownhope.org/community-groups)
your spouse, your kids, or your coworkers. Don’t keep what God taught you to
yourself.
(e.g., your family around the dinner table, a friend, co-worker or neighbor- for help join a community group at downtownhope.org/community-groups)
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