XVIII: 1. Having met with so little encouragement in the literary capital of Greece, the apostle next resorts to its chief commercial emporium. (1) "_ After these things Paul departed from Athens, and went to Corinth. " This city was situated on the isthmus which connects the Peloponnesus with Attic... [ Continue Reading ]
XVIII: 1. Having met with so little encouragement in the literary capital of Greece, the apostle next resorts to its chief commercial emporium. (1) “_ After these things Paul departed from Athens, and went to Corinth._” This city was situated on the isthmus which connects the Peloponnesus with Attic... [ Continue Reading ]
2, 3. Paul entered this large city a stranger, alone, and penniless. What little means he had brought with him from Macedonia was exhausted, and his first attention was directed to the supply of his daily wants. He knew what it was to suffer "hunger and thirst;" but he had been taught to look to hea... [ Continue Reading ]
4, 5. Notwithstanding all the discouragements of his situation, he devoted the Sabbaths, and whatever portion of the week his manual labor would permit, to the great work. (4) "_ But he discoursed every Sabbath in the synagogue, and persuaded both Jews and Greeks._ (5) And when Silas and Timothy cam... [ Continue Reading ]
6, 7. The increase of Paul's earnestness was responded to by an increased virulence in the opposition of the unbelieving Jews. (6) "_ But when they resisted and blasphemed, he shook his raiment, and said to them, Your blood be upon your own head; I am clean. Henceforth I will go to the Gentiles._ (7... [ Continue Reading ]
8. Although he left the synagogue in apparent discomfiture, he was not without fruits of his labors there. (8) "_ But Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord, with all his house; and many of the Corinthians, hearing, believed and were immersed. " It was very seldom that men o... [ Continue Reading ]
9, 10. Although his success, when about leaving the synagogue must have been a source of some comfort to Paul, an incident occurred just at this period, which shows that he was far from being relieved, as yet, from the "weakness and fear, and much trembling," which had oppressed him. (9) "_ Then the... [ Continue Reading ]
11. Under the assurance given by the Lord in the vision, Paul was encouraged to continue his labors. (11) "_ Then he continued there a year and six months, teaching among them the word of God. " Instead of the more usual expression, " preaching_ the word of God," we have here "_ teaching_ the word o... [ Continue Reading ]
12, 13. The next paragraph introduces an incident which occurred within this period of eighteen months, and which is worthy of special notice, because of several peculiarities not common to the scenes of apostolic suffering. (12) "_ While Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews, with one accord, ro... [ Continue Reading ]
14-16. In this case, however, they had to deal with a man of far different character from the magistrates of Philippi, or the city rulers of Thessalonica. Gallio was a brother of Seneca, the famous Roman moralist, who describes him as a man of admirable integrity, amiable, and popular. Such was the... [ Continue Reading ]
17. Prompt and energetic vindication of the right, on the part of a public functionary, will nearly always meet the approbation of the masses, and will sometimes even turn the tide of popular prejudice. Whether the disinterested public were favorable or unfavorable to Paul before the decision, we ar... [ Continue Reading ]
18. This incident occurred some time previous to the close of the eighteen months of Paul's stay in Corinth, as we learn from the next verse. (18) " Now Paul, having still remained for many days, bade the brethren farewell, and sailed into Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila, having sheared his... [ Continue Reading ]
19-22. Embarking at Cenchrea, which was the eastern port of Corinth, on a voyage for Syria, the frequent commercial intercourse between Corinth and Ephesus very naturally caused the vessel to touch at the latter city, which was the destination of Priscilla and Aquila. (19) "_ And he went to Ephesus,... [ Continue Reading ]
23. In accordance with this plan, he gives but a brief glance at the apostle's stay in Antioch, and the first part of his third missionary tour. (23) "_ Having spent some time there, he departed, passing through_ _the district of Galatia, and Phrygia, in order, confirming all the disciples. " The hi... [ Continue Reading ]
24-26. (24) "_ Now a certain Jew named Apollos, born in Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the Scriptures, came to Ephesus._ (25) _This man was instructed in the way of the Lord, and, being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things concerning the Lord, understanding only t... [ Continue Reading ]
27, 28. For some reason unexplained, Apollos concluded to leave Ephesus, and visit the Churches planted by Paul in Achaia. (27) "_ And when he desired to cross into Achaia, the brethren wrote, urging the disciples to receive him. When he arrived, he afforded much aid to those who through favor had b... [ Continue Reading ]