Paul In Corinth; Acts 18: 1 – 17 Part 4

Church History: Date: A.D. 49-52

Paul was encouraged by a vision to go on with his work at Corinth. Jesus spoke to Paul in the night by a vision; when he was musing on his work, communing with his own heart upon his bed, and considering whether he should continue here or not. He wondered what method he should take here, and what probability there was of success. It was then Christ appeared to him, and in the multitude of his thoughts within him it delighted his soul with divine consolations. He renewed his commission and charge to preach the gospel: "Be not afraid of the Jews; though they are very outrageous, and perhaps they are enraged by the conversion of the chief ruler of their synagogue. Be not afraid of the magistrates of the city, for they have no power against you but what is given to them from above. Plead your message boldly. Christ assured him of his presence with him, which was sufficient to animate him, and put life and spirit into him: "Be not afraid, for I am with you, to protect you, and to support you. He gave him a guarantee of protection: "No man shall hurt you; you will be delivered out of the hands of wicked and unreasonable men and not be driven away, as you were from other places, by persecution." He does not promise that he would not be arrested. (for the next news we hear is that he is arrested and brought into court. (Acts 18:12)

He continued at Corinth a year and a half, not to take it easy, but to follow his work, teaching the word of God among them; and, as it was a tourist city, he had opportunity there of preaching the gospel to strangers, and sending notice of it therefore to other countries. Soon after Paul came to Corinth, it is supposed, he wrote the first epistle to the Thessalonians, which in order of time was the first of all the epistles he wrote by divine inspiration; and the second epistle to the same church was written not long after. Ministers may be serving Christ, and promoting the great ends of their ministry, by writing good letters, as well as by preaching good sermons.7

Paul is accused by the Jews before the Roman governor. The governor was Gallio, deputy of Achaia, that is, proconsul; for Achaia was a consular province of the empire. This Gallio was elder brother to the famous Seneca; in his youth he was called Novatus, but took the name of Gallio upon his being adopted into the family of Julius Gallio; he is described by Seneca, his brother, to be a man of great ingenuous and great probity, and a man of wonderful good temper; he was called Sweet Gallio, for his sweet disposition; and is said to have been universally beloved.