Bible Reading
Acts 18:1-17 After this, he left Athens and went to Corinth, where he found a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla because Claudius had ordered all the Jews to leave Rome. Paul came to them, and since they were of the same occupation, tentmakers by trade, he stayed with them and worked. He reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath and tried to persuade both Jews and Greeks.
When Silas and Timothy arrived from Macedonia, Paul devoted himself to preaching the word and testified to the Jews that Jesus is the Messiah. When they resisted and blasphemed, he shook out his clothes and told them, “Your blood is on your own heads! I am innocent. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.” So he left there and went to the house of a man named Titius Justus, a worshiper of God, whose house was next door to the synagogue. Crispus, the leader of the synagogue, believed in the Lord, along with his whole household. Many of the Corinthians, when they heard, believed and were baptized.
The Lord said to Paul in a night vision, “Don’t be afraid, but keep on speaking and don’t be silent. For I am with you, and no one will lay a hand on you to hurt you, because I have many people in this city.” He stayed there a year and a half, teaching the word of God among them.
While Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews made a united attack against Paul and brought him to the tribunal. “This man,” they said, “is persuading people to worship God in ways contrary to the law!” As Paul was about to open his mouth, Gallio said to the Jews, “If it were a matter of wrongdoing or of a serious crime, it would be reasonable for me to put up with you Jews. But if these are questions about words, names, and your own law, see to it yourselves. I refuse to be a judge of such things.” So he drove them from the tribunal. They all seized Sosthenes, the leader of the synagogue, and beat him in front of the tribunal, but none of these things mattered to Gallio.
[43:24]John 10:28-29 “I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all. No one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.”
[40:53]Luke 9:62 But Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”
[01:17:57]1 Corinthians 9:19-23 Although I am free from all, I have made myself a slave to all, in order to win more people. To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win Jews; to those under the law, like one under the law—though I myself am not under the law—to win those under the law. To those who are without the law, like one without the law—though I am not without God’s law but under the law of Christ—to win those without the law. To the weak I became weak, in order to win the weak. I have become all things to all people, so that I may by every possible means save some. Now I do all this because of the gospel, so that I may share in the blessings.
[01:03:07]Observation questions
- What details in Acts 18 show that Paul’s work as a tentmaker and his gospel ministry were connected rather than separate parts of his life? [48:44]
- After the synagogue rejected Paul, what did Paul change, and what did he not change about his mission in Corinth? [01:05:03]
- What people and households are named as believing in Corinth, and how do their stories come right alongside the rejection Paul faced?
- In Jesus’ words to Paul in Acts 18:9-10, what commands and promises are given, and how do they address Paul’s fear? [01:07:21]
Interpretation questions
- Why might Paul’s willingness to work in Corinth have helped show that he was not using spiritually sensitive people for his own comfort or gain? [47:06]
- Paul says, “I am innocent,” after faithfully testifying that Jesus is the Messiah. What does this show about where Paul’s responsibility ends and where God’s work in another person’s heart begins? [58:38]
- Why is it important that Paul moved his immediate focus toward the Gentiles but remained present in Corinth? How does this help believers distinguish between changing approach and giving up on people? [01:05:07]
- Jesus promises Paul, “I am with you,” before Paul faces further opposition. How does God’s presence give believers courage without promising that every part of ministry will be easy or free from suffering? [01:10:20]
Application questions
- Where has God placed you right now—at home, work, school, in a neighborhood, or in another regular part of life? What would it look like to be faithfully present there long enough to learn names, build trust, and notice real needs? [37:21]
- Is comfort quietly tempting you to pull back from a relationship, responsibility, church community, or gospel opportunity where God may be calling you to stay? What is one costly but wise step of faithfulness you could take this week? [47:06]
- Think about a time when someone rejected your faith, your invitation, or your attempt to speak about Jesus. Did that rejection make you silent, defensive, or discouraged? How can deeper roots in God’s character help you continue to love that person without making their response the measure of your faithfulness? [58:16]
- Your workplace, school, and everyday routines can become places of gospel access. What would integrity look like for you this week so that your faith is not compartmentalized from the rest of your life? [49:20]
- Is there someone you have treated as a lost cause because of resistance, disagreement, or a difficult history? How might the stories of Crispus and Sosthenes encourage you to leave room for God to keep working? [01:14:46]
- Jesus tells Paul, “Don’t be afraid, but keep on speaking.” What specific fear makes it hard for you to speak about Jesus—fear of losing approval, damaging a relationship, workplace consequences, or something else? What would trusting Christ’s presence look like in that situation? [01:16:14]
- Who is one neighbor you do not yet know well—someone nearby, at work, at school, or in your regular routines? What simple step could you take this week to know them beyond the surface, show kindness, and ask how you can pray for them? [01:23:23]
