PEOPLE OF RENOWN

HOW MANY PEOPLE MENTIONED IN 1 CORINTHIANS ONE? NINE PEOPLE MENTIONED

 Jesus 1 Cor 1:1  Paul 1 Cor 1:1  Sosthenes 1 Cor 1:1  Chloe 1 Cor 1:11  Apollas 1Cor 1:12  Cephas 1Cor 1:12  Crispus 1Cor 1:14  Gaius 1Cor 1:14  Stephanus 1Cor 1:15

SOSTHENES

1 Cor 1:1 Paul called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother KJV

ACTS 18 12-1812 AND WHEN GALLIO WAS THE DEPUTY OF ACHAIA, THE JEWS MADE INSURRECTION WITH ONE ACCORD AGAINST PAUL, AND BROUGHT HIM TO THE JUDGMENT SEAT, 13 SAYING, THIS FELLOW PERSUADETH MEN TO WORSHIP GOD CONTRARY TO THE LAW. 14 And when Paul was now about to open his mouth, Gallio said unto the Jews, If it were a matter of wrong or wicked lewdness, O ye Jews, reason would that I should bear with you: 15 But if it be a question of words and names, and of your law, look ye to it; for I will be no judge of such matters. 16 And he drave them from the judgment seat. 17 Then all the Greeks took Sosthenes, the chief ruler of the synagogue, and beat him before the judgment seat. And Gallio cared for none of those things

SOSTHENES

 Gallio was the deputy of Achaia at this time it was a Roman province  Jews with ringleader Sosthenes brought Paul to the judgement seat,  Gallio wiped hands of it  Then all the Greeks took Sosthenes, and beat him. SOSTHENES  Achaia is southern part of Greece

 Corinth in Achaia   Macedonia is northern Greece

GREECE TODAY While we cannot be sure who this refers to, there is a Sosthenes mentioned in chapter 18 of the book of Acts. 12 But when Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews made a united attack on Paul and brought him before the tribunal, 13 saying, "This man is persuading people to worship God contrary to the law." 14 But when Paul was about to open his mouth, Gallio said to the Jews, "If it were a matter of wrongdoing or vicious crime, O Jews, I would have reason to accept your complaint. 15 But since it is a matter of questions about words and names and your own law, see to it yourselves. I refuse to be a judge of these things." 16 And he drove them from the tribunal. 17 And they all seized Sosthenes, the ruler of the synagogue, and beat him in front of the tribunal. But Gallio paid no attention to any of this. This Sosthenes was a Jewish leader who, when his plans to attack Paul ended in an embarrassing rejection by the Roman ruler Gallio, was beaten and rejected by his own people. It is not far fetched to think that this man that was beaten and isolated may have been one that Paul himself would have approached, showing compassion. In so doing maybe this onetime enemy of Paul became a friend of the church and a brother. Paul probably would have had a special sympathy for Jewish leaders persecuting the church, for that was Paul’s own history back when he was Saul.

 Historians not really sure same person

 In Acts - Chief ruler at synagogue in Corinth

 It has also been alleged that Sosthenes is a later name of Crispus. Crispus mentioned in Acts 18:8 and 1 Cor 1:14

 Another commentary suggests....

 Alternate commentaries

 After crowd beat Sosthenes

 Paul gave compassion and forgave him

 Consequence became a friend of the church and a brother.

 Maybe introduce as “brother“ to affirm conversion

FISHERS OF MEN

“Actions speak louder than words” • Kids song • “Come follow me and I will make you fishers of Men” • “We will catch them with our kindness and we will catch them with our love of God and bring them to the Lord”

 Alternate commentaries

 Paul identified with Jewish leaders because of own history.

 Convert leaders and you may convert their followers as well

 Jesus 1 Cor 1:1  Paul 1 Cor 1:1  Sosthenes 1 Cor 1:1  Chloe 1 Cor 1:11  Apollas 1Cor 1:12  Cephas 1Cor 1:12  Crispus 1Cor 1:14  Gaius 1Cor 1:14  Stephanus 1Cor 1:15

CRISPUS

3 Crispus’s

 Flavius Julius Crispus (died 326),  was a Caesar of Roman empire.  Son of Constantine I st  Constantine I1 Christian Emperor

CRISPUS

 Baptised by Paul

 Man of great faith

 Sosthenes (Acts 18:12-18) was said to follow Crispus (Acts 18:8)as ruler of the Synagogue

 Became Bishop of Aegina

 Local Christian tradition of Aegina has it that a Christian community was established there in the 1st century  Aegina is roughly triangular in shape, approx 15 km (9.3 mi) from east to west and 10 km (6.2 mi) from north to south, NINE PEOPLE MENTIONED

Bring people to Christ  Jesus 1 Cor 1:1  Actions  Compassion  Paul 1 Cor 1:1  forgiveness  Sosthenes 1 Cor 1:1

 Chloe 1 Cor 1:11 Faith  Apollas 1Cor 1:12  Cephas 1Cor 1:12  Crispus 1Cor 1:14  Gaius 1Cor 1:14  Stephanus 1Cor 1:15