2. Following his preaching in Athens, Paul set out for Corinth, where he was to meet Silas and Timothy.
Corinth was a political, commercial and naval rival of Athens, the seat of Roman administration in the region and had acquired a sordid reputation for sexual licence.
In Corinth, Paul met a married Christian couple named Priscilla and Aquila, who had recently come to Corinth from Italy and joined in work with them as a tentmaker.
For six days, Paul would ply his trade, but each Sabbath, he would go to the synagogue and preach about Jesus.
After Silas and Timothy rejoined Paul in Corinth, he set about preaching full time.

3. The Jews of Corinth were tolerant of Paul’s Sabbath preaching, but as soon as it became full-time, “the Jews opposed Paul and became abusive” (Acts 18:6).
The gospel found root in a man named Titus Justus, whose home became the church building in Corinth. The synagogue ruler, Crispus, became a follower of Jesus, giving legitimacy to Paul’s work.
“One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: “Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city”. (Acts 18:9-10)

4. Encouraged by this vision, Paul stayed in Corinth for a year and a half, during which time the Jews of Corinth persecuted Paul, yet the attacks of the Corinthian Jews proved unsuccessful.
From Corinth, Paul desired to visit the churches in Judea and Syria.
Paul next arrived in Ephesus, preached to good reception in the synagogue, left Priscilla and Aquila there, and went to Jerusalem and then to Antioch.
Paul then followed the now familiar route to the churches in Syria and returned to Ephesus.

5. While Paul was out on this journey, Priscilla and Aquila were joined by a Jewish convert named Apollos, who became an appreciated colleague of Paul’s, an important leader within the church.
Paul rejoined Priscilla and Aquila in Ephesus, began to preach, but after three months of discourse, “some of them became obstinate; they refused to believe and publicly maligned the Way” (Acts 19:9).
Paul left the synagogue and for two years, took up regular instruction hours in a lecture hall in Ephesus.
During this time, churches sprang up all through the area.

6. “Even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched [Paul] were taken to the sick, and their illnesses were cured and the evil spirits left them” (Acts 19:12).
This supernatural power was noticed by itinerant Jewish exorcists, who began to invoke the name of Jesus during their rites of exorcism.
The Incident with the Seven Sons of Sceva 
In response, many in Ephesus began to turn their backs on practices of sorcery, divination and idolatry.
One mass burning of “magic” scrolls totalled more than 50,000 drachmas – more than $7 million in today’s dollars – showing again that the gospel is inherently disruptive.

7. Paul was compelled to visit Rome, and made plans to do so.
Paul received additional concerning news about the church in Corinth and sent Titus to check in on the church, taking with him a severely worded missive.
Paul sent two helpers, Erastus and Timothy on ahead of him, while he tied up some loose ends in Ephesus, strengthening the church before his departure.

8. At this time in Ephesus, a cult had developed around the Greek goddess Artemis and an industry where silversmith craftsmen would create shrines and idols purchase existed.
As more people become followers of Jesus, less people were purchasing silver idols of Artemis.
The silversmith guild leader incited a riot against Paul, seizing Paul’s co-workers, Gaius and Aristarchus.
A city official finally intervened, shutting down the riot, saying that the Christians had broken no laws, and dispersed the crowd.
Paul envisioned his next areas of ministry: Rome and Spain.

9. Paul set out for Jerusalem, joined by Luke, Sopater from Berea, Aristarchus and Secundus from Thessalonica, Gaius from Derbe, Timothy from Lystra, Tychicus and Trophimus from Ephesus.
Paul’s goal was to travel to Jerusalem to show to the church just how far the gospel had spread.
Before leaving with this group, Paul went to Macedonia, where he met up with Titus, penning 2 Corinthians and sending it off to Corinth.
Paul briefly stopped in a city called Miletus and sent for the elders of the Ephesian church. Paul’s words can be of specific challenge to us.

10. “And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace. (Acts 19:22-24)
Do we live lives of compulsion by the Spirit?
How often does the fear of hardships associated with following Jesus limit our ability to truly lives compelled by the Holy Spirit?

11. We’ve seen the expanding base of Christian leadership in the church in our text today; there is a broadening and diversifying of the leadership.
Paul issues a warning to the Ephesian elders, saying “after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. So be on your guard!” (Acts 19:28-31)
Are we, then, on guard against false teaching?
Scripture is firm in its case that the Holy Spirit will “guide [us] into all the truth” (John 16:13).

12. Are we living under the guidance and the instruction of the Holy Spirit, who seeks to propel us into the wonderful call of God upon our lives, protecting us as we step out in faith?
May we be people compelled by the Spirit and firm in our understanding of the good news of Jesus.