AFTER THESE THINGS PAUL DEPARTED FROM ATHENS AND WENT TO CORINTH. 1. Paul is still alone. Luke remains at Philippi. Silas and Timothy are at Berea. 2. All the team will eventually be joined together again. But for now - Paul is alone. 3. He travels from Athens to Corinth. 1. Corinth is about 40... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE FOUND A CERTAIN JEW NAMED AQUILA, BORN IN PONTUS, WHO HAD RECENTLY COME FROM ITALY WITH HIS WIFE PRISCILLA (BECAUSE CLAUDIUS HAD COMMANDED ALL THE JEWS TO DEPART FROM ROME); AND HE CAME TO THEM. 1. Alone, and in need of a way to pay for food and travel, Paul located Aquila and Priscilla. 2.... [ Continue Reading ]
SO, BECAUSE HE WAS OF THE SAME TRADE, HE STAYED WITH THEM AND WORKED; FOR BY OCCUPATION THEY WERE TENTMAKERS. 1. Dual occupation - Some preachers also work at another occupation and also work for a church. These men are often called "part time" preachers but they often are actually working longer... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE REASONED IN THE SYNAGOGUE EVERY SABBATH, AND PERSUADED BOTH JEWS AND GREEKS. 1. Paul was making tents during the week and speaking in the synagogue every Sabbath day. 2. He was teaching Jews (inside the synagogue) and Greeks (on other occasions). 3. The word "reasoned" means that he was di... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN SILAS AND TIMOTHY HAD COME FROM MACEDONIA, PAUL WAS COMPELLED BY THE SPIRIT, AND TESTIFIED TO THE JEWS _THAT_ JESUS _IS_ THE CHRIST. 1. Part of the team is back together. Silas and Timothy, who remained behind at Berea, have now caught up with Paul at Corinth. 2. There has been some speculati... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT WHEN THEY OPPOSED HIM AND BLASPHEMED, HE SHOOK _HIS_ GARMENTS AND SAID TO THEM, " YOUR BLOOD _BE_ UPON YOUR _OWN_ HEADS; I _AM_ CLEAN. FROM NOW ON I WILL GO TO THE GENTILES. " 1. The Jews in the synagogues allowed him to toss out thoughts and reason with them. But when he began to openly declar... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE DEPARTED FROM THERE AND ENTERED THE HOUSE OF A CERTAIN _MAN_ NAMED JUSTUS, _ONE_ WHO WORSHIPED GOD, WHOSE HOUSE WAS NEXT DOOR TO THE SYNAGOGUE. 1. He moved out of the house of Aquila (a Jew) and into the house of Justus. Some Latin versions call him "Titus Justus" or "Titus, son of Justus.... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN CRISPUS, THE RULER OF THE SYNAGOGUE, BELIEVED ON THE LORD WITH ALL HIS HOUSEHOLD. AND MANY OF THE CORINTHIANS, HEARING, BELIEVED AND WERE BAPTIZED. 1. Right after Paul stops trying to convert the Jews, the ruler of the synagogue was converted. He was baptized and his family. 2. Plan of Salvat... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW THE LORD SPOKE TO PAUL IN THE NIGHT BY A VISION, " DO NOT BE AFRAID, BUT SPEAK, AND DO NOT KEEP SILENT; 10 FOR I AM WITH YOU, AND NO ONE WILL ATTACK YOU TO HURT YOU; FOR I HAVE MANY PEOPLE IN THIS CITY. " 1. All of us get discouraged at times. We get "down in the dumps" and start feeling useles... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE CONTINUED _THERE_ A YEAR AND SIX MONTHS, TEACHING THE WORD OF GOD AMONG THEM. 1. Until now, Paul had stayed weeks or maybe a month or two. Here he is going to remain for the next year and a half. 2. This work was not a "flash in the pan" - quickly teach, baptize, and move on. Paul remained... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN GALLIO WAS PROCONSUL OF ACHAIA, THE JEWS WITH ONE ACCORD ROSE UP AGAINST PAUL AND BROUGHT HIM TO THE JUDGMENT SEAT, 13 SAYING, " THIS _FELLOW_ PERSUADES MEN TO WORSHIP GOD CONTRARY TO THE LAW. " 1. Along comes Gallio. He is the "governor" of this province of the Roman Empire. The Jews seek to... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHEN PAUL WAS ABOUT TO OPEN _HIS_ MOUTH, GALLIO SAID TO THE JEWS, " IF IT WERE A MATTER OF WRONGDOING OR WICKED CRIMES, O JEWS, THERE WOULD BE REASON WHY I SHOULD BEAR WITH YOU. 1. Paul was about to respond to the accusation. 2. But Gallio rises up and defends Paul. 1. This is not a matter of... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT IF IT IS A QUESTION OF WORDS AND NAMES AND YOUR OWN LAW, LOOK _TO IT_ YOURSELVES; FOR I DO NOT WANT TO BE A JUDGE OF SUCH _MATTERS._ " 1. This is not a matter of Roman law. This is a matter of religious discussion and interpretation of Jewish teaching. 2. Gallio is not interested in getting in... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE DROVE THEM FROM THE JUDGMENT SEAT. 1. Gallio then ends the meeting. 2. He drives them from the court room. He has ruled. He has spoken and that ends the matter. 3. REMEMBER : God promised Paul that he would not suffer are be attacked. While there was an attempt, it got nowhere.... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN ALL THE GREEKS TOOK SOSTHENES, THE RULER OF THE SYNAGOGUE, AND BEAT _HIM_ BEFORE THE JUDGMENT SEAT. BUT GALLIO TOOK NO NOTICE OF THESE THINGS. 1. The tables turned. Some in the city turned on Sosthenes as the ruler of the synagogue, and others who sought to charge Paul. 2. They beat Sosthenes... [ Continue Reading ]
SO PAUL STILL REMAINED A GOOD WHILE. THEN HE TOOK LEAVE OF THE BRETHREN AND SAILED FOR SYRIA, AND PRISCILLA AND AQUILA _WERE_ WITH HIM. HE HAD _HIS_ HAIR CUT OFF AT CENCHREA, FOR HE HAD TAKEN A VOW. 1. I have some empathy with Paul here. He has taught, baptized, instructed, helped, and encouraged t... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE CAME TO EPHESUS, AND LEFT THEM THERE; BUT HE HIMSELF ENTERED THE SYNAGOGUE AND REASONED WITH THE JEWS. 1. One of the most impressive archaeological sites is Ephesus because it remains as it was at the time of Paul. 2. Aquila and Priscilla decided to remain at Ephesus. 3. Paul, back to his... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN THEY ASKED _HIM_ TO STAY A LONGER TIME WITH THEM, HE DID NOT CONSENT, 1. They asked him to stay longer. There is some discussion about who wanted to him to stay. 1. The Jews at the synagogue. 2. The Jews who were converted to Christianity. 3. Aquila and Priscilla. 2. Paul did not agree to... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT TOOK LEAVE OF THEM, SAYING, " I MUST BY ALL MEANS KEEP THIS COMING FEAST IN JERUSALEM; BUT I WILL RETURN AGAIN TO YOU, GOD WILLING. " AND HE SAILED FROM EPHESUS. 1. He not only refused to stay, he left. 2. He made a vow and was, God willing, going to keep it. So he sailed from Ephesus. 3. He... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHEN HE HAD LANDED AT CAESAREA, AND GONE UP AND GREETED THE CHURCH, HE WENT DOWN TO ANTIOCH. 1. Paul landed at Caesarea, on the coast of Israel. 2. He went up - This phrase indicates that he went to Jerusalem and greeted the church there. I am sure he told them of his travel and the many churc... [ Continue Reading ]
AFTER HE HAD SPENT SOME TIME _THERE,_ HE DEPARTED AND WENT OVER THE REGION OF GALATIA AND PHRYGIA IN ORDER, STRENGTHENING ALL THE DISCIPLES. 1. He did spend a little time in Antioch and geared up to go again. 2. Paul headed out again. He went to the region of Galatia and Phrygia. 3. His purpose o... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW A CERTAIN JEW NAMED APOLLOS, BORN AT ALEXANDRIA, AN ELOQUENT MAN _AND_ MIGHTY IN THE SCRIPTURES, CAME TO EPHESUS. 1. We are now introduced to Apollos. 1. He was born in Alexandria, in northern Egypt. 2. He is an eloquent man. He is an excellent speaker. 3. He is mighty in the Scriptures. He... [ Continue Reading ]
THIS MAN HAD BEEN INSTRUCTED IN THE WAY OF THE LORD; AND BEING FERVENT IN SPIRIT, HE SPOKE AND TAUGHT ACCURATELY THE THINGS OF THE LORD, THOUGH HE KNEW ONLY THE BAPTISM OF JOHN. 1. He knew his Bible (the Old Testament scriptures) and was able to teach others. 2. He was also fervent - filled with z... [ Continue Reading ]
SO HE BEGAN TO SPEAK BOLDLY IN THE SYNAGOGUE. WHEN AQUILA AND PRISCILLA HEARD HIM, THEY TOOK HIM ASIDE AND EXPLAINED TO HIM THE WAY OF GOD MORE ACCURATELY. 1. Apollos is following a similar pattern to Paul. He arrives in Ephesus and went to the synagogue. 2. He spoke boldly as he taught. He was ur... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHEN HE DESIRED TO CROSS TO ACHAIA, THE BRETHREN WROTE, EXHORTING THE DISCIPLES TO RECEIVE HIM; AND WHEN HE ARRIVED, HE GREATLY HELPED THOSE WHO HAD BELIEVED THROUGH GRACE; 1. Now, Apollos is on the right track. The brethren at Ephesus are glad to send him on with their approval. 2. Apollos cr... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR HE VIGOROUSLY REFUTED THE JEWS PUBLICLY, SHOWING FROM THE SCRIPTURES THAT JESUS IS THE CHRIST. 1. He was now able to discuss Jesus with the Jews and refute their arguments. 2. He was showing from the Scriptures that Jesus is the Christ (Messiah) that all Jews were looking for in great anticipa... [ Continue Reading ]