Beloved, I am pleased to share with you today the above topic from Acts 18:9-10. Indeed, in Corinth, Paul makes the happy meeting of a Jewish couple: Aquila and Priscilla. Brought to Christ, they became especially dear to the apostle, having gone so far as to expose their heads to save his (Rom 16:3-5). For Corinth was renowned for the corruption of its mores and for its luxury. The apostle and his friends, who do not want to depend on this wealth, set an example by working manually (1 Co 9:13-18; 2 Co 11:7-10).
But in the face of the opposition of the Jews, Paul released his responsibility to them and declared to them that he turned to the nations. So the Lord encourages His dear servant. For He reveals to him that if His earthly people do not meet His expectations, He has in this city “a great people” for heaven. Yes, in this dissolute city, He will enjoy gathering a large number of believers, as confirmed by the two epistles addressed to them. And this is proof that neither riches nor pleasures, in this city where nothing was missing, can satisfy the true needs of the human heart.
Thus, Paul leaves Athens to go to Corinth, capital of Achaia, a city renowned for its wealth, its scientific development, but also for its immorality. If the apostle says in his first epistle to the assembly of this city that there are not many nobles or rich among them (1 Pet 1:26), we see that he must warn them against the human wisdom they introduced into the things of God and take them back as to the immorality to which, coming out of such an environment, they were exposed. Paul arrives humbly; for his greatness lay in the service he performed, for he was one of the Lord’s most honored men by the revelations he had received concerning the assembly, to proclaim among the nations the unfathomable riches of Christ (Eph 3:8-9). But what is great according to God in this world has no appearance and men do not value it. So, we see him arriving in this luxurious city as a simple worker.
Indeed, he goes to Aquilas and Priscilla, a Jewish couple, tent makers like him. Whatever the education and position of a young Jew, he always learned a manual trade. Aquila and Priscilla had just arrived from Rome, from where they had been expelled, like all Jews, by order of Emperor Claudius. So Paul worked with his hands to support himself, not only in Corinth, but also elsewhere. He said to the elders of Ephesus, when he bid them farewell:”You yourselves know that these hands provided for me and those of the people who were with me. I have shown you in any case that it is by working in this way that one must support the weak, and remember the words of the Lord, who said himself: There is more happiness in giving than in receiving.” (Acts 20:34-35)
And coming out of there, “he entered a man named Justus, a God-fearing man, whose house was adjacent to the synagogue. However, Crispus, the head of the synagogue, believed in the Lord with his whole family. And several Corinthians, who had heard Paul, also believed, and were baptized.”
In the heart of this great city and in the face of the opposition of the Jews, Paul might have considered it useless to stay longer, for in this milieu of scholars, men were hardly accessible to the gospel. So he felt among them”in a state of weakness, fear, and great trembling” (1 Cor. 2:3). That is why the Lord said to him in a vision: “Fear not, but speak and do not be silent, for I am with you; and no one will put their hands on you to harm you: speak, for I have a many people in this city.” The Lord saw there all those who were to be saved and he encouraged his servant to speak, despite the animosity of the lovers of human wisdom, so opposed to faith. So he stayed in Corinth for a year and a half, teaching the word of God.
In fact, what is the point of presenting all the virtues and qualities of the Lord when He was on earth, if one does not believe that He had to die to save the sinner? For if the Lord had ascended to heaven without dying, all his perfect and admirable walk would not have atoned for a single sin. That is why, “Without bloodshed, there is no remission.” And when the Corinthians accepted Jesus as their Savior, Paul revealed to them other truths, the unfathomable riches of Christ. He said to them, among other things: “It is through him [God] that you are in Jesus Christ, who, through God, was made for us wisdom, justice and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, that he who glorifies himself may glorify himself in the Lord (1 Cor. 1:30, 31), and no longer in a man, even wise according to the flesh, since this man ended at the cross, in the death of Christ.
This is why the assembly of Corinth must have been very numerous, although it gave much concern to the apostle. He had to fight against the natural tendencies that led the brothers to act as carnal men in all respects:”For me, brothers, it is not as to spiritual men that I have been able to speak to you, but as to carnal men, as to children in Christ. I gave you milk, not solid food, for you could not bear it; and you can’t even now, because you are still carnal. Indeed, since there is jealousy and quarrels among you, are you not carnal, and do you not walk according to man? When one says: I am of Paul! and another: Me, from Apollos! aren’t you men? (1 Co 3:1-4). This is to say that the conduct of the Jews and their accusations before Gallion [the proconsul] did not prevent Paul from continuing his work in Corinth. For the Lord protected him according to His promise.
Then he set out again, descended to Jerusalem through Caesarea, and finally completed his second missionary journey to Antioch. And this is the beginning of the third journey of the tireless apostle. For he again crossed Phrygia and Galatia (Acts 16:6-8) where assemblies had been formed which gave him much concern (Gal 1:1-5; Gal 4:8-11). In this context, another servant of God arrived in Ephesus. It was Apollos, a worker remarkable for his eloquence and power to present the Word: consequences of his fervor,”For it is from the abundance of the heart that the mouth speaks”(Mt 12:34). Moreover, he diligently and boldly teaches “the things that concerned Jesus.” But his gifts did not prevent Apollos from being humbly explained by Aquila and Priscilla the truths he did not know. Then he is quick to listen and his service in Achaia, where he then goes will have benefited.
The following verses have been compiled for your edification and grouped together for your better understanding.
- Divine Encouragement
Ex 14:13 Moses answered the people: Fear not, stay in place, and look at the deliverance that Jehovah will grant you on this day; for the Egyptians you see today, you will never see them again. 2 Ch 35:2 He established the priests in their functions, and encouraged them in the service of the house of the Lord. Isa 41:13 For I am the Lord your God, Who strengthens your right hand, Who tells you: Fear not, I come to your rescue. Mt 9:2 And behold, a paralytic was brought to him lying on a bed. Jesus, seeing their faith, said to the paralytic: Take courage, my child, your sins are forgiven you. Mt 14:27 Jesus immediately said to them: Rest assured, it is me; do not be afraid! Mt 17:7 But Jesus, approaching, touched them, and said, “Arise, do not be afraid! Mk 6:16 But Herod, upon learning of this, said: This John whom I have beheaded, it is he who is resurrected. Acts 23:11 The next night the Lord appeared to Paul and said, “Be courageous; for just as you have bore witness of me in Jerusalem, you must also bear witness in Rome. Acts 27:22 Now I urge you to take courage; for none of you will perish, and there will be no loss but that of the ship.
- Divine protection in battle, promised to believers:
2 Ch 16:9 For the Lord extends His gaze to the whole earth, to sustain those whose hearts are entirely his. You have acted foolishly in this matter, because from now on you will have wars. Ps 34:8 The angel of jehovah stands around those who fear him, and he tears them from danger. Ps 41:3 The Lord keeps him and keeps his life. He is happy on earth, and you do not deliver him to the delight of his enemies. Ps 91:4 He will cover you with his feathers, and you will find refuge under his wings; His fidelity is a shield and a breastplate. Ps 125:2 Mountains surround Jerusalem; Thus the Lord surrounds His people, now and forever. Za 2:9 Behold, I raise my hand against them, and they will fall prey to those who were enslaved to them. And you will know that the Lord of hosts sent me. Lk 21:18 But not a hair of your head will be lost;
- Divine presence, comfort for the righteous
-During the earthly pilgrimage: Gen 28:15 Behold, I am with you, I will keep you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land; for I will not abandon you, that I have not carried out what I say to you. Gen 31:3 Then Jehovah said to Jacob, Go back to the land of your fathers and to your birthplace, and I will be with you. Ex 3:12 God says: I will be with you; and this will be for you the sign that it is I who send you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will serve God on this mountain. Ex 29:45 I will dwell among the children of Israel, and I will be their God.
Bring rest: Ex 33:14 The Lord answered: I myself will walk with you, and I will give you rest.
-Give courage in the battles of life: Dt 20:1 When you go to war against your enemies, and see horses and chariots, and a people more numerous than you, you will not fear them; for the Lord your God, who brought you up from the land of Egypt, is with you.
Comfort in the moments of trial: Isa 43:2 If you cross the waters, I will be with you; And the rivers, they will not overwhelm you; If you walk in the fire, you will not burn yourself, and the flame will not set you on fire. Za 2:11 Many nations will cleave unthindover on that day, and become my people; I will dwell in your midst, and you will know that the Lord of hosts has sent me to you.
-Is promised to the smallest assembly of believers Mt 18:20 for where two or three are assembled in my name, I am in their midst.
Until the end of Mt 28:20 and teach them to observe all that I have prescribed to you. And behold, I am with you every day, until the end of the world.
- It is commanded to Bear Witness to the Truth
Isaiah 43:10 You are my witnesses, says Jehovah, You, and my servant whom I have chosen, That you may know it, that you may believe me and understand that it is me: Before me there has not been formed of God, and after me there will be none. Jn 15:27 and you too will bear testimony, because you are with me from the beginning. Acts 5:20-21 Go, stand in the temple, and proclaim to the people all the words of this life. Hearing this, they entered the temple in the morning and began to teach. The high priest and those who were with him having come, they summoned the Sanhedrin and all the elders of the sons of Israel, and they sent to fetch the apostles to the prison. Acts 18:9-10 The Lord said to Paul in vision during the night: Fear not; but speak, and do not be silent, for I am with you, and no one will put his hand on you to harm you: speak, for I have a many people in this city. Acts 22:14 He says: The God of our fathers has destined you to know his will, to see the Righteous, and to hear the words of his mouth; Titus 2:15 Say these things, exhort, and resume, with full authority. Let no one despise you.
- Examples of Spiritual Instruction
1 S 9:27 When they came down to the end of the city, Samuel said to Saul, Tell your servant to pass before us. And the servant passed by. Stop now, Samuel resumed, and I will make you hear the word of God. 2 The 17:28 One of the priests who had been taken captive from Samaria came to bethel and taught them how they should fear jehovah. 2 Ch 17:7 In the third year of his reign, he instructed his leaders Ben Hail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethaneel, and Micah to go and teach in the cities of Judah. Ezr 7:10 For Ezra had applied his heart to study and practice the law of Jehovah, and to teach in the midst of Israel the laws and ordinances. Mt 5:2 Then, having opened his mouth, he taught them, and said; Acts 18:26 He began to speak freely in the synagogue. Aquila and Priscilla, having heard him, took him with them, and more accurately explained to him the way of God. Acts 28:23 They fixed a day for him, and many came to find him in his dwelling. Paul announced to them the kingdom of God, testifying, and seeking, through the law of Moses and the prophets, to persuade them of what concerns Jesus. The interview lasted from morning until evening.
From all the above, we note that Paul makes the happy meeting of a Jewish couple: Aquila and Priscilla. Brought to Christ, they became especially dear to the apostle, having gone so far as to expose their heads to save his (Rom 16:3-5). For Corinth was renowned for the corruption of its mores and for its luxury. Paul arrives humbly; for his greatness lay in the service he performed, he was one of the lord’s most honored men by the revelations he had received concerning the assembly, to proclaim among the nations the unfathomable riches of Christ. For a many people were waiting to be saved; and theLord saw there all those who were to be saved, and he encouraged his servant to speak, despite the animosity of the lovers of human wisdom, so opposed to faith. Our prayers accompany you in your efforts to be part of this great Church of the nations.
PRAYER OF ACCEPTANCE OF JESUS CHRIST AS LORD AND PERSONAL SAVIOR
I now invite every person who wants to become a new creation by walking in the truth, to pray with me the following prayer:
Lord Jesus, I have long walked in the lusts of the world ignoring your love for humans. I admit to having sinned against you and ask your forgiveness for all my sins, because today I have decided to give you my life by taking you as Lord and personal Savior. I recognize that you died on the cross of Calvary and rose from the dead for me.
I am now saved and born again by the power of the Holy Spirit. Lead me every day to the eternal life that you give to all who obey your Word. Reveal yourself to me and strengthen my heart and faith, so that your light may be shining in my life right now.
Thank you Lord Jesus for accepting me into your divine family, so that I may also contemplate the wonders of your kingdom.
I will now choose a nearby watering point to baptize myself by immersion, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
All adoration, power and glory are yours, now and for centuries of centuries. Amen!
I would be happy to respond to any questions and comments you may have, before sharing with you tomorrow on “the parable of the Tree King.”
May the Lord Jesus Christ bless you abundantly.
David Feze, Servant of the Almighty God.