After Paul's rejection by the grave council of the Areopagus, leaving Athens, he traveled on southwest eighty miles to the beautiful and magnificent city of Corinth, standing on a rich plain immediately south of the Isthmus of Corinth, separating the Aegean Sea on the east from the Ionian Sea on the... [ Continue Reading ]
Fortunately Aquila and Priscilla, devout Jews, driven from Rome by the Emperor Claudius, also experts in tent building, fall in with him, becoming his first converts to the Christhood of Jesus and sweeping quickly into full salvation, responding to the call of the Holy Ghost, become efficient preach... [ Continue Reading ]
Felicitously, there is a large synagogue of Jews at Corinth, and it is too far from Northern Greece for his persecutors to follow him. So he works all the week and preaches every Sabbath in the synagogue.... [ Continue Reading ]
When Silas and Timothy arrive from the North, Paul was straightened in the Word, testifying to Jews and Greeks that _“Jesus is the Christ.”_ The meaning of that statement is simply this: he has preached till he has developed a positive issue, so that something has to break, and the prophetic eye of... [ Continue Reading ]
You see the rupture long brewing and sorrowfully anticipated by Paul is bound to come: He divides the church. They drive him out of the synagogue, just like you see going on all around you this day: some receive the gospel of holiness and others reject it. So the church is divided; some go into holi... [ Continue Reading ]
Even Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, with all his family and quite a crowd, go with him.... [ Continue Reading ]
About this time the Lord greatly encourages Paul in a night vision. _“Fear not, but speak and be not silent, because I am with thee, and no one shall attack thee to hurt thee, for I have much people in this city.”_ Those people were yet in sin, but God saw them and knew they would be saved, and henc... [ Continue Reading ]
PAUL'S TRIAL BEFORE GALLIO 12-17. This case is really notable. When Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue is converted, Sosthenes succeeds him and is enthusiastic to exterminate the Pauline heresy out of the church. Consequently, he resolves to prosecute Paul before the civil tribunal and drive... [ Continue Reading ]
PAUL RETURNS TO ASIA 18. After an absence of two years, it is important that he go round among the churches in the Gentile world. His vow at Cenchrea was Jewish and Nazaritish, signifying its expiration by clipping his hair (Numbers 6:1-14).... [ Continue Reading ]
The Jewish synagogue was outside the city, as frequently.... [ Continue Reading ]
He must expedite and see the churches in different countries again,... [ Continue Reading ]
Going down to Caesarea, and up to Jerusalem,... [ Continue Reading ]
Down to Antioch and into Syria, Phrygia and Galatia, where I trow he had established churches, _i. e_., little holiness bands in private houses, while at home, in Tarsus, A. D. 35-38, _“establishing all the disciples.”_ Here, we see Paul take a great tour over sea and land, through many countries, a... [ Continue Reading ]
_“He was instructed in the way of the Lord, and, boiling over in spirit, he continued to speak and teach clearly the things concerning Jesus, knowing only the baptism of John.”_ God's salvation has been identical in all ages and under all dispensations, notwithstanding the didactic diversities chara... [ Continue Reading ]
While Apollos, the most eloquent preacher in the world, having come from Africa by way of the Mediterranean to Ephesus, the metropolis of Western Asia, is holding the multitude spell-bound by his inimitable oratory, Aquila and Priscilla, an humble layman and his wife, having been wonderfully sanctif... [ Continue Reading ]
Now, doubtless encouraged by Aquila and Priscilla, he proceeds at once to cross the Aegean Sea to Europe, where he is so much needed, at this time to fill the vacancy created by Paul, who has returned to Asia on a vast tour, visiting all the churches in the interest of their sanctification.... [ Continue Reading ]
_“For he powerfully argued down the Jews, showing conclusively by the Scriptures that Jesus is the Christ.”_ Apollos, before his sanctification, eclipsed all by his native eloquence, electrified by his warm heart, filled with regenerating grace. Since he is sanctified, the burning pathos and Penteco... [ Continue Reading ]