Paul’s Ministry in Corinth — Acts 18:1-11 Daily Word

Paul arrives in Corinth, a morally corrupt commercial hub, where God’s Word transforms souls despite the city’s reputation for idolatry and sexual immorality.

Paul leaves Athens and heads to Corinth. Unlike Athens, a city of culture and philosophy, Corinth was a commercial hub notorious for its moral corruption. Yet even in this seemingly hopeless environment, Paul would come to witness the work of God. Let us explore how the Word of the Lord spread throughout Corinth and transformed souls.

Paul’s Ministry in Corinth — Acts 18

[Scripture]

Acts 18:1-11 (ESV)

[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. (Acts 18:1-11, ESV)

[Daily Word]

Corinth: A City of Culture and Philosophy, Morally Corrupt

If Athens in Greece was the center of culture and philosophy, Corinth was the center of politics and commerce. However, Corinth had a very poor reputation in terms of morality. Its people worshiped Aphrodite, the goddess of love and war, and believed they were offering their bodies to the goddess by paying money at her temple and engaging in sexual acts with the male and female temple prostitutes. Paul was shocked by what he found in Corinth, but he later turned this into an opportunity for ministry.¹Cf. 1 Cor 5:1-5; 6:9-20

Meeting Aquila and Priscilla

Upon arriving in Corinth, Paul met Aquila, a Jewish man originally from Pontus. In AD 49, the Roman Emperor Claudius issued an edict expelling all Jews from Rome. The reason for the expulsion was that Jews who opposed the believers in “Christ” — much as they had once sought to kill Jesus — had incited riots.²According to the record of Suetonius, Emperor Claudius expelled all Jews from Rome in AD 49. Suetonius writes that the expulsion was ordered because of continuous riots instigated by one “Chrestus.” Chrestus is a commonly attested variant spelling of “Christ.” If Chrestus refers to Christ, the riots would have arisen from disputes over differing views about Christ. (Life Bible 2009, Acts) Thus, Aquila and his wife Priscilla (a shortened form of Prisca) came to Corinth from Italy.

Making Tents and Proclaiming the Gospel

Paul shared the same trade as Aquila, and their profession was tent-making. Since it was the custom among ancient Jews — whether rich or poor — to provide their sons with vocational training, Paul, who had been a Pharisee, would have possessed the basic skill of tent-making passed down through his family.

During the week, Paul likely made tents in his workshop and evangelized the customers who came to him, while on the Sabbath he would go into the synagogue and carry out the work of proclaiming the gospel. (v. 4)

Silas and Timothy Rejoin Paul

Earlier, Paul had instructed those with him in Athens to send Silas and Timothy to him as soon as possible. [15] Those who conducted Paul brought him as far as Athens, and after receiving a command for Silas and Timothy to come to him as soon as possible, they departed. (Acts 17:15, ESV) And so Silas and Timothy came from Macedonia to Corinth. (v. 5, first half) Paul then sent Silas to Philippi and Timothy to Thessalonica so that they might look after the churches there.

Paul continued to preach the gospel in Corinth, but the Jews there refused to accept Jesus and instead opposed and reviled him. Paul then shook out his garments and declared, “Your blood be on your own heads.”³[18] If I say to the wicked, ‘You shall surely die,’ and you give him no warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, in order to save his life, that wicked person shall die for his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand. (Ezek 3:18, ESV) This meant that since Paul had already proclaimed the gospel to the Jews, he bore no responsibility for their judgment.

So rather than continuing to preach to the Jews who stubbornly rejected the gospel, Paul turned to the Gentiles who were receptive to it. He left the synagogue and went to the house of a Gentile named Titius Justus. Here, Titius Justus is a different person from the Titus who appears later in the New Testament; the name Justus is added to distinguish between the two. Through this, many Corinthians came to turn to the Lord. (v. 8)

God’s Vision and Promise

One night, God spoke to Paul in a vision. [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.” (Acts 18:9-10, ESV) God declared that there were many of His people in Corinth. Among those who were converted to Christianity in Corinth were Phoebe, a servant of the church at Cenchreae (Rom 16:1); Tertius, who wrote down the letter to the Romans (Rom 16:22); Erastus, the city treasurer of Corinth (Rom 16:23); Quartus (Rom 16:23); Chloe (1 Cor 1:11); Gaius (1 Cor 1:14); Stephanas and his household (1 Cor 16:15); Fortunatus (1 Cor 16:17); and Achaicus (1 Cor 16:17). Holding on to this promise, Paul remained there for a year and six months, teaching the word of God. (v. 11)

God Who Is with Those Who Proclaim the Gospel

Every time Paul proclaimed the gospel, God was always there to guide his way. God opens the path for those who carry out the Lord’s work and leads them personally. Just as He spoke to Paul today, God walks with us always. The Lord’s companionship with us is one of the blessings granted to those who bear witness to the gospel, for the accompaniment of God — the Sovereign over all the world — means being under His protection.

It is my prayer that each one of us would live as a messenger of the Lord’s gospel today, and that we would all emerge victorious in this spiritual battle.

Paul Corinth Acts 18, Bible devotion daily word, Christian ministry transformation, New Testament apostle Paul, spiritual growth in adversity

Originally published in Korean at bible2u.com