ACTS

ACTS 18

• Acts 18:1 After these things Paul departed from Athens and came to Corinth; 
• 2 And found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, lately come from Italy, with his wife Priscilla; because that (Claudius had commanded all Jews to depart from Rome:) and came unto them. 

All throughout history, the Jews have been victims of expulsion out of the countries in which they resided. They just were not welcome anywhere. I remember reading the historical account of the time just before the great outbreak of the black death, the Jews were expelled from England. Many times Christians have forgotten that it was Jews who brought them the gospel in the first place. Here even before Rome became Christian, Jews were being expelled from that country. 

The craft of tent making brought Paul in contact with these Jews that were expelled from Rome. 

• Acts 18:3 And because he was of the same craft, he abode with them, and wrought: for by their occupation they were tentmakers. 
• 4 And he reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks. 

It would seem that the synagogues were open to Greeks as well as Jews. Paul used reasoning and persuasion to convince both Jews and Gentiles to believe the gospel. However, his power of persuasion was not what brought anyone into faith in Jesus but Paul was full of the Holy Spirit and that is the power necessary to draw people to Christ and save their souls. He convicts the world of sin, of righteousness and judgment. Without His presence, no would be saved. We must never get away from depending upon the Holy Spirit to lead us in all things and be present among us.

• Acts 18:5 And when Silas and Timothy were come from Macedonia, Paul was pressed in the spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus was Christ. 

The only way to really preach the gospel with authority is to be pressed in the spirit. That caused the gospel to be preached fervently and with the conviction of the Holy Spirit. The power of the Holy Spirit is what brings people to saving faith in Jesus Christ. I can't emphasize that enough.  

• Acts 18:6 And when they opposed themselves, and blasphemed, he shook his raiment, and said unto them, Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean: from henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles. 

The unbelieving Jews which rejected Christ justified Paul's departure from them and opened the door for Paul to go preach to the Gentiles. Their loss was gain to the Gentiles. The Gentiles are the other sheep that Jesus spoke of:

• John 10:16 And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd. 

This verse deals with the uniting of Jews and Gentiles under the gospel and faith in Jesus. It never has meant that all churches would join together into one big organization. This has never been the meaning of this verse. In fact the whole chapter of John 10 shows us that Jesus is the door and the only way of salvation. It is not through any particular organization we call a church. A group of believers in Africa that may have no connection with another group of believers in England are equal in the eyes of God if Jesus is their foundation. They don't have to join and be one group. It's not necessarily wrong if they do join forces but it is not necessary for salvation. If Jesus is our Lord and our only foundation, it doesn't matter whether we worship in a building, a house or out in the open. The believers make up the church whether or not they have a building to worship in, and whether or not they are a member of a denomination or an independent group. 

I like a good denomination if the leaders are strong in the truth because it helps to guard against heretics and troublemakers but if the leadership becomes corrupt, it would be better to be outside of any denomination. The only reason a church has to organize is because of false teachers and heretics. If they organize for political reasons or for money, it is the wrong reason. All leaders need to stay humble and avoid hierarchy as much as possible. No one is to be higher than those who hold no office. 

• Acts 18:7 And he departed thence, and entered into a certain man's house, named Justus, one that worshipped God, whose house joined hard to the synagogue. 
• 8 And Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house; and many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized. 

Here we have the start of the Corinthian church or congregation. Whether they were joined to the synagogue by being built on to it or joined by service or being part of the synagogue in the spiritual realm is something to think on.

• Acts 18:9 Then spake the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision, Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace: 
• 10 For I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city. 

I hope that God can say of us, that we are His people. Those that do the persecution are never representatives of God. 

• Acts 18:11 And he continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them. 

This shows us again that we can't just preach the gospel and then leave, we must disciple and teach so that others can be strong enough to continue the work of God in the absence of the original leadership.

• Acts 18:12 And when Gallio was the deputy of Achaia, the Jews made insurrection with one accord against Paul, and brought him to the judgment seat, 
• 13 Saying, This fellow persuadeth men to worship God contrary to the law. 

Before we condemn the unbelieving Jews here we must think about this. If we read church history we see Christians doing the same thing to fellow Christians if they do not believe exactly the same as the ones established. We must always try the spirits and examine new things we are not use to but the new things just may be a move of God so this is where discernment must be present.

Some worship very fervently, jumping, leaping, shouting, and bouncing. Others are very quiet, respectable and orderly. Others are in between those two extremes. It is easy to think our way is "the way" and demonize the other group. As long as Jesus is the foundation, one should leave the other alone. Perhaps God loves us so much that He raises up different types of people to reach different types of people. Some get bored easily and would not sit through a quiet service. Others get scared or uncomfortable with a lot of noise and would avoid that type of service. God wants His gospel preached to save the lost. As long as that word goes forth, that is what counts. We do have to make sure that we are in the will of God and we are not into entertainment or gimmicks.  Presenting the word of truth by the power of the Holy Spirit is a necessary priority which must be present to save the lost and edify the believers. 

• Acts 18:14 And when Paul was now about to open his mouth, Gallio said unto the Jews, If it were a matter of wrong or wicked lewdness, O ye Jews, reason would that I should bear with you: 
• 15 But if it be a question of words and names, and of your law, look ye to it; for I will be no judge of such matters. 

He was concerned only with law and order, not in religious disputes. Which is what should concern any good government and not interfere with the freedom to worship unless people are in danger of physical harm.

• Acts 18:16 And he drove them from the judgment seat. 
• 17 Then all the Greeks took Sosthenes, the chief ruler of the synagogue, and beat him before the judgment seat. And Gallio cared for none of those things. 
• 18 And Paul after this tarried there yet a good while, and then took his leave of the brethren, and sailed thence into Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila; having shorn his head in Cenchrea: for he had a vow. 
• 19 And he came to Ephesus, and left them there: but he himself entered into the synagogue, and reasoned with the Jews. 

It looks like most of the churches started out of synagogues and were very Jewish. 

• Acts 18:20 When they desired him to tarry longer time with them, he consented not; 
• 21 But bade them farewell, saying, I must by all means keep this feast that cometh in Jerusalem: but I will return again unto you, if God will. And he sailed from Ephesus.

Notice that the apostles still kept the Jewish feasts. I don't know whether it was for religious reasons or to have the opportunity to preach the gospel of Jesus at the feasts. I would guess that in Paul's case, this may be the reason. I doubt by his later writings whether he saw this as a requirement for salvation because he refutes that. Jewish festivals were never requirements for Gentile believers. We are never to judge anyone in respect to those feasts.

• Acts 18:22 And when he had landed at Caesarea, and gone up, and saluted the church, he went down to Antioch. 
• 23 And after he had spent some time there, he departed, and went over all the country of Galatia and Phrygia in order, strengthening all the disciples. 
• 24 And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the Scriptures, came to Ephesus. 

I would that we all became mighty in the scriptures. 

• Acts 18:25 This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John. 

John's baptism was a baptism of repentance. What he said when they were immersed in water we do not know at least by reading the written word. There may be something written in Jewish history that might explain what was said at water baptism before Christ changed the true way of salvation but I personally haven't studied that. Repentance from sin is still part of salvation but the salvation comes through faith in Jesus Christ. 

• Acts 18:26 And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly. 

When we see someone who is ignorant about some parts of the word, this is how our reaction should be. 

• Acts 18:27 And when he was disposed to pass into Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him: who, when he was come, helped them much which had believed through grace: 
• 28 For he mightily convinced the Jews, and that publicly, showing by the Scriptures that Jesus was Christ. 

Convincing people that Jesus was the Christ means to convince them that Jesus was the one Moses promised that would come. The Messiah was promised from the days of Adam and Eve. The seed of the women was to come to bring us back to God. Sin separated us from God and God promised a deliverer. He chose Israel to bring forth this salvation through one born among them. Jesus. Jesus was only born of woman. He had no earthly father. He was the Son of God who existed with God before the creation of the world. That is why Jesus is the only way of salvation. God became a man and dwelled among us bringing us the only way to be forgiven of sins and the only way to be reunited with God. DC

Acts 19