2015.02.15
Acts 18:1- 11
Paul Preaches the Gospel in Corinth
We are studying the early days of the church in the book of Acts... We study verse by
verse so that we can see the big picture.... As we follow Paul we see wonderful
adventures... We see very hard times....
As Paul finds the will of God we can learn from him and all that have gone
before us.... Paul has been experiencing both open and closed doors……
Everywhere he goes he is being opposed by the Jewish leaders who refuse to
repent and believe the Gospel…… They chased him out of Thessalonica…. And so Paul
went to Berea….. The Bereans were careful to search the scriptures and many
believed….. But when his enemies and found out that he was in Berea they
followed him there….. They were determined to shut him up….. He was like a
lightning rod attracting their hatred and so Paul left Timothy and Silas in
Berea and he went to Athens…. There he proclaimed Jesus as the one true God and
creator of everything…. It was a very difficult season in Paul´s ministry…… He
was being beaten and harassed everywhere he went…. He was a great man…. And normally a fearless
proclaimer of the Gospel…… But this string of difficult events had in fact
discouraged Paul greatly…. Here is where pick up our text from last week…..
acts18…v1…
Acts
18: 1-3 NKJV
1
After these things Paul departed from Athens and went to Corinth. 2 And he
found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, who had recently come from
Italy with his wife Priscilla (because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to
depart from Rome); and he came to them. 3 So, because he was of the same trade,
he stayed with them and worked; for by occupation they were tentmakers.
Acts 18: 1-3 slt 2000
1 Danach aber verließ Paulus Athen und kam nach Korinth.
2 Und dort fand er einen Juden namens Aquila, aus Pontus
gebürtig, der vor kurzem mit seiner Frau Priscilla aus Italien gekommen war,
weil Claudius befohlen hatte, daß alle Juden Rom verlassen sollten;1 zu diesen
ging er,
3 und weil er das gleiche Handwerk hatte, blieb er bei
ihnen und arbeitete; sie waren nämlich von Beruf Zeltmacher.
v1-3…
At
this point Paul is feeling very discouraged…. Luke did not directly record
these facts in the Acts….
We know this from the letters that he wrote… As we will see Paul spent 18 months in
Corinth… He wrote some of his letters from there… Let´s look at what he wrote
to the church in Corinth as he looked back
on his time with them…. 1 cor 2…v3…
1
Corinthians 2:3 NKJV slt 2000
3 I
was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling.
3 Und ich war in Schwachheit und mit viel Furcht und
Zittern bei euch.
He arrived in Corinth…. Beaten and bruised… He was
dealing with some real discouragement….. The sinfulness and wickedness of the city must
have caused his fear and trembling to increase…..
So God sets about to comfort the apostle through a series
of circumstances that we find in the founding of the church at Corinth……. It´s
often difficult to wait and trust Him…. It is hard for us to wait while God to
puts us through deep waters and times of uncertainty…. It is hard to find the
patience to wait and see what He's going to do…... We know that Paul took
comfort from the Word of God in His hard times….. He encouraged the Romans to
learn patience and find comfort from the scriptures…. Turn with me to Romans
15…v4….
Romans
15: 4-6
NKJV
4
For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we
through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.
5
Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one
another, according to Christ Jesus,
6
that you may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord
Jesus Christ.
Romans 15: 4-6 slt 2000
4 Denn alles, was zuvor geschrieben worden ist, wurde zu
unserer Belehrung zuvor geschrieben, damit wir durch das Ausharren und den
Trost3 der Schriften Hoffnung fassen.
5 Der Gott des Ausharrens und des Trostes4 aber gebe
euch, untereinander eines Sinnes zu sein, Christus Jesus gemäß,
6 damit ihr einmütig, mit einem Mund den Gott und Vater
unseres Herrn Jesus Christus lobt.
I´m sure that Paul read and repeated the Word of God to
himself when times were tough…. There are so many places in the scriptures to
find comfort and encouragement….Take a look at what the psalmist wrote in Psalm
27….v11…
Psalm
27: 11-14 NKJV slt 2000
11
Teach me Your way, O Lord, And lead me in a smooth path, because of my enemies.
12
Do not deliver me to the will of my adversaries; For false witnesses have risen
against me, And such as breathe out violence.
13 I
would have lost heart, unless I had believed That I would see the goodness of
the Lord In the land of the living.
14
Wait on the Lord; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait,
I say, on the Lord!
Psalm 27: 11-14 NKJV
slt 2000
11 Zeige mir, Herr, deinen Weg und leite mich auf ebener
Bahn um meiner Feinde willen!
12 Gib mich nicht preis der Gier meiner Feinde, denn
falsche Zeugen sind gegen mich aufgestanden und stoßen Drohungen aus.
13 Ach, wenn ich nicht gewiß wäre, daß ich die Güte des
Herrn sehen werde im Land der Lebendigen —
14 Harre auf den Herrn! Sei stark, und dein Herz fasse
Mut, und harre auf den Herrn!
Two times in verse 14…. We read wait on the LORD…. Don´t panic…. Wait….
Let´s look at what Isaiah wrote in the great comfort
chapter….40…. It starts out in verse 1 saying Comfort ye…. Comfort ye my
people…. Let´s read…v31….
Isaiah
40: 31
NKJV slt2000
31 "They
that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength. They shall mount up with
wings as eagles. They shall walk and not be weary. They shall run and not
faint."
31 aber die auf den Herrn harren, kriegen neue Kraft, daß
sie auffahren mit Flügeln wie Adler, daß sie laufen und nicht matt werden, daß
sie wandeln und nicht müde werden.
This is an important lesson for us…… If we learn to wait
on the Lord…. Even in the most difficult circumstances…… We will find ourselves
encouraged……. Paul learned from his own experiences with very hard times…..
that God is the God of all comfort…… This is exactly what Paul wrote back to the
Corinthians in 2 Cor 1…. He said
"God is the God of all comfort."… Let´s read it….v3,4…
2
Corinthians 1: 3,4
NKJV slt 2000
3
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies
and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may
be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we
ourselves are comforted by God.
3 Gelobt sei der Gott und Vater unseres Herrn Jesus
Christus, der Vater der Barmherzigkeit und Gott alles Trostes,
4 der uns tröstet in all unserer Bedrängnis, damit wir
die trösten können, die in allerlei Bedrängnis sind, durch den Trost, mit dem
wir selbst von Gott getröstet werden.
What a great text…. What a great Bible truth that Paul
shares with us in these verses…. Paul wrote about the God of all comfort from
His own real life experiences……. He says….. Man it was horrible…... But God saw
me through…..
God moves to comfort him encourage him….. Through the
circumstances at Corinth….. As we will see… God really sets about to encourage
His discouraged apostle…..
Next God encouraged him with companionship……
v2…The apostle is introduced to two people who become
lifelong friends and co-laborers in the Gospel….. God encouraged him in his
loneliness and discouragement…. God was preparing him to face the very
difficult task that was before him….. the task of evangelizing this sinful city of
Corinth…… And so Paul meets Aquilla and
Priscilla and they become friends and coworkers….. He finds himself to be a
little stronger….. and so he begins to preach in the Synagogue…. That was his
normal routine….
Routines help us to cope with our disappointment and
discouragement…. He was ministering one day at a time…. back to Acts 18…v4…
Acts
18: 4-8 NKJV
4
And he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and persuaded both Jews and
Greeks.
5
When Silas and Timothy had come from Macedonia, Paul was compelled by the
Spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus is the Christ.
6
But when they opposed him and blasphemed, he shook his garments and said to
them, “Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean. From now on I will go to
the Gentiles.”
7
And he departed from there and entered the house of a certain man named Justus,
one who worshiped God, whose house was next door to the synagogue.
8
Then Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his
household. And many of the Corinthians, hearing, believed and were baptized.
Acts 18: 4-8 slt 2000
4 Er hatte aber jeden Sabbat Unterredungen in der
Synagoge und überzeugte Juden und Griechen.
5 Als aber Silas und Timotheus aus Mazedonien ankamen,
wurde Paulus durch den Geist gedrängt, den Juden zu bezeugen, daß Jesus der
Christus ist.
6 Als sie aber widerstrebten und lästerten, schüttelte er
die Kleider aus und sprach zu ihnen: Euer Blut sei auf eurem Haupt! Ich bin
rein davon; von nun an gehe ich zu den Heiden!
7 Und er ging von dort weg und begab sich in das Haus
eines gottesfürchtigen Mannes mit Namen Justus, dessen Haus an die Synagoge
stieß.
8 Krispus aber, der Synagogenvorsteher, wurde an den
Herrn gläubig samt seinem ganzen Haus; auch viele Korinther, die zuhörten,
wurden gläubig und ließen sich taufen.
v4… And he reasoned in the synagogue every
Sabbath…. Paul was effective as he reasoned among the Jews and Greeks…..
The Greeks present in the synagogue were Gentiles interested in Judaism…… They
were usually proselytes….. They had accepted the Word of God and Judaism but
were not circumcised….
v5…
When Silas and Timothy had come from Macedonia When
Timothy came, he brought news about how the Christians in Thessalonica were
remaining strong in the faith… Paul
wrote to them from Corinth as well…. 1 Thessalonians….. Timothy was a tremendous blessing and encouragement to
Paul….. He reported that the Church in Thessalonia was doing well….. Paul was
deeply blessed and thankful…. This brought Paul great joy….. The good report
and the money that they gave encouraged him on in ministry…. He was able to step up
his evangelism and not have to work so much….
You could translate this next part… Paul was then totally
given over to the Word, or the ministry of the Word….. He boldly testified to
the Jews that Jesus is the Christ…. The long promised Messiah…. But then….
Opposition raises its ugly head again….. Another blow for Paul… His skin is
still a little thin….
v6a….They
opposed themselves, blasphemed…. Everytime the Gospel is proclaimed those who
hear are forced to decide….. They either repent and believe the Gospel…. Or
they refuse to repent and become enemies of the Gospel….
v6b…
and he shook his raiment…. That means that he released himself
from responsibility by that gesture….. He said, "Your blood is on your own heads. I'm clean…… In other words, "I've delivered the Gospel…… I've done my
part…… You're responsible….. From now on, I will go
to the Gentiles…..
Then he began his ministry among the Gentiles….. He
departed from there, entered a certain man's house named Titus Justus….. It
seems that this is probably the Gaius mentioned in 1 Corinthians 1:14….
He went into this man's house….. This man was one who
worshipped God….. a Gentile God fearer…..
His house was next door to the synagogue……
Notice that Paul
did not forbid Jews from coming to Jesus….. He continued to minister to
individuals whenever he could…. But he began to focus more on the Gentiles….
v8a…
Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his
household…. That must've been a fantastic event….. Crispus
in his office as the chief of the synagogue…. Was loved and respected by the
jews...… It must have been difficult enough for the Jews see the salvation
of the man who lived next door….. Now
they see their own leader saved…..
It´s clear that others were converted upon hearing that
the man who knew the Scriptures better than any one in the city….. Had repented
and believed the Gospel.....
v8b… And
many of the Corinthians, hearing, believed and were baptized….. This shows us once again that the Good News of
the Gospel…. The Word of God is what the Holy Spirit uses to transform lives….
What good news indeed….. Here in Corinth…. Some opposed…. But many believed….
What an exciting time….. Just that little phrase,
"many of the Corinthians believed," has in it many wonderful
testimonies that we couldn't begin to describe…... Corinth was a very wicked
place…. It was full of sexual sin and ever sin that one could imagine…
When we read in the Bible…. many of the Corinthians believed….. we might
say ya…. und…. Who were they….. what were they saved out of?
Well Paul also wrote the letter to the
Romans from here in Corinth…. Some theologians believe that Paul´s description
of Gentile sin and wickedness in Romans 1….is a mirror of what he found in
Corinth…… Romans 1:22-32
The phrase…. many
were saved doesn't sound very exciting….. But in another place Paul himself told us
about these many who were saved…. Turn with me to 1 Corinthians 6…v9…
1 Corinthians
6: 9-11 NKJV
9 Do
you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not
be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor
homosexuals, nor sodomites, 10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor
revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.
11
And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but
you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.
1 Corinthians 6: 9-11 slt 2000
9 Wißt ihr denn nicht, daß Ungerechte das Reich Gottes
nicht erben werden? Irrt euch nicht: Weder Unzüchtige noch Götzendiener, weder
Ehebrecher noch Weichlinge, noch Knabenschänder,
10 weder Diebe noch Habsüchtige, noch Trunkenbolde, noch
Lästerer, noch Räuber werden das Reich Gottes erben.
11 Und solche sind etliche von euch gewesen; aber ihr
seid abgewaschen, ihr seid geheiligt, ihr seid gerechtfertigt worden in dem
Namen des Herrn Jesus und in dem Geist unseres Gottes!
In verse 8 of Acts 18….. Inside the simple word
"many are many testimonies…. Someday when we get to heaven we can hear all
about it….. God was doing miracle after miracle after miracle in the salvation
of souls….. Awesome…
How´s
Paul doing now? Better but he is not out of the woods yet…. There was still a shadow over Paul…..
The reality of ministry on the front lines of the
Spiritual battle….. Weighed on him constantly….
God sent him encouragement…. First of all, I believe that
he must have been encouraged by
reminding himself of the Word of God….. Like in the Psalms…. and secondly, by his friends new and old….. Good Christian
friends can be a blessing and encouragement in our hard times… thirdly…. By these new converts…. There were
many…. Can you imagine the thrill in his
heart when he started seeing God save these people out of the Corinthian
society one at a time?
What
a miracle… Transformed hearts and lives are the greatest miracles…. And
yet it is clear that Paul was still struggling with the pressure of Ministry in
Corinth…. He was still discouraged…. Even after all these things…
In 1 Samuel 30 David was also very discouraged…. Turn
with me to 1 Sam 30…v3…….
1
Samuel 30: 3-6
NKJV slt 2000
3 So
David and his men came to the city, and there it was, burned with fire; and
their wives, their sons, and their daughters had been taken captive.
4
Then David and the people who were with him lifted up their voices and wept,
until they had no more power to weep.
5
And David’s two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the widow of Nabal
the Carmelite, had been taken captive.
6
Now David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because
the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and his
daughters. But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God.
1
Samuel 30: 3-6
NKJV slt 2000
3 Als nun David samt seinen Männern zur Stadt kam, siehe,
da war sie mit Feuer verbrannt, und ihre Frauen, ihre Söhne und Töchter waren
gefangen weggeführt worden.
4 Da erhoben David und das Volk, das bei ihm war, ihre
Stimme und weinten, bis sie nicht mehr weinen konnten.
5 Auch die beiden Frauen Davids, Achinoam, die
Jesreelitin, und Abigail, die Frau Nabals, des Karmeliters, waren gefangen
weggeführt worden.
6 Und David war sehr bedrängt, denn das Volk wollte ihn
steinigen, weil die Seele des ganzen Volks erbittert war, jeder wegen seiner
Söhne und wegen seiner Töchter. David aber stärkte sich in dem Herrn, seinem
Gott.
V6… David
comforted himself in his God….. Paul Knew these Bible
passages very well….. He knew something about people wanting to stone him…. And
he was also able to take comfort in all of the things that the Lord had done
for him….. He reminded himself of God´s
Chesed….. His unfailing love….. I´m sure that he quoted the Word of God to
himself….. Especially when he was going through hard times…. He surely also
enjoyed the comfort of his new friends….. I´m sure that He rejoiced to see so
many come to the Lord Jesus…… Even some of his own countrymen believed the Good
News….. But as I said he was not in the clear yet….
Let´s continue in the text….acts18…v9…
Acts
18: 9-11 NKJV
9
Now the Lord spoke to Paul in the night by a vision, “Do not be afraid, but
speak, and do not keep silent; 10 for I am with you, and no one will attack you
to hurt you; for I have many people in this city.” 11 And he continued there a
year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.
Acts 18:9-11 slt 2000
9 Und der Herr sprach durch ein Gesicht in der Nacht zu
Paulus: Fürchte dich nicht, sondern rede und schweige nicht!
10 Denn ich bin mit dir, und niemand soll sich
unterstehen, dir zu schaden; denn ich habe ein großes Volk in dieser Stadt!
11 Und er blieb ein Jahr und sechs Monate dort und lehrte
unter ihnen das Wort Gottes.
v9… the LORD spoke in a vision…. Do not be afraid….
The LORD gave Paul
this vision because he was afraid…. Maybe he worried that his work would be
cut short by either opposing Jews as in Thessalonica and Berea……. or by the
incredible idolatry and sinfullness around him……
Notice that Jesus didn't tell Paul that his opponents
wouldn't try to stop him…… He did not promise to Zap away all his troubles and
trials if he had enough faith…. He only said that his enemies would not be
successful……The solution to Paul's fear is for him to obey Jesus' command to
not be afraid…. and to speak and not keep silent……. He was to keep getting the
Word of God out…..
Paul was really being threatened at that time….. The
Gospel could come to a grinding halt at any moment…… Unreasonable and wicked
men were threatening and persecuting him…. At that point he needed super
encouragement….. so God Himself comes to Paul’s aid…..
v 9…Then
spoke the Lord to Paul….
Here he was at a time of discouragement and persecution.….
When you look in the book of Acts you don't very often see Paul running out of boldness….
but here you do…..
Paul right here was at the point of stopping his
preaching…... It was so difficult….. He was at the point of quitting right here…..
You say, "How do you know that?" Because the Lord came to him and
said, "Be not afraid….. verse 9……"but
speak and hold not your peace…. That shows that Paul was really thinking
about stopping his preaching……The Lord says, "Don't stop….. You just keep
preaching…..
Then to encourage Paul…. The
Lord gives Paul 3 promises…. they're in
verse 10….. .
They're three promises that we as genuine
believers can apply in our own lives…..
1 I am with you!....
2 No
one will hurt you!.....
3 I have
many people in this city….
v10…
point 1… Keep preaching, Paul, for I am with thee….
What
a
powerful statement….. In the Greek it's emphatic….. "I Myself am with thee." The emphasis is on God's very
presence…… That's the promise of power….. I don't think any of us can get a hold of the
immense power of God….. Maybe it helps to remember the fact that once there was nothing and the next
instant there was everything….. God has unbelievable power…..
So He says, "Paul, don't stop preaching…. I Myself am with you…...
The second promise He says is…. No man shall set on thee to hurt thee."
2…
No one will hurt you…. I´m sure that was good news….. He had
already suffered much for the sake
of the Gospel….. He was a great man of God….. But he certainly
did not look forward to being attacked and beaten or stoned… The Lord…. Relax….
No one will hurt you….
When we understand the power of the God and His promise
to protect us…. We have nothing to fear…..
Now let’s see the third reason for Paul not to give up……
Verse
10… "I have many people in this city." The
third reason to keep preaching is really powerful….. He says, "Because I promise you results….. You are
not wasting your time…. Some will believe and repent….. You must continue to
Proclaim the Good News….. three wonderful promises….
1 I
myself am with you!.... You are not alone in these trials
2 No
one will hurt you!..... I will protect you and never forsake you…
3 I
have many people in this city…. Proclaim the Good News…. I will give you fruit…..
converts….. God´s Word always accomplishes its purposes…. After this vision
Paul finds comfort and strength and renews his commitment to God´s purposes….
v11…
And he continued there a year and six months….
Paul was in Corinth a year and a half….. That seems to be longer than in any
other city where he founded a church…... His ministry at Corinth is described
simply….. teaching the word of God among them….. That means that he loved and
taught and prayed for them…. We learn from 1 Cor 4… That he sent Apollos and
Timothy to minister to them as well….. And when it was necessary… He rebuked
them… Corinth was a wild wild west kind of a town….. And Paul invested greatly
in them….I would like to read I last text this morning… Turn to 2 cor 1…v3.….
2
Corinthians 1:3-11 NLT Neues Leben
3
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies
and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may
be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we
ourselves are comforted by God. 5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us,
so our consolation also abounds through Christ. 6 Now if we are afflicted, it
is for your consolation and salvation, which is effective for enduring the same
sufferings which we also suffer. Or if we are comforted, it is for your
consolation and salvation. 7 And our hope for you is steadfast, because we know
that as you are partakers of the sufferings, so also you will partake of the
consolation.
8
For we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, of our trouble which came to
us in Asia: that we were burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that we
despaired even of life. 9 Yes, we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that
we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead, 10 who delivered
us from so great a death, and does[a] deliver us; in whom we trust that He will
still deliver us, 11 you also helping together in prayer for us, that thanks
may be given by many persons on our behalf for the gift granted to us through
many.
2 Corinthians 1:3-11 Neues Leben
3 Gelobt sei der Gott und Vater unseres Herrn Jesus
Christus, der Vater der Barmherzigkeit und Gott alles Trostes,
4 der uns tröstet in all unserer Bedrängnis, damit wir
die trösten können, die in allerlei Bedrängnis sind, durch den Trost, mit dem
wir selbst von Gott getröstet werden.
5 Denn wie die Leiden des Christus sich reichlich über
uns ergießen, so fließt auch durch Christus reichlich unser Trost.
6 Haben wir Bedrängnis, so geschieht es zu eurem Trost
und eurer Rettung, die sich wirksam erweist in standhafter Erduldung derselben
Leiden, die auch wir erleiden; werden wir getröstet, so geschieht es zu eurem
Trost und eurer Rettung;
7 und unsere Hoffnung für euch ist gewiß, da wir wissen:
Gleichwie ihr Anteil an den Leiden habt, so auch am Trost.
8 Denn wir wollen euch, Brüder, nicht in Unkenntnis
lassen über unsere Bedrängnis, die uns in [der Provinz] Asia widerfahren ist,
daß wir übermäßig schwer zu tragen hatten, über [unser] Vermögen hinaus, so daß
wir selbst am Leben verzweifelten;
9 ja, wir hatten in uns selbst schon das Todesurteil,
damit wir nicht auf uns selbst vertrauten, sondern auf Gott, der die Toten
auferweckt.
10 Er hat uns denn auch aus solch großer Todesgefahr
gerettet und rettet uns noch; und wir hoffen auf ihn, daß er uns auch ferner
retten wird,
11 wobei auch ihr mitwirkt durch eure Fürbitte für uns,
damit wegen der von vielen Personen für uns [erbetenen] Gnadengabe auch von
vielen gedankt werde um unsretwillen.
Let’s pray….
