INTRODUCTION:

1. In this Chapter, Paul goes to Corinth which will feature one of his important and impactful ministers in a very difficult place!

2. As always, new works require new workers and in this Chapter we will watch how GOD selects and perfects HIS workers!

3. As always, great opportunity brings great opposition!

4. As always, the key to overcoming opposition is to keep doing what GOD has called and commanded us to do!

5. 18:22 marks the end of the Second Missionary Journey and 18:23 marks the beginning of the Third.

EXPOSITION:

18:1 – 6  New Workers for the New Work!

(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.”

** Theological Note! Aquila and Priscilla are examples of the single most important evangelistic and discipleship strategy ever seen and (sadly) almost completely abandoned today…

Romans 16:3-5a (3) “Greet Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, (4) who risked their necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks but all the churches of the Gentiles give thanks as well. (5a) Greet also the church in their house.”

1^st Corinthians 16:19 “The churches of Asia send you greetings. Aquila and Prisca, together with the church in their house, send you hearty greetings in the Lord.”

** BY THE WAY… this strategy does not replace the Local Church, but add to the Local Church!

Acts 2:46-47 (46) “And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, (47) praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.”

18:7 – 17 “Great Opportunity brings Great Opposition!

(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.”

18:18 – 22 “Paul departs Ephesus and the Second Missionary Journey Ends.”

(18) After this, Paul stayed many days longer and then took leave of the brothers and set sail for Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila. At Cenchreae he had cut his hair, for he was under a vow. (19) And they came to Ephesus, and he left them there, but he himself went into the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews. (20) When they asked him to stay for a longer period, he declined. (21) But on taking leave of them he said, “I will return to you if God wills,” and he set sail from Ephesus. (22) When he had landed at Caesarea, he went up and greeted the church, and then went down to Antioch.”

**Theological Note! 18:22 marks the end of the Second Missionary Journey in about 51 AD.

18:23 – 28  “The Third Missionary Journey Begins – The Ministry of Admonition and Correction!”

(23) “After spending some time there, he departed and went from one place to the next through the region of Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples. (24) Now a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was an eloquent man, competent in the Scriptures. (25) He had been instructed in the way of the Lord. And being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus, though he knew only the baptism of John.

(26) He began to speak boldly in the synagogue, but when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him and explained to him the way of God more accurately. (27) And when he wished to cross to Achaia, the brothers encouraged him and wrote to the disciples to welcome him. When he arrived, he greatly helped those who through grace had believed, (28) for he powerfully refuted the Jews in public, showing by the Scriptures that the Christ was Jesus.”