Acts 18:1-17
Q.1. Why were Aquila and Priscilla at Corinth? What drew Paul to them? What was Paul’s focus while at Corinth? – (Acts 18:1-4)
God first used Jewish zealots to scatter the early believers (Acts 8:1; 11:19). Aquila and Priscilla had lived in Italy. The Emperor Claudius had expelled all Jews from Rome. They were not just Jews but were devout Christians and tentmakers like Paul. They worked together – and he was reasoning in the synagogue every Sabbath and trying to persuade Jews and Greeks (Acts 18:4).
Q.2. What changed when Silas and Timothy joined them at Corinth? What kind of response did Paul have? How did he follow up the converts? (Acts 18:5-8)
After Silas and Timothy arrived, Paul began to devote himself completely to evangelism (Acts 18:5). This soon resulted in heated opposition, so Paul adjusted his focus – … and said to them, “Your blood be on your own heads! I am clean. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.” (Acts 18:6 c.f. Acts 28:28). He retreated all the way to next door to follow up on the converts (Acts 18:7). Added to this – Crispus, the leader of the synagogue, believed in the Lord with all his household, and many of the Corinthians when they heard were believing and being baptized (Acts 18:8).
Q.3. What gracious promise did God give Paul? How did the proconsul protect Paul? Why did the Jews beat up Sosthenes? – (Acts 18:9-17)
Paul must have wondered when next he would be forced out of town. A vision from God, promising protection from opposition, and guaranteeing success must have been most welcome – for I am with you, and no man will attack you in order to harm you, for I have many people in this city (Acts 18:10). When the Jews dragged Paul before the judgment seat, asking the proconsul to stop him from preaching the Gospel – 14 … Gallio said to the Jews, “If it were a matter of wrong or of vicious crime, O Jews, it would be reasonable for me to put up with you; 15 but if there are questions about words and names and your own law, look after it yourselves; I am unwilling to be a judge of these matters.” 16 And he drove them away from the judgment seat (Acts 18:14-16). Then they turned their attention to Sosthenes, the leader of the synagogue. However, Gallio refused to take action against the Christians.