May 01, 2023 – Monday
Acts 18:8 NIV
8 Crispus, the synagogue leader, and his entire household believed in the Lord; and many of the Corinthians who heard Paul believed and were baptized.
Comments
Paul left Athens and came to Corinth approximately 50 miles east. There he met Aquilla and his wife Priscilla and worked as a tentmaker with them while reasoning in the synagogue on the Sabbath with Jews and Greeks. This was his standard mode of operation.
We know what he was teaching from his first letter to the Corinthians 2:2, 1b When I came to you, I did not come with eloquence or human wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. 2 For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. And of course, all that Christ crucified meant.
Later Silas and Timothy joined him traveling from Macedonia. 2 Corinthians 11:8-9 reveal they brought financial support from Philippi so ended his tent making and 5b Paul devoted himself exclusively to preaching, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Messiah. That was not well received at all, 6 But when they opposed Paul and became abusive, he shook out his clothes in protest and said to them, “Your blood be on your own heads! I am innocent of it. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.” He had done his best to bring the Good News to them, but they had rejected the Gospel.
Nonetheless, Paul did not quit. 7 Then Paul left the synagogue and went next door to the house of Titius Justus, a worshiper of God. 8 Crispus, the synagogue leader, and his entire household believed in the Lord; and many of the Corinthians who heard Paul believed and were baptized. Many would have quit, but Paul did not and as a result the synagogue leader and his entire household were saved. Also, many Corinthians (Greeks/Gentiles) were saved as well.
As you might imagine, the conversion of Crispus, the synagogue leader would have been a bitter pill to those Jews who rejected the Good News. They were sure to come after Paul. God prepared Paul for their attack, 9 One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: “Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. 10 For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city.” 11 So Paul stayed in Corinth for a year and a half, teaching them the word of God.
When the attack finally came the Jews who opposed him brought him before the proconsul of Achaia, Gallo. Paul did not even get to raise a defense because Gallo threw the case out and drove them off. Whereupon 17 Then the crowd there turned on Sosthenes the synagogue leader and beat him in front of the proconsul; and Gallio showed no concern whatever. It seems they had replaced Crispus, after he had become a believer, with Sosthenes and this did not go well for him. As God had said, no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city.
Bottom Line: Trust what God tells you. Trust God. Paul did as King David did and wrote about in Psalm 25:1, In you, Lord my God, I put my trust.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, Through Your message to Paul, You have given us one more reason to place our trust in You. Thank You for sharing this with us through Your Word. – In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
RileyD, nwJ
Riley D. Driver – Pastor
Calvary Chapel of Dayton
in Beavercreek