Lesson #23

• MEMORY VERSE: ACT 18:28

• ACTS CHAPTER 18 CONTINUES PAUL’S SECOND MISSIONARY JOURNEY. PAUL WAITS IN ATHENS, GREECE FOR SILAS AND TIMOTHY TO JOIN HIM. THEN HE PROCEEDS TO THE CITY OF CORINTH WHERE SILAS AND TIMOTHY FINALLY CATCH UP WITH HIM.
• WHEN PAUL RECEIVES SILAS’ AND TIMOTHY’S REPORT ABOUT THE CHURCHES PLANTED IN THESSALONICA, PAUL WRITES 1 AND 2 THESSALONIANS FROM THE CITY OF CORINTH.
• PAUL STAYS IN CORINTH FOR 1 ½ YEARS.
• IN ACTS 18, WE ARE INTRODUCED TO A VERY IMPORTANT CITY, CORINTH, AND A VERY IMPORTANT COUPLE, AQUILA AND PRISCILLA.

• READ ACT 18:1-6 IN CORINTH
• THE CITY OF CORINTH
• CORINTH WAS A FAMOUS GREEK COMMERCIAL CENTER.
• THE CITY HAD TWO SEA PORTS, ONE FACED EUROPE AND ONE FACED ASIA.
• CORINTH WAS ALSO A VERY WICKED CITY. IT WAS THE SINFUL PLEASURE CAPITAL OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE. ALL TYPES OF SIN WERE OPENLY DISPLAYED IN THIS CITY AND PEOPLE CAME FROM ALL OVER THE ROMAN EMPIRE TO PARTAKE OF EVERY POSSIBLE SIN IMAGINABLE.
• THIS CITY HAD TWO LARGE THEATERS AND A GRAND ROMAN BATH.
• THE PAGAN TEMPLE OF APHRODITE (VENUS) WAS LOCATED IN THIS CITY.
• A THOUSAND VESTAL VIRGINS PRACTICED RELIGIOUS, SEXUAL PROSTITUTION IN THIS TEMPLE.
• THE CITY OF CORINTH ALSO HAD A VERY LARGE JEWISH COLONY, POPULAR WITH THE JEWS BECAUSE OF THE CITY’S OPEN MARKETPLACE TO THE WORLD.
• AQUILA AND PRISCILLA
• WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT THEM?
• IN PAUL’S INITIAL ACQUAINTANCE WITH THIS JEWISH COUPLE, AQUILA IS MENTIONED FIRST.
• REMEMBER THAT THE FIRST NAME MENTIONED IS THE LEADER OR OF GREATER IMPORTANCE.
• LATER WE WILL SEE THE LISTING OF THE NAMES OF THIS COUPLE SWITCHED TO PRISCILLA AND THEN AQUILA.
• AQUILA AND PRISCILLA RECENTLY ARRIVED IN CORINTH HAVING BEEN TOLD TO LEAVE ROME.
• EMPEROR CLAUDIUS HAD ISSUED AN ANTI-SEMITIC DECREE IN 49 AD THAT FORCED ALL JEWS OUT OF ROME.
• AQUILA AND PRISCILLA WERE IN THE BUSINESS OF TENT MAKING.
• HOW DID PAUL MAKE A LIVING? HE, TOO, WAS A TENT MAKER. BECAUSE OF THEIR MUTUAL PROFESSION OF TENT MAKING, PAUL STAYED IN THEIR HOUSE IN CORINTH.
• TENT MAKING
• PAUL CAME FROM AN AREA KNOWN FOR ITS GOATSHAIR CLOTH. THIS CLOTH WAS WOVEN INTO TENTS AND CURTAINS USED FOR OPEN-AIR MARKETS, TRAVELLING BUSINESSMEN, AND HOUSING FOR NOMADS.
• IT IS NOT CLEAR WHETHER PAUL LED AQUILA AND PRISCILLA TO A RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS CHRIST OR IF THEY HAD ALREADY RECEIVED CHRIST BEFORE MEETING PAUL.
• LATER PRISCILLA AND AQUILA BECOME TEACHERS.OF THE WORD OF GOD. THIS IS WHEN PRISCILLA BECOMES MORE PROMINENT THAN HER HUSBAND.
• PAUL’S MINISTRY AND PREACHING CHANGES IN CORINTH:
• WHAT CHANGE IS MADE TO PAUL’S MINISTRY? (5-11) WHY?
• UP TO THIS POINT IN HIS MINISTRY PAUL WAS SPENDING EQUAL TIME BETWEEN THE JEWS AND THE GENTILES. HE HAD BEEN EMPHASIZING THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST.
• NOW, PAUL BEGINS TO EMPHASIZE TO THE JEWS THAT JESUS IS THE PROMISED JEWISH MESSIAH, THE CHRIST.
• THE WORD, “CHRIST” MEANS = THE ANOINTED ONE.
• THE WORD, “MESSIAH” MEANS = THE ANOINTED ONE.
• WITH THE OVER-WHELMING REJECTION BY THE JEWS, PAUL MAKES A DECISION TO SPEND MORE TIME TAKING THE GOSPEL TO THE GENTILES AND LESS TIME PREACHING TO THE JEWS.
• WITH SILAS’ AND TIMOTHY’S REPORT OF THE ESTABLISHED CHURCHES IN MACEDONIA AND THEIR GIFT OF MONEY FOR PAUL’S SUPPORT (PHI 4:15-16), PAUL SEES THE HUNGER FOR GOD AMONG THE GENTILES IN CONTRAST TO THE CONSTANT REJECTION AMONG THE JEWS.
• THE HOLY SPIRIT MOVES WHERE THERE IS AN OPEN DOOR OF ACCEPTANCE.
• PAUL’S ANTAGONISM OF THE JEWS:
• PAUL MOVED FROM THE HOUSE OF AQUILA AND PRISCILLA TO THAT OF JUSTUS, A GENTILE, WHO LIVED NEXT DOOR TO THE JEWISH SYNAGOGUE.
• PAUL WON THE LEADER OF THE SYNAGOGUE TO CHRIST.

• READ ACT 18:7-11 PAUL’S VISION
• IN A VISION, THE LORD TELLS PAUL:
• DON’T BE AFRAID
• SPEAK BOLDLY
• GOD’S PRESENCE IS WITH PAUL
• GOD HAS MANY PEOPLE IN CORINTH.
• AS A RESULT OF THIS VISION, PAUL STAYS IN CORINTH FOR A YEAR AND A HALF. WHY SO LONG?
• THERE ARE SEVERAL REASONS PAUL STAYED IN ONE PLACE FOR AWHILE:
• HE WAS WRITING THE BOOKS OF 1 AND 2 THESSALONIANS.
• GOD WANTED HIM TO REACH THIS MULTITUDE OF PEOPLE THAT GOD INTENDED TO SAVE.
• THE CORINTHIAN CHRISTIANS NEEDED A LOT OF TEACHING IN THAT THEY CAME TO THE LORD OUT OF MUCH SIN AND LIVED IN A VERY SINFUL COMMUNITY.
• THIS ASPECT IS VERY OBVIOUS IN PAUL’S WRITINGS OF 1 AND 2 CORINTHIANS TO A CHURCH KNOWN FOR ITS CARNALITY.

• READ ACT 18:12-17 PAUL BEFORE GALLIO, DEPUTY OF ACHAIA
• GALLIO TOOK OFFICE IN 51 AD AS GOVERNOR OVER THE SOUTHERN PROVINCE OF GREECE.
• HE WAS A GENTLE, AMIABLE, AND MODEST MAN.
• EVENTUALLY, EVEN IN THE CITY OF CORINTH, UPRISINGS BY THE JEWS AGAINST PAUL DEVELOPED. THEY FINALLY SUCCEEDED IN BRINGING CHARGES AGAINST HIM SO THAT HE HAD TO APPEAR BEFORE GALLIO, THE GOVERNOR OF ACHAIA.
• THE JUDGMENT SEAT OR TRIBUNAL WAS HELD IN THE OPEN SO ANYONE COULD ATTEND AND WATCH THE PROCEEDINGS.
• THE CHARGES AGAINST PAUL:
• THE JEWS CHARGED THAT PAUL PERSUADED PEOPLE (JEWS) TO WORSHIP A GOD THAT WAS CONTRARY TO THE LAW.
• BY THE TERM, THE LAW, THE JEWS MEANT THE MOSAIC LAW. HOWEVER, GALLIO DECIDED THE MATTER ON ROMAN LAW.
• GALLIO KNEW THAT THE ROMAN LAW UPHELD THE FREEDOM OF RELIGION, SO HE DISMISSED THE CHARGES AGAINST PAUL.
• GALLIO SAID THAT IF THE CHARGES WERE RELIGIOUS, THE RELIGIOUS AUTHORITIES SHOULD HANDLE IT. IF THE CHARGES WERE SECULAR, HE WOULD HANDLE IT.
• THE ANTI-JEWISH REACTION (17)
• THE GREEKS WHO OBSERVED THE PROCEEDINGS BEFORE THE TRIBUNAL WERE HOSTILE TO THE JEWS WHO PRESSED THEIR CHARGES AGAINST PAUL CONTRARY TO ROMAN LAW. IT DEVELOPED INTO A RIOT.
• THE GREEKS BEAT SOSTHENES, THE JEWISH LEADER OF THE SYNAGOGUE, WHO PROSECUTED THE CHARGES AGAINST PAUL.
• IT IS QUITE POSSIBLE THAT THIS MAN WHO PERSECUTED PAUL IS THE SAME MAN WHO LATER BECAME A BELIEVER IN JESUS CHRIST AND A LEADER IN THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH IN CORINTH. (1COR 1:1)
• GALLIO DID NOTHING TO STOP THE ANTI-JEWISH RIOT.

• READ ACT 18:18-23 PAUL LEAVES CORINTH
• EVENTUALLY, PAUL LEFT CORINTH BY BOAT FOR EPHESUS IN TURKEY. HE TOOK WITH HIM PRISCILLA AND AQUILA.
• NOTICE THE REVERSAL OF THE LISTING OF THE NAMES OF THIS COUPLE.
• OVER THE 18 MONTHS IN CORINTH, PAUL HAD BECOME CLOSE TO THIS COUPLE AND USED THEM IN TEACHING THE WORD OF GOD.
• PRISCILLA KNEW WELL THE WORD OF GOD AND THERE IS SOME EVIDENCE THAT PAUL USED HER TO WRITE DEFENSES OF THE GOSPEL FOR HIM.
• PAUL’S VOW: (18)
• PAUL HAD TAKEN A JEWISH NAZARITE VOW SOMETIME EARLIER.
• WE DO NOT KNOW THE EXACT PURPOSE OF THAT VOW. PERHAPS IT WAS FOR DELIVERANCE AND SAFETY.
• THE CUTTING OF THE HAIR SIGNIFIED THE COMPLETION OF THAT VOW.
• EVERY JEWISH VOW LEGALLY OBLIGATED THE PERSON TO MAKE A TRIP TO JERUSALEM TO MAKE AN OFFERING IN THE TEMPLE. (NUM 6:1-21)
• BECAUSE OF THIS OBLIGATION, PAUL DOES NOT STAY IN EPHESUS AS THEY BEGGED HIM TO DO. INSTEAD HE CONTINUES ON TOWARD JERUSALEM.
• THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH PAUL REVERTING TO A JEWISH CUSTOM IN AND OF ITSELF. HOWEVER, THE VOW DETERMINED THE TIMING OF HIS TRIP AND TOOK HIM INTO DANGEROUS TERRITORY, JERUSALEM.
• LANDING IN CAESAREA ON THE COAST OF ISRAEL, PAUL GOES TO JERUSALEM TO FULFILL HIS VOW AND THEN RETURNS TO THE CHURCH IN ANTIOCH WHERE HE ENDS HIS SECOND MISSIONARY JOURNEY IN 54 AD.
• VERSE 23 INDICATES THAT PAUL REMAINED IN ANTIOCH FOR SHORT TIME BEFORE STARTING HIS THIRD MISSIONARY JOURNEY LATER THAT SAME YEAR.

• READ ACT 18:24-28 APOLLOS IN EPHESUS
• MEANWHILE, PAUL HAD LEFT PRISCILLA AND AQUILA IN EPHESUS.
• APOLLOS CAME TO EPHESUS FROM EGYPT.
• WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT APOLLOS?
• APOLLOS WAS A JEW FROM ALEXANDRIA, EGYPT. HE HAS A GREEK NAME WHICH TELLS US HE IS A GREEK-SPEAKING JEW.
• APOLLOS WAS AN ELOQUENT SPEAKER WHO KNEW THE OLD TESTAMENT PROPHECIES.
• HE WAS FROM ALEXANDRIA WHERE EXISTED THE LARGEST LIBRARY OF THAT DAY.
• PRISCILLA AND AQUILA HEAR HIM SPEAK IN THE SYNAGOGUE.
• APOLLOS WAS A DISCIPLE OF JOHN THE BAPTIST.
• HE KNEW JOHN’S MESSAGE ABOUT REPENTANCE AND WATER BAPTISM. HOWEVER, THERE WAS SOMETHING WRONG WITH APOLLOS’ MESSAGE.
• WHAT WAS WRONG WITH APOLLOS?
• HE DID NOT HAVE A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD THROUGH JESUS CHRIST.
• HE DID NOT KNOW THAT JESUS HAD COME, HAD DIED, AND HAD RESURRECTED FROM THE DEAD AS THE MESSIAH.
• PRISCILLA AND AQUILA CORRECT APOLLOS’ DOCTRINE
• PRISCILLA AND AQUILA TAKE APOLLOS ASIDE AND TEACH APOLLOS ABOUT SALVATION THROUGH A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP IN JESUS CHRIST.
• APOLLOS HAS AN OPEN HEART FOR TRUTH EVEN WHEN IT COMES THROUGH A WOMAN.
• APOLLOS WENT ON TO BECOME A GIFTED PREACHER.
• APOLLOS LEAVES EPHESUS WITH A LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION AND GOES TO THE CHURCHES PAUL PLANTED IN GREECE.
• THIS POWERFUL SPEAKER WENT TOE TO TOE WITH THE JEWS IN GREECE AND HELD HIS OWN.
• APOLLOS STRENGTHENED THE MINISTRY (27-28)
• WHAT WAS INVOLVED IN THE STRENGTHENING MINISTRY?
• CORRECT DOCTRINE IS IMPORTANT TO A STRONG MINISTRY.
• APOLLOS PERSUADED OTHER DISCIPLES OF JOHN THE BAPTIST TO RECEIVE JESUS.
• COMMUNICATION BETWEEN CHURCHES FROM ONE CITY TO ANOTHER KEPT THE FAITH STRONG AND GROWING.
• APOLLOS WAS SO POPULAR THAT A GROUP OF CHRISTIANS CONSIDERED THEMSELVES AS DISCIPLES OF APOLLOS. (1COR 1:12 1COR 3:6)
• INCIDENTALLY, THERE ARE SOME WHO THINK APOLLOS WROTE THE BOOK OF HEBREWS. OTHERS THINK PRISCILLA WROTE THE BOOK OF HEBREWS. MANY THINK PAUL WROTE IT.

• APPLICATION:
• READ JOH 4:22-24
• IN THIS CHAPTER THE BACKGROUND SCENE IN CORINTH IS ONE OF PAGAN IMMORALITY AND GREEK IDOLATRY. AND YET THE GOSPEL TOUCHES THE HEARTS OF MANY WHO WANT GOD.
• THAT SHOULD TELL US THAT NO MATTER HOW DEGRADED SOCIETY BECOMES, THERE ARE ALWAYS THOSE WHO WANT SOMETHING DIFFERENT. GOD SAID THERE WAS A GREAT MANY IN CORINTH THAT HE WANTED TO SAVE.
• BETWEEN PAUL AND APOLLOS THESE PEOPLE WERE REACHED FOR GOD.
• HOWEVER, ALSO IMPORTANT IN THE MIX IS CORRECT DOCTRINE AND TRUE WORSHIP.
• UNLESS MAN BELIEVES CORRECTLY, HE RUNS THE CHANCE OF MISSING ETERNAL LIFE.
• WITHOUT PRISCILLA AND AQUILA, APOLLOS MIGHT HAVE MISSED ETERNITY WITH GOD.
• UNLESS MAN WORSHIPS THE RIGHT GOD, HIS WORSHIP IS IN VAIN.
• THE CORINTHIANS WERE A RELIGIOUS PEOPLE WHO SINCERELY WORSHIPPED THE GREEK GODS. HOWEVER, THEIR WORSHIP WAS SINCERELY WRONG.

HOMEWORK
ACTS 19
THIS IS A SELF-STUDY. PLEASE DO NOT SEND HOMEWORK ANSWERS TO THE TEACHER FORCORRECTION.

• APPLICATION OF ACT 18
• WHAT IS IT IN CHAPTER 18 THAT SPEAKS TO YOU DIRECTLY REGARDING YOUR OWN SPIRITUAL LIFE OF WORSHIP AND TRUE DOCTRINE?

• PREPARATION FOR ACT 19
• READ ACT 19:1-41
• WHAT WAS THE SPIRITUAL CONDITION AND BELIEF OF THE PEOPLE IN EPHESUS? WHAT GOD DID THEY WORSHIP?

• MAKE A COMMENT CONCERNING YOUR OPINION ABOUT VERSES 11 AND 12.

• WHAT DOES THE PASSAGE TEACH ABOUT EXORCISM AND BLACK MAGIC?

• WHY DID THE PEOPLE BURN THEIR BOOKS?

• WHAT WAS THE MOTIVE OF DEMETRIUS, THE SILVERSMITH?

• WHAT WERE THE POINTS OF DEMETRIUS’ ARGUMENT?

• WHAT DO YOU LEARN IN THIS CHAPTER ABOUT THE WORD OF GOD?

• MEMORY VERSE: ACT 19:18