The Acts of the Apostles Acts 18 – Fightings, Within And Without Sunday – July 15, 2018

Fightings Within And Without Acts 18:1-18

Peloponnese Peninsula Corinth Canal: The canal is 3.9 miles long and has a water depth of 26 feet; its width varies from a minimum of 69 feet at the bottom to a maximum of 82 feet at the water's surface. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Corinth-Canal

Temple of Apollo with Temple of Aphrodite

Corinth Around 400,000 population. The remains of the ancient city lie about 50 miles west of Athens, at the eastern end of the Gulf of Corinth. On mainland Greece, Corinth was the main center of worship of Aphrodite (Roman: Venus) goddess of sexual love and beauty. The immorality was notorious even in the pagan world; so that “to Corinthianize” was proverbial for playing the wanton … 1,000 female slaves being maintained for the service of strangers (Rupprecht 1:961). Hence, arose dangers to the purity of the Corinthian church (1 Corinthians 5-7)

Paul In Corinth On his second missionary journey the Apostle Paul spent 1-1/2 years preaching the Gospel at Corinth (18:11). This included: His labor as a tentmaker and teaching in the local synagogue (18:3-4) His conversion of many Corinthians, including the ruler of the synagogue (18:8) His providential protection by the Lord (18:9-10; cf. Romans 15:31) His writing two epistles to the church at Thessalonica

Paul In Corinth He Lived With Aquila And Priscilla (18:1-3) He found this couple who had been expelled from Rome. A husband and wife who later converted Apollos. (18:24-28) Mentioned in several of Paul’s epistles. (Romans 16:3; 1 Corinthians 16:19; 2 Timothy 4:19) Of the same trade (tentmakers), Paul stayed with them. He worked to support himself as a matter of principle. (1 Corinthians 9:6-15; Acts 20:33-35) He also received support from churches like Philippi. (2 Corinthians 11:7-10; Philippians 4:15) Romans 16:3 – “Salute Prisca and Aquila my fellow-workers in Christ Jesus” I Corinthians 16:19 – “The churches of Asia salute you. Aquila and Prisca salute you much in the Lord, with the church that is in their house.” II Timothy 4:19 – “Salute Prisca and Aquila, and the house of Onesiphorus.” I Corinthians 9:6-15 – “6 Or I only and Barnabas, have we not a right to forbear working? 7 What soldier ever serveth at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not the fruit thereof? Or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock? 8 Do I speak these things after the manner of men? or saith not the law also the same? 9 For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox when he treadeth out the corn. Is it for the oxen that God careth, 10 or saith he it assuredly for our sake? Yea, for our sake it was written: because he that ploweth ought to plow in hope, and he that thresheth, (to thresh) in hope of partaking. 11 If we sowed unto you spiritual things, is it a great matter if we shall reap your carnal things? 12 If others partake of (this) right over you, do not we yet more? Nevertheless we did not use this right; but we bear all things, that we may cause no hindrance to the gospel of Christ. 13 Know ye not that they that minister about sacred things eat (of) the things of the temple, (and) they that wait upon the altar have their portion with the altar? 14 Even so did the Lord ordain that they that proclaim the gospel should live of the gospel. 15 But I have used none of these things: and I write not these things that it may be so done in my case; for (it were) good for me rather to die, than that any man should make my glorifying void.” Acts 20:33-35 – “33 I coveted no man's silver, or gold, or apparel. 34 Ye yourselves know that these hands ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me. 35 In all things I gave you an example, that so laboring ye ought to help the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that he himself said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.” II Corinthians 11:7-10 – “7 Or did I commit a sin in abasing myself that ye might be exalted, because I preached to you the gospel of God for nought? 8 I robbed other churches, taking wages (of them) that I might minister unto you; 9 and when I was present with you and was in want, I was not a burden on any man; for the brethren, when they came from Macedonia, supplied the measure of my want; and in everything I kept myself from being burdensome unto you, and (so) will I keep (myself). 10 As the truth of Christ is in me, no man shall stop me of this glorying in the regions of Achaia.” Philippians 4:15 – “And ye yourselves also know, ye Philippians, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church had fellowship with me in the matter of giving and receiving but ye only”

Paul In Corinth He Taught In The Synagogue (18:4) He “reasons” (cf. Isaiah 1:18) with the people, as with … Those at Thessalonica, Athens, and Ephesus. Acts 17:2, 17; 18:19; 19:8-9 Government officials like Felix, Festus, and Agrippa II. Acts 24:25; 26:25 The gospel is designed to appeal to the mind as well as the heart! - cf. Matthew 22:37 He “persuaded” both Jews and Greeks. As he did at Thessalonica and Ephesus. Acts 17:4; 19:8 As he almost did with Herod Agrippa II. Acts 26:28 Isaiah 1:18 – “Come now, and let us reason together, saith Jehovah: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” Acts 17:2, 17 – “2 and Paul, as his custom was, went in unto them, and for three sabbath days reasoned with them from the Scriptures … 17 So he reasoned in the synagogue with Jews and the devout persons, and in the marketplace every day with them that met him.” Acts 18:19 – “And they came to Ephesus, and he left them there: but he himself entered into the synagogue, and reasoned with the Jews.” Acts 19:8-9 – “8 And he entered into the synagogue, and spake boldly for the space of three months, reasoning and persuading (as to) the things concerning the kingdom of God. 9 But when some were hardened and disobedient, speaking evil of the Way before the multitude, he departed from them, and separated the disciples, reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus.” Acts 24:25 – “And as he reasoned of righteousness, and self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix was terrified, and answered, Go thy way for this time; and when I have a convenient season, I will call thee unto me.” Acts 26:25 – “But Paul saith, I am not mad, most excellent Festus; but speak forth words of truth and soberness.” Matthew 22:37 – “And he said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.” Acts 17:4 – “And some of them were persuaded, and consorted with Paul and Silas, and of the devout Greeks a great multitude, and of the chief women not a few.” Acts 19:8 – “And he entered into the synagogue, and spake boldly for the space of three months, reasoning and persuading (as to) the things concerning the kingdom of God.” Acts 26:28 – “And Agrippa (said) unto Paul, With but little persuasion thou wouldest fain make me a Christian.”

Paul Joined By Timothy and Silas They Had Come From Macedonia. (18:5) With good news regarding the church at Thessalonica. 1 Thessalonians 3:1-7 Prompting Paul to write First Thessalonians (ca. 49- 51 AD) 1 Thessalonians 1:1 I Thessalonians 3:1-7 – “Wherefore when we could no longer forbear, we thought it good to be left behind at Athens alone; 2 and sent Timothy, our brother and God's minister in the gospel of Christ, to establish you, and to comfort (you) concerning your faith; 3 that no man be moved by these afflictions; for yourselves know that hereunto we are appointed. 4 For verily, when we were with you, we told you beforehand that we are to suffer affliction; even as it came to pass, and ye know. 5 For this cause I also, when I could no longer forbear, sent that I might know your faith, lest by any means the tempter had tempted you, and our labor should be in vain. 6 But when Timothy came even now unto us from you, and brought us glad tidings of your faith and love, and that ye have good remembrance of us always, longing to see us, even as we also (to see) you; 7 for this cause, brethren, we were comforted over you in all our distress and affliction through your faith” I Thessalonians 1:1 – “Paul, and Silvanus, and Timothy, unto the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace.”