GOSPEL MEDITATION # 55
Paul in Corinth
Acts 18:1-16
- Find a quiet place, alone and apart from distractions.
- Be comfortably alert, still and at peace.
- Say the Lord’s Prayer. Sing or cant the Jesus Prayer
- Pray for family, friends, neighbors, and yourself.
- Slowly and carefully read the passage of Scripture.
- Reread it. From memory, determine the central points.
- 46 miles from Athens, Corinth was the commercial and political center of Achaia. Rebuilt by Julius Caesar in 46 BC, it was the site of the temple of Aphrodite, which sponsored the most perverse immorality in the Roman world.
- The date is 51-52 AD under the proconsul Gallio. In 49 the emperor Claudius had ordered all the Jews out of Rome (and Alexandria) for certain reasons that are not understood. Those Jews who were also Christians left as well and among them were Aquila and Priscilla.
- They, like Paul, were tentmakers; they met and later worked together. As per Paul’s custom, he spoke in the synagogues. Many Jews lived in Corinth.
- Silas and Timothy completing their supportive work in Philippi and Thessalonica, join Paul in Corinth.
- Paul continues his work and when strongly opposed virtually quotes Ezekiel 33, “your blood be on your own heads.”
- The ruler, or president of the synagogue, Crispus, is converted as well as many others, and were baptized.
- Paul now has a vision in which the Lord reassures him in preparation for trouble that is about to begin. Paul will remain in Corinth for one and a half years.
- Those opposing the Christian witness attempt to involve the Roman authorities who bring Paul before Gallio. At this point the Romans lump the Christians and the Jews together as a legal religion in the empire. When Gallio understands that the issue is religious in nature, he refuses to act on the matter. The new ruler of the synagogue is beaten.