Acts 18:1-11 Video Devotional

“After this Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. And he found a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to leave Rome. And he went to see them, and because he was of the same trade he stayed with them and worked, for they were tentmakers by trade. And he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and tried to persuade Jews and Greeks. When Silas and Timothy arrived from Macedonia, Paul was occupied with the word, testifying to the Jews that the Christ was Jesus. And when they opposed and reviled him, he shook out his garments and said to them, “Your blood be on your own heads! I am innocent. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.” And he left there and went to the house of a man named Titius Justus, a worshiper of God. His house was next door to the synagogue. Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed in the Lord, together with his entire household. And many of the Corinthians hearing Paul believed and were baptized. And the Lord said to Paul one night in a vision, “Do not be afraid, but go on speaking and do not be silent, for I am with you, and no one will attack you to harm you, for I have many in this city who are my people.” And he stayed a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.” (Acts 18:1-11)

To me, it is fascinating to connect Biblical dots, so to speak. It’s fun to see Paul’s time in Corinth told through the book of Acts and then see Paul’s heart come through the letters to that church. He put a lot of effort into those people! He even took on a bi-vocational role to spend the time in Corinth that he did – the trade of tentmaking. Speaking from personal experience, bi-vocational ministry is difficult! Putting that much time and effort into something, especially something that can’t pay the bills, shows the importance and value he placed on his ministry role in Corinth. That’s saying a lot, and when the Jews had enough of him and reviled him for his work, even that didn’t stop him from his ministry.

He just turned and put his focus on the Greeks. Following the leadership of the Holy Spirit, Paul planted an amazing church through bi-vocational efforts and relentless dedication. And yet he wasn’t alone. I love what God told him in the vision – I have many in this city who are my people – as this quickly became a community and family project. Both Jews and Greeks, men and women; people from all aspects of life came together, worked together, played together, and argued together in building up this church family.

This story puts real skin on what Paul says in 1 Corinthians – he planted, Apollos watered, but it was God who caused the growth. And He used regular people just like us working together. I hope this encourages you as much as it does me.


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