The Tuesday Afternoon Bible Study - Acts 18 Continuing Paul’S 2Nd Missionary Journey

The Tuesday Afternoon Bible Study - Acts 18 Continuing Paul’s 2nd Missionary Journey

You can check on the map and see where we will be this week. Ch 18 begins with Paul leaving Athens and heading to Corinth, a journey of about 50 miles. Most of this chapter takes place in Corinth. After Corinth, Paul will sail to Ephesus, then back to Caesarea, and visit Jerusalem before heading back home to Antioch. But then he will hit the road again, venturing back through Galatia and Phrygia again. Lots of miles in this chapter. When did he do laundry?

Here’s the handy map: https://kimberlinglutheran.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Lesson-17-Pauls-second-missionary-journey1.jpg

Acts 18: 1-17 In Corinth 1. First, we meet Priscilla and Aquila. What do we learn about them? They are a married couple, refugees in Corinth from Rome, when all the Jews were expelled under Emperor Claudius. Paul stays with them, and works with them - they are all tentmakers. If you peek over at Romans 16, you can learn even more about them - they will risk their lives for Paul, all the Gentile churches should be thankful for them, and they host a church in their home.

If your family would have been mentioned in the Bible, what would Paul have said about you?

2. Silas and Timothy eventually arrive from Beroea (17: 14) and find Paul arguing in the synagogue in Corinth. Note Paul’s reaction to instead preach to the Gentiles (18:6). So, he does - and literally goes right next door, to the house of Titius Justus (18:7).

3. In vv. 8-11, note the success Paul has in Corinth, and his reaction to it - in v. 9 Paul receives a vision from the Lord, encouraging him to keep on speaking. Paul’s response? He remains in Corinth another year and a half, teaching them the word of God.

Some have described this episode as the proper response to the doctrine of Predestination - God declares that many people in Corinth are “his people” and Paul responds by staying there a year and a half to find them. Far from fatalism, God’s declaration that there are many people he is calling to himself empowers Paul to share the gospel among them to discover just who these chosen folks are. In other words, God already knows them, but we don’t - so we should go and preach Christ to them so they will respond in faith.

4. The Jews attack Paul again, hauling him into court, but Gallio dismisses it as a religious matter. So instead, they beat up Sosthenes, the synagogue official, presumably for allowing Paul to speak there. Have your actions ever hurt someone else?

Interesting note: Sosthenes is mentioned again in 1 Corinthians 1:1, in Paul’s opening salutation: “Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and our brother Sosthenes…” We can’t be sure if this is the same man, but if it is, he has become a co-laborer with Paul!

Acts 18: 18-22 Taking a Vow and Travelling Some More 1. After taking a vow and cutting his hair in nearby Cenchreae, Paul heads for home, first via Ephesus. Priscilla and Aquila (note that she is listed first) will go with him as far as Ephesus. What was his vow about? Well, no one is sure. Cutting the hair for a vow is usually seen as coming from an Old 2 Testament Nazirite tradition (Numbers 6), nazir meaning consecrated of separated. Basically, you shave your head at the beginning of the vow, and then again at the end - the hair that grew during the vow you offer as a peace offering to God.

Note he once again will go “up” to Jerusalem to greet the church there, then will head “down” back to Antioch, before picking up the trail again, heading back to his stomping grounds in Galatia and Phrygia.

Acts 18: 24-28 Apollos 1. Near the end of the chapter, in Ephesus we are introduced to Apollos, who is from Alexandria, Egypt. Since Priscilla and Aquila are there (note that she is listed first), they teach him. Note how he is described: “eloquent, well-versed in the Scriptures, instructed in the way of the Lord, speaks with burning enthusiasm, and taught accurately about Jesus.” Apparently he was a disciple of John the Baptist. And when he learned about Christ he became a powerful teacher.

Apollos wants to head to Greece (Achaia, where Athens and Corinth are), and is well received.

Paul will later refer positively to Apollos in 1 Corinthians 3 (“I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth” (1 Cor 3:6), and later again in Titus 3:13. Apollos became Paul’s friend and co-laborer in the gospel.

Next week, we will find ourselves back in Ephesus again. What will we experience? Among other things, a riot breaks out. And we will hear of more miracles done by Paul. Stay tuned.