Sunday Morning Service

Acts 18:1-23 (Click title for audio access)

"What God Does For The Down And Out"  •  11.13.11  •  Sunday Morning Service, Calvary Christian Fellowship

Intro.

- "I'm only human." It's our catch phrase for falling short or failing in some area. We say it when we are at the end of ourselves and beat up mentally. We say it when we want to give up.

- At this point in Acts, we can say with some confidence that Paul may have uttered this phrase or one like it about himself! I would ask you to consider a few items that bear this out.

- First, Paul is alone and has been since he fled Berea. He was in Athens alone and he is traveling alone now into the next city. Loneliness on the long road would have been a factor.

- In a recent study conducted by the University of Chicago, 25% of the people polled confessed to feeling lonely often. The other 75% were too depressed to answer their phones!

- Paul, at some level, felt the toll of loneliness. One might also wonder about his expectations. Athens was a major city and the gospel did not take a stongly there as it had in other places.

- One can wonder if Paul was a little let down by how things had gone. Some scholars hold to the position that Paul's preaching in Corinth is a direct rebuke to his preaching in Athens!

- While this is mostly conjecture, if it was not true for Paul, it certainly is a factor for us. Something has not lived up to our expectations. A dream, a job, a person or our football team!

- These first two factors are possible. The next two are biblical. Notice from verse 1 where Paul is going. He is going from Athens to Corinth. That's like going from Berkeley to Las Vegas!

- The sheer wickedness of Corinth, being the man that God had called to minister righteousness, was a daunting hurdle, an overwhelming reality to deal with alone.

- There are few things in this world that dole out depression like fighting an uphill and seemingly hopeless battle against an immovable enemy.

- Finally, Paul's own words to the Corinthians that seal the deal. Paul says in II Corinthians 2:3 the he was "with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling."

- Paul, the Apostle, was physically tired, mentally anxious and feeling uneasy, perhaps it would not be unfair to use the word "scared" about the task that lay before him. Any of you felt any of these?

- What does God do for this frayed Apostle? How does He aid Paul? How might he aid us?

- I would suggest that this passage ministers three key elements that God uses Paul's life that are entirely applicable to you and I, when we are overwhelmed and in over our heads. God uses:

I. Friendship   (v.1-8)

II. Fellowship   (v.9-17)

III. Focus   (v.18-24)

Text

I. Friendship   (v.1-8)

•  Acts 18:1-4  :  "After these things Paul departed from Athens and went to Corinth. And he found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla (because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to depart from Rome); and he came to them. So, because he was of the same trade, he stayed with them and worked; for by occupation they were tentmakers. And he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and persuaded both Jews and Greeks." : Paul's sermon on Mars Hill left him with at least two chief converts that he instructed for some time, perhaps even months.

- Paul's next major stop was the city of Corinth, a major Grecian city 48 miles to the southwest.

- Some have called Corinth, the "Las Vegas" of it's day, but even that will not be sufficient! It was a major port between the Aegean and Asiatic Seas, covering trade routes in all directions.

- Paul must have believed that if trade could succeed in all directions, so could the gospel!

- But planting the gospel was't going to be easy. Whenever Corinthian men were depicted in the theater, they needed to be drunks and a Corinthian woman was synonymous with prostitution.

- Before Paul begin to minister in Corinth, he came upon a couple that will become friends and ministry partners. They shared his heritage, his trade and more than likely, his Lord!

- Aquila and Priscilla had recently been deported because of the decree of Claudius, who according to Suetonius, tired of the continual sparring in Rome over "Chrestus" or "the Christ."

- This decree puts us at 49 AD. From there they worked together as "leather workers." Paul's home town of Cilicia was famous for certain fabric works and every Jewish man was taught a trade.

- There was a favorite saying among the Jews which said that if a man did not teach his son a trade, he taught him to be a thief! Paul was not thief! I could only imagine what he was able to make!

- Paul worked with them to provide for his ministry and he also stayed with them in their home for some time. Paul worked during the week and met with the Jews on the Sabbath.

- Imagine what a blessing that must have been for Paul, to come upon some new friends that he shared so much in common with. The success in the synagogue also encouraged him.

•  Acts 18:5,6  :  "When Silas and Timothy had come from Macedonia, Paul was compelled by the Spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus is the Christ. But when they opposed him and blasphemed, he shook his garments and said to them, 'Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.'"  :  Aquila and Priscilla were personal refreshments to Paul. Their friendship was an encouragement to Paul. Silas and Timothy represented a spiritual boost to him.

- Silas and Timothy came from Macedonia and were a shot in the arm to the Apostle. They were an encouragement in two ways. First, they encouraged him regarding the work he had left.

- I Thessalonians 3:1-3 tells us that Timothy had gone back to establish the Thessalonians. He now brings word that they were doing well. Secondly, the Philippians sent a financial gift.

- Philippians 4:14ff detail that the brethren from Macedonia had brought him financial support. Paul had been working to support himself. Now, God had provided through the Philippians!

- As a result, Luke tells us that Paul was therefore "compelled by the Spirit."

- The word "compelled" indicates a pressing into service, so that the thought would be that the Spirit of God caused Paul to exclusively testify to the Jews.

- The NASB probably translates this the best when it says that Paul "began devoting himself completely to the word!"

- He immediately moved to speak to them about their Messiah Jesus, but their continual response towards Paul and the gospel was opposition and insults.

- At this time, Paul went from the synagogues to out among the Gentiles. We'll find that this was not a complete break from ministry to the Jews, but he was done with them in Corinth.

- Their reactions told him that there was nothing that he could further witness of Christ. He would now concentrate on the Gentiles in Corinth. So where did he go?

•  Acts 18:7,8  :  "And he departed from there and entered the house of a certain man named Justus, one who worshiped God, whose house was next door to the synagogue. Then Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his household. And many of the Corinthians, hearing, believed and were baptized." : This is an interesting exchange. Paul left the synagogue and went next door! In that home, there was a man named Justus that Paul spoke the gospel to.

- Justus is a Roman name, but like Cornelius and Lydia, he worshipped God. That is, he respected the God of the Hebrews and likely attended synagogue and was likely a "God Fearer."

- He received the gospel to some extent, which sent Crispus into a desire to hear the gospel. Crispus, perhaps a part of the earlier mockery or not, came and listened to what Paul had to say.

- This resulted in his family's conversion, as well as a good amount of Corinthians that believed and were baptized! Now, what happened here?

- I believe that God allowed the Jews to see their gospel presented to this Roman man and it sparked a jealousy in their spirits! This interaction catalyzed the Corinthian Jesus movement!

- Paul added two new family friends when he welcomed Justus and Crispus into Christianity.

II. Fellowship (v.9-17)

•  Acts 18:9-11  :  "Now the Lord spoke to Paul in the night by a vision, 'Do not be afraid, but speak, and do not keep silent; for I am with you, and no one will attack you to hurt you; for I have many people in this city.' And he continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them."  :  In the middle of this movement, Paul grew increasingly fearful of the response within the city.

- Think about it: What is the pattern? The Gospel begins to take root and soon, the jealousy of the Jews takes over and a beating is in order! No wonder he was afraid!

- I believe that he took this fear to sleep with him, as many missionaries do in third world environments. Many go to sleep wondering if they will make it peacefully through the night.

- Paul closed his eyes with fear and it was time for God to meet with him personally. His first words to Paul would best be literally understood, "Stop being afraid!"

- God is not one to mince words. Even our beloved, bold Apostle understood fear.

- God came to Paul and visited Him. Do you realize that when Paul needed strength the most, God was there to give it to Him? God can bring in friends, but sometimes, He just does it Himself!

- When there was a God sized fear, God came and had fellowship with Paul.

- Why be afraid? Because Corinth was so wicked and perverse that it inspired most of Romans 1! Why not be afraid? Because God was with Paul.

- He was not alone or unsheltered. God was His refuge and in Corinth, for that time, He could be secure. None would attack or hurt Paul and even though this was a considerably wicked city.

- God had many people in that city, referring to people already saved or those that would be!

- One cannot help but be reminded of Elijah's experience with God, when God informed the depressed prophet that he was not alone in serving God, but that 7,000 had not bowed the knee.

- The allusion is so powerful, one wonders if that was not Paul's issue. Did he doubt his effectiveness? We all look at Paul and can't fathom a moment when he doubted his effectiveness.

- In fact, we view each other that way! I look at you and I am so encouraged at what God is doing in your life. Whenever I look at myself, I have no fair barometer to judge myself by!

- God visited Paul with encouragement regarding people that He had affected for His name! And what was the result? Paul stayed there 18 months, a year and a half!

- Paul sat and taught the Corinthians and spent more time in that city than in any previous city.

- It's a great encouragement to you and I if he was truly discouraged during his stay. We have lauded Paul for his courage in the face of those who opposed the gospel.

- We have admired his joy in the face of great difficulty. It is however in this that we may have the closest relation to Paul. Paul continued when he may not have wanted to!

- It is a great and mature Christianity that is marked by a determination to continue in spite of what one is feeling, especially when that feeling is wanting to shrink back and quit.

- I may even be so bold as to say this: It's not Christianity until you have experienced the breakthrough of faith over feelings! But there would be a test for Paul.

•  Acts 18:12,13  :  "When Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews with one accord rose up against Paul and brought him to the judgment seat, saying, 'This fellow persuades men to worship God contrary to the law.'"  :  After that period of peace for Paul, a new governing official rose to power that the Jews united to condemn Paul.

- Achaia was a region south of Greece governed by the Roman Proconsul Gallio, who ruled in this region, according to archeological finds, in 52 AD.

- This meeting was especially sticky. A proconsul had authority that is akin to federal authority. Whatever he decreed would have to be followed as precedent throughout the empire.

- The Jews were going for the jugular, hoping to put Paul out of commission for good.

- They brought Paul before the Romans, their hated enemies. The Jews opposed the gospel to such a degree that they were willing to partner with their oppressors.

- There claim is equally disingenuous. Paul persuades men to worship God in a way that was illegal, a nebulous claim without any merit from the beginning.

•  Acts 18:14-17  :  "And when Paul was about to open his mouth, Gallio said to the Jews, 'If it were a matter of wrongdoing or wicked crimes, O Jews, there would be reason why I should bear with you. But if it is a question of words and names and your own law, look to it yourselves; for I do not want to be a judge of such matters.' And he drove them from the judgment seat. Then all the Greeks took Sosthenes, the ruler of the synagogue, and beat him before the judgment seat. But Gallio took no notice of these things."  : Paul was chomping at the bit to respond to his accuser's statement. Before he could, Gallio came down hard on the Jews.

- Remember the decree of Claudius. The Romans were done with Jewish matters of religious dogma. Gallio said, "Govern yourself! I don't want anything to do with your religious minutae!"

- On the one hand, you admire a man like Gallio, strong and unwilling to budge and be used for religious gamesmanship and politics.

- On the other hand, the difference between Christianity and religion is not simply a matter of semantics and not simply a matter of different words. Paul was wanting to share the life of God.

- Gallio is the sort of man that we see much of today. He doesn't want to get involved in figuring out what's real. He just wants to lazily categorize and label everything as being the same.

- It's all religion and they all say the same thing! Many today say that they do not want to be a judge in such matters, sadly, to their own demise! He kicked them out of his little place of rule!

- In this case, it was a protection for Paul that was divine in nature. God had delivered Paul. He was his defense. Paul didn't even have to open his mouth!

- Of course, the same could not be said for the new synagogue ruler Sosthenes, who was beaten. Earlier manuscript evidence says that "all" beat him.

- Presumably, there was a contingent that thought he could have handled the case better! I imagine that this was the case, because Gallio let it play out.

- In the end, Sosthenes took a beating that Paul was aniticpating. We don't know exactly what happened next, but when Paul later writes Corinthians, he mentions Sosthenes our brother!

- The beating that Sosthenes took, led him to Christ! For some men, that's what it takes!

III. Focus (v.18-24)

•  Acts 18:18,19  :  "So Paul still remained a good while. Then he took leave of the brethren and sailed for Syria, and Priscilla and Aquila were with him. He had his hair cut off at Cenchrea, for he had taken a vow. And he came to Ephesus, and left them there; but he himself entered the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews."  :  Paul's ministry in Corinth, all in all was a lengthy time of building up the church. It seems that he was in Corinth at least two years total. Syria represented a turn towards home.

- Corinth was time of revival for Paul. During that time of sailing, as Corinth lay behind them, Paul made a "Nazarite" vow before the Lord.

- This vow was the chief vow among the Jews and was essentially a vow of thanksgiving and dedication to the Lord. Paul re-dedicated himself to the Lord. Paul. The Apostle!

- How much more do we need this? If we are to cast off our depression, we must focus on our love for and thanksgiving toward the Lord!

- When they had come to the port of Cenchrea, Paul cut off his hair. A Jewish man would then carry that hair to the temple, where it would be offered to the Lord.

- You might wonder, as I did, why he would do such a thing. This seems "Unpaul" like. Yet, remember that Paul's offering was not as it had been before he was saved. He was doing this in faith.

- He was not doing this to be saved. He was doing this to show thanks to the Lord!

- Paul's personal relationship with the Lord had been strengthened and this is evident by his willingness to take this vow before the Lord.

- On the next leg of the journey, he took Priscilla and Aquila along and they came to Ephesus, which we'll discuss more next, week, where Paul again entered into the synagogue.

•  Acts 18:20-23  :  "When they asked him to stay a longer time with them, he did not consent, but took leave of them, saying, 'I must by all means keep this coming feast in Jerusalem; but I will return again to you, God willing.' And he sailed from Ephesus. And when he had landed at Caesarea, and gone up and greeted the church, he went down to Antioch. After he had spent some time there, he departed and went over the region of Galatia and Phrygia in order, strengthening all the disciples." : The Ephesians loved Paul's ministry. They received him and wanted to keep him there. They kept asking repeatedly, hoping that Paul would stay with them.

- This welcome reception was a blessing, but was at the same time a temptation to continue when Paul knew that he should not. He had made a vow and he intended to keep it!

- He needed, for his own sake to go back and do the first things, to inspire a fresh sense of God's love and to be around the people that God loved so much.

- The unknown feast would provide that perfect background to recharge and refocus on the people that he loved so dearly.

- Paul left Ephesus and came to Caesarea. This brings us to the end of the second missionary journey. The words "gone up" represent the time that Paul had gone to Jerusalem.

- He was on furlough. Taking that time to recharge, he came down to his home base of Antioch, where he said hello to his supporting home church.

- We wonder what that time must have been like. Whatever happened, Paul's laser focus shows again in verse 23. Without any kind of fanfare, Paul heads out on his third missionary journey.

Conclusion

- God used friends to bring Paul refreshment. Don't miss the opportunity to meet together. When Paul needed God to speak to, God fellowshipped with Him. When all else seems fuzzy: Focus!

- Focus on what God has done for you. Focus on your relationship to Him. Focus on why you do what you do and less on what it is that you do! God will meet you there!