In today’s study our titles are; Verses 1-22 Paul at Corinth and Ephesus. Verse 23 Paul begins his third missionary journey. Verses 24-28 Apollos at Ephesus. We come to 54 AD and Acts 18 and verse 1 reads.
Acts 18:1] After these things Paul departed from Athens, and came to Corinth;
Still in Greece, Corinth is about 40 miles away. A much smaller area.
Acts 18:2] 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.
Amazing how the attitude has never changed against the Jews. Paul is meeting Aquila and his wife Priscilla for the first time. Priscilla will become one of the best teachers of God’s Word. Let’s go to Romans 16 and verse 3 reads.
Rom.16:3] 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.
Notice how Priscilla is mentioned before Aquila, she has become the better teacher. Paul writes to the saints in Corinth about this time that he came to this area. Let’s go to 1Corinthians 16 and verse 7 reads.
1Cor.16:7] For I will not see you now by the way; but I trust to tarry a while with you, if the Lord permit.
[8] But I will tarry at Ephesus until Pentecost.
[9] For a great door and effectual is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries.
Paul knows about the adversaries that lie in wait for him, but the door of effectual is opened for him, means; of active operative. In other words, there is much to do there. Don’t overlook we received the timeline. Back to Acts 18 and verse 3 reads.
Acts 18:3] And because he was of the same craft, he abode with them, and wrought: for by their occupation they were tentmakers.
Both Paul and Aquila were tentmakers.
Acts 18:4] And he reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks.
Let’s go back to Acts 17 and verse 2 reads.
Acts 17:2] And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures,
[3] Opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ.
Teaching Christ crucified and is risen. The Messiah has come. Back to Acts 18 and verse 5 reads.
Acts 18:5] And when Silas and Timotheus were come from Macedonia, Paul was pressed in the spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus was Christ.
That Jesus is the Messiah, that the Christ had come. Silas and Timothy joined him at this time in Corinth.
Acts 18:6] 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.
Paul was given a threefold ministry by the Lord. Let’s go back to Acts 9 and verse 15 reads.
Acts 9:15] But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:
[16] For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake.
And Paul would suffer for his namesake, being called a Christian. Did you catch what Paul said to them? Let’s go to Ezekiel 33 and verse 1 reads.
Eze.33:1] Again the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
[2] Son of man, speak to the children of thy people, and say unto them, When I bring the sword upon a land, if the people of the land take a man of their coasts, and set him for their watchman:
[3] If when he seeth the sword come upon the land, he blow the trumpet, and warn the people;
[4] Then whosoever heareth the sound of the trumpet, and taketh not warning; if the sword come, and take him away, his blood shall be upon his own head.
[5] He heard the sound of the trumpet, and took not warning; his blood shall be upon him. But he that taketh warning shall deliver his soul.
[6] But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword come, and take any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman’s hand.
Watchmen watch! Do not fall asleep, or their blood will be on your hands. Back to Acts 18 and verse 7 reads.
Acts 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.
Justus is Titus, a Christian of Corinth that lived next to the synagogue, making it easier for Paul to teach in the synagogue.
Acts 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.
The whole reason for teaching the gospels is to teach the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Many believed Jesus was the Son of God and that he was crucified and had risen again on the third day, thus being baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Paul would write to Corinth in 1Corinthians 1 and verse 13 reads.
1Cor.1:13] Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?
[14] I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius;
[15] Lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name.
He has a way of teaching boldly as we will see the reason in the next verse. Back to Acts 18 and verse 9 reads.
Acts 18:9] Then spake the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision, Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace:
Hold not thy peace but speak boldly. Let this be a lesson for all of us.
Acts 18:10] For I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city.
Don’t worry Paul, I, the Lord speaking, have many people here. The LORD will never leave us or forsake us. He dwells within us, which is why we should never fear the people. Let’s go to Jeremiah 1 and verse 17 reads.
Jer.1:17] Thou therefore gird up thy loins, and arise, and speak unto them all that I command thee: be not dismayed at their faces, lest I confound thee before them.
Speak boldly lest the LORD confound you.
Jer.1:18] 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.
Not only the kings and people, but the priests (Kenites) also will he harden their hearts against you.
Jer.1:19] And they shall fight against thee; but they shall not prevail against thee; for I am with thee, saith the LORD, to deliver thee.
An awesome promise from the LORD to his Elect. Back to Acts 18 and verse 11 reads.
Acts 18:11] And he continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.
What an awesome time that must have been, but remember the Kenites will always attack those who teach God’s Word.
Acts 18:12] And when Gallio was the deputy of Achaia, the Jews made insurrection with one accord against Paul, and brought him to the judgment seat,
Let’s check out this man Gallio, G1058 Galliōn pronounced Gal-lee’-own. Gallion (that is Gallio) a Roman officer. Gallion is Latin and Gallio is Greek. Both mean; One who lives on milk. (Ears to hear). 1. Junius Annaeus Gallio, the Roman proconsul of Achaia when Paul was at Corinth, 53 A.D., under the emperor Claudius. Acts 18:12. He was brother to Jucius Annaeus Seneca, the philosopher. Jerome in the Chronicle of Eusebius says that he committed suicide in 65 A.D. Winer thinks he was put to death by Nero. Winer and Jerome were both historians at the time. Now, what will these Kenites say about Paul? Acts 18 and verse 13 reads.
Acts 18:13] 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:
Remember the Romans thought religion was superstition. Notice Paul was about to answer his accusers when Gallio interrupted. What Gallio said was; if it be a matter of whether he broke Roman law would be one thing, don’t bring religious matters to me.
Acts 18:15] 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.
Gallio would have no matter in judgement against any man on religion.
Acts 18:17] 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.
Then the Kenites took the chief priest of the synagogue, a fellow Jew and not Paul because they learned their lesson about beating a Roman citizen which Paul was. This man Sosthenes is not Crispus who was ruler of the synagogue when Paul first arrived and had baptized. Let’s go to 1Corinthians 1 and verse 1 reads.
1Cor.1:1] Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother,
[2] Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:
Being sanctified in Jesus Christ means you have become a saint. Let’s check out this man Sosthenes. G4988 Sōsthenēs pronounced soce-then’-ace and means; savior of his nation. And derives from two words, the first being G4982 sōzō pronounced sode’-zo. To deliver from the penalties of the Messianic judgment. To save from the evils which obstruct the reception of the Messianic deliverance. The second being G4599 sthenoō pronounced sthen-o’-o. and means; To strengthen that is (figuratively) confirm (in spiritual knowledge and power). 1. to make strong, strengthen. 2. of one’s soul. We can see why this man became a great servant of God. Back to Acts 18 and verse 18 reads.
Acts 18:18] And Paul after this tarried there yet a good while, and then took his leave of the brethren, and sailed thence into Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila; having shorn his head in Cenchrea: for he had a vow.
This is a vow of a Nazarite. Paul’s vow is that he would be in Jerusalem for the High Sabbath (Feast of Weeks or Pentecost). Let’s go to Numbers 6 and verse 1 reads.
Num.6:1] And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
[2] Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When either man or woman shall separate themselves to vow a vow of a Nazarite, to separate themselves unto the LORD:
[3] He shall separate himself from wine and strong drink, and shall drink no vinegar of wine, or vinegar of strong drink, neither shall he drink any liquor of grapes, nor eat moist grapes, or dried.
Nothing of the vine.
Num.6:4] All the days of his separation shall he eat nothing that is made of the vine tree, from the kernels even to the husk.
[5] All the days of the vow of his separation there shall no rasor come upon his head: until the days be fulfilled, in the which he separateth himself unto the LORD, he shall be holy, and shall let the locks of the hair of his head grow.
After he has shaven, let no one touch his head with a razor.
Num.6:6] All the days that he separateth himself unto the LORD he shall come at no dead body.
[7] He shall not make himself unclean for his father, or for his mother, for his brother, or for his sister, when they die: because the consecration of his God is upon his head.
Not even allowed to go to the funeral of family members, because the consecration of God is on his head. That is the vow of a Nazarite. Back to Acts 18 and verse 19 reads.
Acts 18:19] And he came to Ephesus, and left them there: but he himself entered into the synagogue, and reasoned with the Jews.
He had to leave Aquilla and Pricilla out of the temple because they were not Jews, or of the tribes of Israel. But Paul, being a pharisee himself, went boldly into the synagogue. Paul has left Corinth and comes to Ephesus, Ephesus G2181 Ephesos pronounced ef’-es-os and means; Permitted and is a city of Asia Minor. 1. a maritime city of Asia Minor, capital of Ionia and under the Romans, of proconsular Asia, situated on the Icarian Sea between Smyrna and Miletus. And is used by John to show how it will be in the end times. Revelation 1 and verse 10 reads.
Rev.1:10] I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,
John was in the Spirit and not the church, on the Lord’s Day. That would be at, and just before, the millennium.
Rev.1:11] Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.
Write each church a letter. Let’s go to Revelation 2 and see what is written to Ephesus, and verse 1 reads.
Rev.2:1] Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks;
The One that holds the stars (Spirits) and the candlesticks (churches) is Jesus Christ. Jesus said…
Rev.2:2] I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars:
This church has works, patience and knows how to test their teachers, who is a false teacher and who is not.
Rev.2:3] And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name’s sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.
Has many works in the name of Jesus Christ, being called Christians. This is important for these end times. Let’s go to Hebrews 12 and verse 3 reads.
Heb.12:1] Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
[2] Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
[3] For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.
[4] Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.
[5] And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:
[6] For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
[7] If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?
[8] But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.
We will see the church of Ephesus has a problem with being disciplined by the LORD. Back to Revelation 2 and verse 4 reads.
Rev.2:4] Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.
[5] Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.
They left their first love, which is Jesus. When we sin, the Lord sees it as we leaving him. He will remove the Light from your candlestick (church) unless you repent. Notice how he comes and takes it quickly.
Rev.2:6] But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
Let’s look at this word Nicolaitans, spelled properly would be Nicolaitanes, then we find it in the Strong’s under G3531. Nicolaitans means; Destruction of people, and it means; A sect mentioned in Rev.2:6 and 15, who were charged with holding the error of Baalam, casting a stumbling block before the church of God by upholding the liberty of eating things sacrificed to idols as well as committing fornication. Knowing this as well as what was written about them in verse 5, this church can turn around and repent. They had good works and patience, with holding their teachers accountable gives them room for repentance. Leaving us with this only conclusion for this church. They pass the basket for money, and only at the end do they need repentance, Jesus told them, I come quickly. Meaning they worship the antichrist, but will hear the truth in time for repentance.
Rev.2:7] He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.
In Genesis 2:9 we learn there are two trees in the midst of the garden, the tree of Life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, Jesus and Satan. He that has ears to hear is said for God’s Elect to hear. Back to Acts 18 and verse 20 reads.
Acts 18:20] When they desired him to tarry longer time with them, he consented not;
[21] But bade them farewell, saying, I must by all means keep this feast that cometh in Jerusalem: but I will return again unto you, if God will. And he sailed from Ephesus.
He was well received there, but must keep his vow. This vow was for the Feast of Weeks, or Pentecost. Don’t overlook; If God will. Let’s go to James 4 and verse 13 reads.
James 4:13] Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain:
[14] Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.
[15] For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.
[16] But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil.
[17] Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.
Sometimes God’s children need a little correction. Back to Acts 18 and verse 22 reads.
Acts 18:22] And when he had landed at Caesarea, and gone up, and saluted the church, he went down to Antioch.
[23] And after he had spent some time there, he departed, and went over all the country of Galatia and Phrygia in order, strengthening all the disciples.
Paul was making the circuit, checking all the churches and making sure they didn’t stray from the truth. I sure wish we had one to do this today, but I digress.
Acts 18:24] And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures, came to Ephesus.
Apollos is an Israelite that had been taught by John the Baptist and sent out to teach to repent and make the way ready for the coming of the Christ.
Acts 18:25] This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John.
How John’s message spread ahead of the coming of Jesus Christ, just how it was prophesied in Isaiah. Let’s go to John 1 and verse 19 reads.
John 1:19] And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou?
[20] And he confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am not the Christ.
[21] And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No.
Are you Elijah, or that prophet Isaiah?
John 1:22] Then said they unto him, Who art thou? that we may give an answer to them that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself?
[23] He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias.
Now let’s go to Isaiah 40 and verse 1 reads.
Isa.40:1] Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God.
[2] Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath received of the LORD’s hand double for all her sins.
[3] The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
Prophesied a long time ago that the Messiah, Jesus Christ would come.
Isa.40:4] Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain:
[5] And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.
[6] The voice said, Cry. And he said, What shall I cry? All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field:
[7] The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: because the spirit of the LORD bloweth upon it: surely the people is grass.
[8] The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.
What was taught is that man is a sinner, and all will die like the grass in the field. But with the Christ we have forgiveness of sins. John was that one that cried for all to know Jesus was coming. And Apollos was a disciple of John the Baptist. He was sent out to spread the word of repentance, and the coming of the Lord. Back to Acts 18 and verse 26 reads.
Acts 18:26] And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly.
Aquila and Priscilla told him that it had been fulfilled. That Jesus Christ had paid the price. Now he will be able to go back and teach to the people that had received him and his message, that the Christ had come, and he paid the price and rose again, and now Salvation had come to the whole world.
Acts 18:27] And when he was disposed to pass into Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him: who, when he was come, helped them much which had believed through grace:
[28] For he mightily convinced the Jews, and that publickly, shewing by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ.
Convinced is refuted, he used the very Word of God. He became a valuable asset to the church, because he was so well read in the scriptures and knew where in the scriptures it talked about Jesus being our Savior. Now that Apollos had the good news, the Gospels of Jesus, it was now complete and Apollos must have felt very blessed to have received this. Let’s go to his throne.
Father, we thank you for your word and ask that you bless all that love you in Jesus’s precious name, Amen.
KJV along with The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance Of The Bible