The city of Corinth that Paul came to on his second missionary journey was like Vanity Fair in the book Pilgrim’s Progress: it was full of immorality and wickedness. Upon coming to Corinth, Paul was alone and prone to discouragement from of all of the persecution that he had suffered from city to city. In this message, we see how the Lord encouraged him by giving him friends, converts, and promises.

Teaching Notes:

The Lord’s Encouragement to Paul in Vanity Fair

Acts 18:1-17

➢  In Paul Bunyan’s immortal allegory Pilgrim’s Progress, Vanity Fair is a city full of immorality. In the story, two people enter the city to pass through it: Faithful and Christian. While in the city, Faithful is martyred and Christian barely escapes, because of their commitment to honor Christ. Vanity Fair is a picture of this world, and Corinth is the Vanity Fair of the ancient world.

➢  Corinth is one of largest cities of ancient world, with a population of 200,000. The only larger cities were Antioch and Rome. Paul’s strategy was to evangelize the largest cities. We live in day where there is the greatest increase in urban growth in history. In 1800, 3% world’s population lived in cities. In 2008, the number has gone up to 50%! In 1900, there were 12 cities with more than 1 million people. In 2008, there were more than 400! If we are going to reach the world, we must reach cities!

➢  Corinth was a great commercial center – the New York City of the ancient world. It commanded trade routes in all directions: North-South by land, East-West by sea. Rather than the take perilous route around southern Achaia, merchants would haul their cargo over the 3.5 mile isthmus through the heart of Corinth. It was a city of sailors. Not surprisingly Poseidon, the Greek god of sea, was worshipped there. Paul knew that if trade could radiate from Corinth, so could the gospel.

➢  Corinth was the Vanity Fair of the ancient world. Behind the city, 2,000 ft. above the sea on flat rock stood a temple of Aphrodite, the goddess of love & fertility. There were 1,000 female prostitutes that served her through immorality. “To Corinthianize” meant to practice sexual immorality.

➢  Since Corinth was a large commercial center, it had a large Jewish synagogue.

➢  As we come to Acts 18, Paul is on the 2nd missionary journey. He has passed through Galatia, strengthening churches. He then planted churches in Philippi, Thessalonica, Berea, and Athens. Paul was beaten and imprisoned in Philippi, run out of town in Thessalonica and Berea, and demeaned as an idle-babbler in Athens. He now trudges into Corinth. Paul is a man like us, prone to discouragements. The Lord drew near to encourage His servant by giving him friends, converts, and promises.
1.   The Lord Encouraged Paul With Friends:

Aquila and Priscilla:  18:1-3. After a 50 mile journey from Athens, Paul just happened to find Aquila and Priscilla. They were Jews, expelled from Rome. The Roman historian Seutonius wrote, “As the Jews were making constant disturbances at the instigation of Chrestus, he (Claudius) banished them from Rome.” The author wrote this 70 years later, and probably thought Chrestus was a local troublemaker. But Chrestus sounds like Christ. Probably, the troubles in Rome were caused by the gospel amongst Jews. If this is true, these were Jewish Christians expelled, and Aquila and Priscilla were already Christians.

Of same trade: The Lord knows how to encourage! He Brought Aquila and Priscilla to Paul at just the right time, and they were even in same line of work and believers.

Their Character:  From Rom.16:3-4, we see that they were extremely devoted to Christ, a great support and help to Paul. Wherever they moved, they opened their home for the church to gather there. Prisca is mentioned first 4 of 6 times. Perhaps she was more spiritually mature, as in Acts 18:26 it names her first and says “But when Priscilla and Aquila heard him (Appollos), they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately.”

       Application: What encouragement for Paul to have Aquila and Priscilla by his side. Luke, Silas & Timothy were left behind to help the new churches. Paul was alone, hunted, hounded, persecuted in city after city. The Lord did this for us, with the Salas family and Oleg and Cathy! In recent months he gave us several more friends!

Silas and Timothy:  Acts 18:4-5. When Silas and Timothy arrived, Paul set aside tent-making to devote all of his time to Word. Why? In 2 Cor. 11:7-9, we read that the brethren who had arrived from the churches in Macedonia had brought with them the money to supply his needs.

Application: Paul was not above working with his hands make a living, as we see in 2 Thess. 3:7-9. In many parts of world, the only way to make disciples is by tent-making, or immigrating to that country as a skilled worker. Advantages to tent-making: it’s a good example of a Christian work ethic; it dispels the myth that the Pastor is paid to do work of ministry; it relieves church of a burden of financial support. But, Paul set it aside when didn’t need money. Paul could have been a wealthy man. Kingdom work is more important. I have been learning this over the last year, working 25% in a secular business and 75% in the Lord’s work. I commend to you owning your own business – more freedom & time to serve Lord. Hire others to do jobs while you focus on the Kingdom. If you’re not busy in your own business, consider volunteering several hours each week to serve Jesus.

 
2.  Converts:  18:6-8.

The Opposition of the Jews: 18:6. The Jews opposed Paul’s message about Jesus (18:5), and it says that they blasphemed. You can only blaspheme God. This is a tacit admission that Jesus is God.

Paul shook out his garments: This is like shaking the dust off one’s feet. Not even a speck of dust from synagogue was to adhere. It’s a picture of “washing their hands” of the Jews.

Your blood be on your heads! As in Ezekiel 33:1-6. Like a watchman,  Paul could see the Wrath of God coming on the Corinthians! He warned them of judgment and delivered himself of blood-guiltiness. The ones who did not listen were themselves to blame for their judgment.

Application: Are you a faithful watchman? Are you clean or do you have the blood of others on your head? Have you warned the lost of God’s judgment? You’re in the tower, and you see the enemy approaching. Are you doing nothing? Do you cry out, Awake? Stir yourself to vigilance. People everywhere are headed for hell. Make sure their blood is not on your head!

Titius Justus: 18:7. His home became the base of operations, the location of the church. He was God-fearing Greek converted by Paul’s preaching. His home was next to the synagogue. This was strategic: Jews couldn’t help noticing what God was doing next door.

Many scholars believe that his other name was Gaius, who is mentioned in Rom. 16:23 and 1 Cor. 1:14. Probably Corinth’s first convert. Angela is our Gaius – she opened her appartment to us.

Crispus: 18:8. His conversion attracted considerable attention because he was the leader of the synagogue. Maybe when cared for the synagogue he noticed God’s grace next door: healings, miracles, conversions, baptisms, love, joy; and inquired after Christ.

Many of the Corinthians: Crispus led, like dominoes, to the conversion of many! Another church was planted in the fertile soil of wicked Corinth. What were they like before conversion? 1 Cor. 6:9-11: “Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God. Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.” Faith in Christ transformed them. Saving faith produces holy lives.

Application: Converts are a great encouragement to persevere in the gospel work. We labored for months without converts. Finally I met Kevin, started an investigative Bible study, he came to faith, and his baptism is soon! What an encouragement! I dream of the day when we see scores of conversions and baptisms.

 
3.  Promises: 18:9-10. Jesus appeared to Paul in a vision – 9:12; 16:9. Persecution is becoming more and more intense. Paul is becoming afraid. He had been stoned, beaten, imprisoned, and run out of town. He may be wondering if he should run. He recieves 3 commands: don’t be afraid, go on speaking, don’t be silent. But what was basis to obey these commands? 3 Promises.

I am with you – God’s Presence: That’s enough. In Heb. 13:5-6 and Mt. 28:18-20, we have the same promise. Like a little boy who is being beat up by a bully. When his big brother tells him “Don’t worry, I’ll stick right by you; If he attacks you he’ll have to tangle with me”, the little boy walks everywhere in peace, with no fear. This is not because he is strong, but because his big brother is near. We don’t have to walk in fear – Jesus is with us!

No man will attack to harm – God’s Protection: 18:12-17. The Jews attacked, but couldn’t attack to harm Paul. Paul didn’t have to defend himself – Gallio did it for him. The Lord was protecting him. It is an important test case. The Jews trying to get the Romans to rule Christianity as an illegal religion, but Gallio endorsed Christianity as a legitimate religion. God protects through angels, turning hearts of evil men, and providentially overruling situations. A Christian is invincible until God is through with him. He can’t die until God’s appointed time.

I have many people in this city – God’s Predestination: Divine Election. God had many people that he was going to save, but  they needed hear the gospel. They were the Lord’s people before they believed. Jn. 10:16. If the Lord appeared to us He would tell us the same thing. He has many in Rancho Cordova, but we need to declare the gospel.

Paul didn’t use Predestination as an excuse to do nothing. It was an incentive to get busy! 18:11. He stayed in Corinth longer than any city but Ephesus. Election is not a hindrance but the greatest motivation to preach the gospel. If Election was not true, we would never evangelize. Men are dead in sin, but made willing in day of His power!

Do God’s promises encourage you when you are down? Do you meditate on His precious and magnificent promises? Just take these 3. They are enough to encourage you until Jesus comes back. Throw yourself into the work of God with holy abandonment! Jesus is with us, He is protecting us, and He has predestined people unto salvation. This is all that we need. We have seen greater open doors in last 4 months than in years! I had lamented that there was no one willing to do an investigative Bible study. Now we meet up every week in 2 apartment complexes! We are friends with non-Christians. Yesterday we had a Tea Party for the ladies. Let’s seize these opportunities!

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