Acts 18:1–17

Introduction

Acts 18:1–17: From Athens, the apostle Paul travels to Corinth and meets Aquila and Priscilla, with whom he stays. He has a vision in which the Lord encourages him to keep on speaking. While many in Corinth believe Paul’s message and are baptized, he is brought to court by his opponents but released by the Roman governor. Sosthenes, a leader of the synagogue, is beaten for reasons unclear to us. Perhaps he incurred the anger of the Jewish leaders if he led the group of those who opposed Paul and the Roman governor did not judge in their favor.

Today’s Key Verse: Acts 18:9–10a GNT

One night, Paul had a vision in which the Lord said to him, “Do not be afraid, but keep on speaking and do not give up, for I am with you.”

Read

18 After this, Paul left Athens and went on to Corinth. ² There he met a Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, for Emperor Claudius had ordered all the Jews to leave Rome. Paul went to see them, ³ and stayed and worked with them, because he earned his living by making tents, just as they did. ⁴ He held discussions in the synagogue every Sabbath, trying to convince both Jews and Greeks.

⁵ When Silas and Timothy arrived from Macedonia, Paul gave his whole time to preaching the message, testifying to the Jews that Jesus is the Messiah. ⁶ When they opposed him and said evil things about him, he protested by shaking the dust from his clothes and saying to them, “If you are lost, you yourselves must take the blame for it! I am not responsible. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.” ⁷ So he left them and went to live in the house of a Gentile named Titius Justus, who worshiped God; his house was next to the synagogue. ⁸ Crispus, who was the leader of the synagogue, believed in the Lord, together with all his family; and many other people in Corinth heard the message, believed, and were baptized.

⁹ One night Paul had a vision in which the Lord said to him, “Do not be afraid, but keep on speaking and do not give up, ¹⁰ for I am with you. No one will be able to harm you, for many in this city are my people.” ¹¹ So Paul stayed there for a year and a half, teaching the people the word of God.

¹² When Gallio was made the Roman governor of Achaia, Jews there got together, seized Paul, and took him into court. ¹³ “This man,” they said, “is trying to persuade people to worship God in a way that is against the law!”

¹⁴ Paul was about to speak when Gallio said to the Jews, “If this were a matter of some evil crime or wrong that has been committed, it would be reasonable for me to be patient with you Jews. ¹⁵ But since it is an argument about words and names and your own law, you yourselves must settle it. I will not be the judge of such things!” ¹⁶ And he drove them out of the court. ¹⁷ They all grabbed Sosthenes, the leader of the synagogue, and beat him in front of the court. But that did not bother Gallio a bit.

Reflect

Today’s reading reveals how Paul worked to support himself as part of his missionary strategy. What did he do? What message was he preaching in the synagogue? Why did Paul’s opponents bring him to court? Why did Gallio, the Roman governor, release him?

Pray

Lord Jesus, in the safety and shelter of your love, I need not fear. When trials come my way, I know that you are with me, guiding and protecting me. Thank you for your steadfast love and faithfulness. Amen.

Tomorrow’s Reading

Acts 18:18–28: Paul leaves Corinth and returns to Antioch.