The Ascended Christ to His Apostle Paul:
“I have much people in this city.”
~ Paul Planting the Church at Corinth ~
Acts 18:1-11
1 After
these things Paul departed from Athens, and came to Corinth; 2 And
found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, lately come from Italy, with
his wife Priscilla; (because that Claudius had commanded all Jews to depart
from Rome:) and came unto them. 3 And because he was of the same
craft, he abode with them, and wrought: for by their occupation they were
tentmakers. 4 And he reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath, and
persuaded the Jews and the Greeks. 5 And when Silas and Timotheus
were come from Macedonia, Paul was pressed in the spirit, and testified to the
Jews that Jesus was Christ. 6 And when they opposed themselves, and
blasphemed, he shook his raiment, and said unto them, Your blood be upon your
own heads; I am clean: from henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles. 7 And
he departed thence, and entered into a certain man’s house, named Justus, one
that worshipped God, whose house joined hard to the synagogue. 8 And
Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his
house; and many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized. 9
Then spake the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision, Be not afraid, but speak,
and hold not thy peace: 10 For I am with thee, and no man shall set
on thee to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city. 11 And he
continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.
Outline:
I. The Introduction of Aquila and Priscilla (18:1-4)
II. The Reunion with Silas and Timothy (18:5-6)
III. The Conversion of Crispus (18:7-8)
IV. The Message from Christ (18:9-11)
I. The Introduction of Aquila and Priscilla (18:1-4)
1 After
these things Paul departed from Athens, and came to Corinth; 2 And
found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, lately come from Italy, with
his wife Priscilla; (because that Claudius had commanded all Jews to depart
from Rome:) and came unto them. 3 And because he was of the same
craft, he abode with them, and wrought: for by their occupation they were
tentmakers. 4 And he reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath, and
persuaded the Jews and the Greeks.
1. Paul’s arrival at Corinth from Athens (18:1)
After these things Paul departed from
Athens, and came to Corinth;
Why here?
Corinth is apx. 45-50 miles from Athens.
At this point in the historical narrative in Acts we are at a very important juncture between Jerusalem and Syrian Antioch, Athens and Rome!
The population of this city was apx. 200,000+ people during this period.
Corinth was at this time the most influential political and economic city in the
province of Achaia.
The character of Corinth as a notorious cosmopolitan "melting pot" is comparable to New York City, Boston or San Francisco with a mix of Atlantic City or Las
Vegas thrown in!
2. Paul becomes acquainted with Aquila and Priscilla
(18:2)
And found a certain Jew named Aquila,
born in Pontus, lately come from Italy, with his wife Priscilla….and came unto
them.
Rom. 16:3-5a - 3 Greet Priscilla and
Aquila my helpers in Christ Jesus: 4 Who have for my life laid down their own necks: unto whom not
only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles. 5 Likewise greet the church that is in their house.
1 Cor. 16:19 - The churches of Asia salute you. Aquila and Priscilla salute you
much in the Lord, with the church that is in their house.
2 Tim. 4:19a -
Salute Prisca and Aquila
3. The presence of Aquila and Priscilla explained
(18:2e)
(because that Claudius had commanded [1] all
Jews to depart from Rome:)
This parenthetical note is an important historical
explanation.
Why did this happen?
4. The common occupation and cohabitation of Paul with
Aquila and Priscilla (18:3)
And because he was of the same craft,
he abode with them, and wrought: for by their occupation they were tentmakers.
1 Cor. 4:12a-b - And labour, working with our
own hands
1
Cor. 9:14-15 - 14 Even so hath the Lord ordained that
they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel. 15 But I have used none of these things: neither
have I written these things, that it should be so done unto me: for it were better for me to die, than that
any man should make my glorying void. (cp. 9:6-18)
2 Cor. 11:7-9 - 7 Have I committed an offence in abasing myself
that ye might be exalted, because I have preached to you the gospel of God
freely? 8 I robbed
other churches, taking wages of them,
to do you service. 9 And when I was present with you, and wanted, I was chargeable
to no man: for that which was lacking to me the brethren which came from
Macedonia supplied: and in all things
I have kept myself from being burdensome unto you, and so will I keep myself.
2 Cor. 12:13-18 - 13 For what
is it wherein ye were inferior to other churches, except it be that I myself was not burdensome to you? forgive me this
wrong. 14 Behold, the third
time I am ready to come to you; and I will not be burdensome to you: for I seek
not yours, but you: for the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but
the parents for the children. 15 And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the
more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved.
16 But be it so, I did not burden you: nevertheless, being
crafty, I caught you with guile. 17 Did I make a gain of you by any of them whom I sent unto you? 18 I desired Titus,
and with him I sent a brother. Did
Titus make a gain of you? walked we not in the same spirit? walked we not in the same steps?
1 Th. 2:9 - For ye remember, brethren, our labour and travail: for labouring
night and day, because we would not be chargeable unto any of you, we preached
unto you the gospel of God.
2 Th. 3:8-9 - 8 Neither did we eat any
man's bread for nought; but wrought with labour and travail night and day, that
we might not be chargeable to any of you: 9 Not because we have not power, but to make
ourselves an ensample unto you to follow us. (cp. 3:6-14)
Acts 20:33-35 - 33 I have coveted no
man's silver, or gold, or apparel. 34 Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto
my necessities, and to them that were with me.
35 I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought
to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said,
It is more blessed to give than to receive.
5. The continuation of Paul’s practice on the Sabbath
of persuasion in the synagogue (18:4)
And he reasoned in the synagogue
every sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks.
II. The Reunion with Silas and Timothy (18:5-6)
5 And when Silas and Timotheus were
come from Macedonia, Paul was pressed in the spirit, and testified to the Jews
that Jesus was Christ. 6 And when they opposed themselves, and
blasphemed, he shook his raiment, and said unto them, Your blood be upon your
own heads; I am clean: from henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles.
1. The Arrival of Saul and Timothy (18:5a)
And when Silas and Timotheus were come
from Macedonia
2. The Effect of the Reunion on Paul (18:5b-c)
Paul was pressed in the spirit, and
testified to the Jews that Jesus was Christ
3. The Negative Response of the Jews to Paul’s
Indentification of Christ (18:6a-b)
And when they opposed themselves, and
blasphemed
4. The Warning Rebuke of Paul to the Jews (18:6c-g)
he shook his raiment, and said unto
them, Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean: from henceforth I will go
unto the Gentiles
III. The Conversion of Crispus (18:7-8)
7 And
he departed thence, and entered into a certain man’s house, named Justus, one
that worshipped God, whose house joined hard to the synagogue. 8 And
Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his
house; and many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized.
1. The New Meeting House at Corinth (18:7)
And he departed thence, and entered
into a certain man’s house, named Justus, one that worshipped God, whose house
joined hard to the synagogue.
“…it is unlikely that opposition of the Jews in the
synagogue would have caused Paul to change his residence from the home of
Aquila, with whom Paul continued to have good relations. The Western revision
reflects, as Bruce points out, “a misunderstanding of Luke’s meaning; Paul did
not remove his private lodgings from Aquila’s house to that of Justus, but made
Justus’s house his preaching headquarters instead of the synagogue,” which was
next door.” [2]
2. The First Fruits at Corinth (18:8)
And Crispus, the chief ruler of
the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house; and many of the
Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized.
IV. The Message from Christ (18:9-11)
9 Then spake the Lord to Paul in
the night by a vision, Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace: 10
For I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have much
people in this city. 11 And he continued there a year and six
months, teaching the word of God among them.
1. The Occasion for the Communication from Christ
(18:9a)
Then spake the Lord to Paul in the
night by a vision
3rd of 6 visions: 9:3-6; 16:9-10; 22:17-18; 23:11;
27:23-24
2 Cor. 12:1-4 - 1 It is not expedient for me doubtless to
glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord. 2
I knew a man in Christ above
fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the
body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven. 3
And I knew such a man,
(whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) 4
How that he was caught up into
paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to
utter.
2. The Content of the Communication from Christ
(18:9b-10)
Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not
thy peace: 10 For I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to
hurt thee: for I have much people in this city.
1) The Negative
and Postive Commands
Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not
thy peace
Is. 41:10 - Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be
not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help
thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.
Is. 43:5 - Fear
not: for I am with thee: I will bring
thy seed from the east, and gather thee from the west;
1 Cor. 2:3 - And I was with you in weakness, and in fear,
and in much trembling.
2) Reason #1
For I am with thee, and no man shall
set on thee to hurt thee
Mt. 28:20b-e - and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Jer. 1:18-19 - 18 For, behold, I have made thee this day a
defenced city, and an iron pillar, and brasen walls against the whole land,
against the kings of Judah, against the princes thereof, against the priests
thereof, and against the people of the land. 19 And they shall fight against thee; but they
shall not prevail against thee; for I am
with thee, saith the LORD, to deliver thee.
Lk. 21:16-18 - 16 And ye shall be betrayed both by parents,
and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death. 17
And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake. 18
But there shall not an hair of
your head perish.
Josh. 1:5-6, 9 - 5 There shall not any man be able to stand
before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. 6
Be strong and of a good
courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land,
which I sware unto their fathers to give them. 7 Only be thou strong and very courageous,
that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant
commanded thee: turn not from it to
the right hand or to the left, that
thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest. 8 This book of the law shall not depart out
of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest
observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt
make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. 9
Have not I commanded thee? Be
strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the
LORD thy God is with thee
whithersoever thou goest.
3) Reason #2
for I have much people in this city
Jn. 10:16 - And
other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and
they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.
Acts 13:45-49 (at Pisidian Antioch on the first
missionary journey) - 45 But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and
spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and
blaspheming. 46 Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the
word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from
you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the
Gentiles. 47 For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying,
I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for
salvation unto the ends of the earth. 48 And when the Gentiles heard this, they were
glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to
eternal life believed. 49 And the word of the Lord was published
throughout all the region.
Why Paul to Corinth?
Why Aquila and Priscilla from Rome to Corinth?
Why the edict at Rome?
Why next door to the synagogue?
Why Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue?
3. The Effect of the Communication from Christ (18:11)
And he continued there a year
and six months, teaching the word of God among them.
At Ephesus on 3rd missionary journey:
Acts 19:10 - And this continued by the space of two years; so that all they
which dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.
[Sermon preached 7 SEP 2014 by Pastor John T. “Jack” Jeffery at Wayside Gospel Chapel, Greentown, PA.]
Complete outline:
I. The Introduction of Aquila and Priscilla (18:1-4)
1. Paul’s arrival at Corinth from Athens (18:1)
2. Paul becomes acquainted with Aquila and Priscilla (18:2)
3. The presence of Aquila and Priscilla explained (18:2e)
4. The common occupation and cohabitation of Paul with Aquila and
Priscilla (18:3)
5. The continuation of Paul’s practice on the Sabbath of persuasion in
the synagogue (18:4)
II. The Reunion with Silas and Timothy (18:5-6)
1. The Arrival of Saul and
Timothy (18:5a)
2. The Effect of the Reunion on
Paul (18:5b-c)
3. The Negative Response of the
Jews to Paul’s Indentification of Christ (18:6a-b)
4. The Warning Rebuke of Paul to
the Jews (18:6c-g)
III. The Conversion of Crispus (18:7-8)
1. The New Meeting House at Corinth (18:7)
2. The First Fruits at Corinth (18:8)
IV. The Message from Christ (18:9-11)
1. The Occasion for the
Communication from Christ (18:9a)
2. The Content of the
Communication from Christ (18:9b-10)
3. The Effect of the
Communication from Christ (18:11)
Resources on Acts:
G. K. Beale and D. A. Carson, eds., Commentary on the New Testament Use of
the Old Testament (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2007), pp. 513-606.
Paul Barnett, The
Birth of Christianity: The First Twenty Years, After Jesus, Vol. 1 (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing
Co., 2005).
Darrell L. Bock, Acts,
Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New
Testament, eds. Robert W. Yarbrough and Robert H. Stein (Grand Rapids:
Baker Academic, 2007).
F. F. Bruce, The Acts of the Apostles: The Greek Text
with Introduction and Commentary, 2nd ed. (Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans
Publishing Co., 1951, 1952).
I. Howard Marshall, Acts:
An Introduction And Commentary, Vol. 5 in Tyndale New Testament Commentaries, gen. ed. Leon Morris (Downers
Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1980; 2008 reprint).
David G. Peterson, The
Acts of the Apostles, in The Pillar
New Testament Commentaries, gen. ed. D. A. Carson (Grand Rapids: William B.
Eerdmans Publishing Co., 2009).
John B. Polhill, Acts,
Vol. 26 in The New American Commentary,
gen. ed. David S. Dockery (Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman, Publishers,
1992).
Eckhard J. Schnabel, Acts,
Vol. 5 in the Zondervan Exegetical
Commentary on the New Testament, gen. ed. Clinton E. Arnold (Grand Rapids:
Zondervan, 2012).
William H. Willimon, Acts,
in Interpretation: A Bible Commentary for
Teaching and Preaching, series ed. James Luther Mays, New Testament ed.
Paul J. Achtemeier (Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 2010).
Resources on Paul:
Kenneth E. Bailey, Paul Through Mediterranean Eyes: Cultural
Studies in 1 Corinthians (Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic, 2011).
F. F. Bruce, Paul:
Apostle of the Heart Set Free (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing
Co., 1977).
D. A. Carson, The
Gagging of God: Christianity Confronts Pluralism (Grand Rapids: Zondervan,
1996), pp. 496-501.
W. J. Conybeare and J. S. Howson, The Life, Times and Travels of St. Paul, 2 vols. in 1, unabridged
American ed. (New York: E. B. Treat U Co., 1869); on Google Books at http://books.google.com/books?id=Bn1CAAAAIAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false
[accessed 12 FEB 2013].
Adolf Deissmann, Paul:
A Study in Social and Religious History, 2nd ed., trans. William E. Wilson
(New York: Harper Torchbooks, n.d.).
F. W. Farrar, The Life
and Work of St. Paul (New York: E. P. Dutton and Co., 1889); on Google Books at http://books.google.com/books?id=RB2KeCSM6KsC&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false
[accessed 12 FEB 2013].
Bruce N. Fisk, “Paul: Life and
Letters”, in The Face of New Testament
Studies: A Survey of Recent Research, ed. Scot McKnight and Grant R.
Osborne (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2004), pp. 283-325.
Richard B.Gaffin, Jr.,
"Acts and Paul", 46 lectures (MP3 format), WTS Resources Media Center
on Westminster Theological Seminary
at http://wts.edu/resources/media.html?paramType=audio&filterTopic=5&filterSpeaker=10&filterYear=2005 [accessed 20 MAR 2013].
Frank J. Goodwin, A
Harmony of the Life of the St. Paul According to the Acts of the Apostles and
the Pauline Epistles (New York: American Tract Society, 1895); on Google Books at http://books.google.com/books?id=YgpEAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false
[accessed 12 FEB 2013].
Richard N. Longenecker, The
Ministry And Message Of Paul (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1971).
Richard N. Longenecker, Paul,
Apostle Of Liberty (New York: Harper & Row, 1964).
Richard N. Longenecker, ed., The Road From Damascus : The Impact Of Paul's Conversion On His Life,
Thought, And Ministry (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1997).
Richard N. Longenecker, Studies
In Paul, Exegetical And Theological (Sheffield : Sheffield Phoenix Press,
2004).
J. Gresham Machen, The
Origin of Paul's Religion: The James Sprunt Lectures Delivered at Union
Theological Seminary in Virginia (Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing
Co., 1925).
Leon Morris, The
Apostolic Preaching of the Cross (Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing
Co., 1955).
John Pollock, The
Apostle: A Life of Paul, 3rd ed. (Colorado Springs: David C. Cook, 1969,
2012); also published as The Man Who
Shook the World (Wheaton: Victor Books, 1972; originally The Apostle: A Life of Paul, New York:
Doubleday, 1969).
Stanley E. Porter, Paul
in Acts, in Library of Pauline
Studies, gen. ed. Stanley E. Porter (Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers,
Inc., 1999; 2001 reprint of The Paul of
Acts: Essays in Literary Criticism, Rhetoric and Theology, in Wissenschaftliche Untersuchungen zum Neuen
Testament 115, by Mohr Siebeck, Tubingen).
W. M. Ramsay, The
Cities of St. Paul: Their Influence on his Life and Thought (New York: A.
C. Armstrong and Son; London: Hodder and Stoughton, 1908); on Google Books at http://books.google.com/books?id=JryEbmKool0C&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false
[accessed 13 FEB 2013].
W. M. Ramsay, Pauline
and Other Studies in Early Christian History (New York: A. C. Armstrong and
Son, 1906); on Google Books at http://books.google.com/books?id=-1ZJAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false
[accessed 13 FEB 2013].
W. M. Ramsay, St. Paul
the Traveler and the Roman Citizen, 10th ed. (London: Hodder and Stoughton,
1907); on Christian Classics Ethereal
Library (CCEL) at http://www.ccel.org/ccel/ramsay/paul_roman.html
[accessed 13 FEB 2013].
W. M. Ramsay, The
Teaching of Paul in terms of The Present Day: The Deems Lectures in New York
University (London: Hodder and Stoughton, 1914); on Internet Archive at http://ia600404.us.archive.org/2/items/teachingofpaulin00rams/teachingofpaulin00rams.pdf
[accessed 13 FEB 2013].
A. T. Robertson, Epochs
in the Life of Paul: A Study of Development in Paul's Character (Grand
Rapids: Baker Book House, 1974).
Eckhard J. Schnabel, Paul The Missionary: Realities, Strategies
And Methods (Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic,
2008).
Udo Schnelle, Apostle
Paul: His Life and Theology, trans. M. Eugene Boring (Grand Rapids: Baker
Academic, 2003; trans. from Paulus: Leben
und Denken, Berlin: Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co., n.d.).
Thomas R. Schreiner, Paul,
Apostle of God's Glory in Christ: A Pauline Theology (Downers Grove, IL:
IVP Academic, 2001).
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Life of St. Paul, (Edinburgh: T. & T. Clark, 1885; rev. ed. 2010 by
Kessinger Publishing from 1912 ed.); on Google
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Paul on Trial (London: Student Christian Movement, 1923).
End Notes:
[1] In the case of the prepositional prefix on the verb διατεταχεναι in verse 2 we face one of those strange instances
where the Byzantine Textform and the Majority Text not only differ from the
Textus Receptus in reading τεταχÎναι, but this disagreement extends also to the
Nestle-Aland and United Bible Society’s texts as well since they are in agreement
with the Textus Receptus!
[2] Metzger, B. M., & United Bible Societies. (1994).
A textual commentary on the Greek New
Testament, second edition a companion volume to the United Bible Societies'
Greek New Testament (4th rev. ed.) (410). London; New York: United Bible
Societies. Metzger
is citing F. F. Bruce, Commentary on the
Book of the Acts; the English Text … (London, 1954), p. 370, n. 17. See also The
Acts of the Apostles; the Greek Text with Introduction and Commentary, by
F. F. Bruce (London, 1951); 3rd ed., 1990.
