Acts 18 – Paul Meets Priscilla and Aquila in Corinth
18 Then Paul left Athens and went to Corinth.[a] 2 There he became acquainted with a Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, who had recently arrived from Italy with his wife, Priscilla. They had left Italy when Claudius Caesar deported all Jews from Rome. 3 Paul lived and worked with them, for they were tentmakers[b] just as he was.4 Each Sabbath found Paul at the synagogue, trying to convince the Jews and Greeks alike. 5 And after Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia, Paul spent all his time preaching the word. He testified to the Jews that Jesus was the Messiah. 6 But when they opposed and insulted him, Paul shook the dust from his clothes and said, “Your blood is upon your own heads—I am innocent. From now on I will go preach to the Gentiles.”
7 Then he left and went to the home of Titius Justus, a Gentile who worshiped God and lived next door to the synagogue. 8 Crispus, the leader of the synagogue, and everyone in his household believed in the Lord. Many others in Corinth also heard Paul, became believers, and were baptized.
9 One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision and told him, “Don’t be afraid! Speak out! Don’t be silent! 10 For I am with you, and no one will attack and harm you, for many people in this city belong to me.” 11 So Paul stayed there for the next year and a half, teaching the word of God.
12 But when Gallio became governor of Achaia, some Jews rose up together against Paul and brought him before the governor for judgment. 13 They accused Paul of “persuading people to worship God in ways that are contrary to our law.”
14 But just as Paul started to make his defense, Gallio turned to Paul’s accusers and said, “Listen, you Jews, if this were a case involving some wrongdoing or a serious crime, I would have a reason to accept your case. 15 But since it is merely a question of words and names and your Jewish law, take care of it yourselves. I refuse to judge such matters.” 16 And he threw them out of the courtroom.
17 The crowd[c] then grabbed Sosthenes, the leader of the synagogue, and beat him right there in the courtroom. But Gallio paid no attention.
According to Acts and many of the stories of Paul, it seemed like he was accustomed to being opposed and insulted when preaching and teaching the Word of God. In this chapter we see the same thing upon his arrival in Corinth. In verse 4 & 5 it says that Paul was often found in the synagogue trying to convince Jews and Greeks alike. Preaching the word and testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Messiah. A glimpse of Paul’s frustration appears in verse 6 saying that when they opposed him and insulted him, Paul shook the dust from his clothes and said, “your blood is upon your own heads-I am innocent. From now on I will go preach to the Gentiles.”
Clearly Paul was frustrated, to put it plainly he was pretty much saying “I said what I’ve said and it’s on you now. I’m just going to talk to someone who will actually listen.” We’ve all been there and felt what it’s like trying to talk to someone and they just don’t want to listen. To be insulted and feel opposed for speaking the truth. But what amazed me about this particular passage was verse 11, So Paul stayed there for the next year and a half, teaching the word of God.
The Lord spoke to Paul in a vision telling him not be afraid, to speak out, and not to be silent. Reassuring him that He is with him and that no one would attack him and harm him. This vision and word from God kept Paul from quitting so much so that he stayed there for a year and a half!
Remember it said that Paul spent all his time preaching the word of God and he was found at the synagogue every Sabbath doing so. He was being opposed and insulted to the point of frustration but one word from God kept him in that place for a year and a half.
My question to you is this: How long could a Word from God keep you, in the midst of opposition/suffering/trial?
You see after Paul had a word from God his life didn’t just all of a sudden turn into smooth sailing. In verse 12 & 13 it says, 12 But when Gallio became governor of Achaia, some Jews rose up together against Paul and brought him before the governor for judgment. 13 They accused Paul of “persuading people to worship God in ways that are contrary to our law.” In that year I’m sure there was still opposition, there was still frustration, and there was still fear but God did say “Don’t be afraid! Speak out! Don’t be silent! For I am with you, and no one will attack and harm you…”
And in that particular incident God showed up. In verse 14 to 16 it says, 14 But just as Paul started to make his defense, Gallio turned to Paul’s accusers and said, “Listen, you Jews, if this were a case involving some wrongdoing or a serious crime, I would have a reason to accept your case. 15 But since it is merely a question of words and names and your Jewish law, take care of it yourselves. I refuse to judge such matters.” 16 And he threw them out of the courtroom.
I’d like to note that this was one event not spanning a year and half, meaning that it would be safe to assume that throughout that course of a year and a half Paul faced many oppositions as he preached the word of God. How powerful is one word from our God!
There are many of you who heard a Word from God or seen a vision from the Lord at the beginning of the year but opposition, frustration, and circumstances might have made you think otherwise or doubt if it’s true or not.
We need to learn from Paul and hold on to the promises and words from God. In the midst of opposition, in the midst of adversity we need to remember them so that they will keep us through to the otherside. In numbers 23:19 it says, “19 God is not a man, so he does not lie. He is not human, so he does not change his mind. Has he ever spoken and failed to act? Has he ever promised and not carried it through?”
I pray that you would hold on to the visions and words that God has spoken over your lives and believe that they will come to pass. I pray that in the midst of opposition and adversity that you would remember who God is. I pray that whatever God spoke to you in the light would remain true to you in the dark.