MONDAY - August 17

Read. Acts 18:1-17

After this, Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. 2 There he found a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus. He had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla because Claudius had ordered all Jews to leave Rome. Paul visited with them. 3 Because they practiced the same trade, he stayed and worked with them. They all worked with leather. 4 Every Sabbath he interacted with people in the synagogue, trying to convince both Jews and Greeks.5 Once Silas and Timothy arrived from Macedonia, Paul devoted himself fully to the word, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ. 6 When they opposed and slandered him, he shook the dust from his clothes in protest and said to them, “You are responsible for your own fates! I’m innocent! From now on I’ll go to the Gentiles!” 7 He left the synagogue and went next door to the home of Titius Justus, a Gentile God-worshipper. 8 Crispus, the synagogue leader, and his entire household came to believe in the Lord. Many Corinthians believed and were baptized after listening to Paul.

9 One night the Lord said to Paul in a vision, “Don’t be afraid. Continue speaking. Don’t be silent. 10 I’m with you and no one who attacks you will harm you, for I have many people in this city.” 11 So he stayed there for eighteen months, teaching God’s word among them.

12 Now when Gallio was the governor of the province of Achaia, the Jews united in their opposition against Paul and brought him before the court. 13 “This man is persuading others to worship God unlawfully,” they declared.

14 Just as Paul was about to speak, Gallio said to the Jews, “If there had been some sort of injury or criminal behavior, I would have reason to accept your complaint. 15 However, since these are squabbles about a message, names, and your own Law, deal with them yourselves. I have no desire to sit in judgment over such things.” 16 He expelled them from the court, 17 but everyone seized Sosthenes, the synagogue leader, and gave him a beating in the presence of the governor. None of this mattered to Gallio.

Reflect. On the next leg of Paul’s 2nd missionary journey he travels to Corinth. Corinth was a powerful commercial seaport city and was the capital of the Roman province of Achaia (Greece).

• In most towns where Paul travels and encounters resistance, he quickly moves on. In the previous few chapters we have seen this happen again and again. In v.6, we read about the opposition and slander that he encountered. In many previous instances of this, Paul would then move on to the next town. Something else happened while Paul was in Corinth. 
• In v. 9-11 we read about a vision from God who instructs Paul to remain where he is instead of moving on to another town. For this vision, we can see that God is the one directing the progress of Paul’s mission. Paul stayed in Corinth for a year and a half before sailing on to Ephesus. 
• At the very moment that Paul needed it, God spoke and to encouraged him. Think of a time in your life when you felt discouraged. What happened? What brought you to that point? Did you have someone who encouraged you as God encouraged Paul? Perhaps, did God encourage you? When God asks you to do something, the Holy Spirit will give you the power to do it. Where do you need encouragement and power in your life today?

Pray. Ask God for the power and encouragement you need.

COMMUNITY PRAYER LIST

Doug. Bobby. Collier. Glenn. Adam.  Mary.  Clyde.  Linda. Betty Carolyn. Jeff. Albert. Richard. Lois. Ross. Tiny. Donald. Bill. Barbara. Andreas. Helen. Bonnie Brenner. Baker Family. Robert McKenzie Family. Kibler family. Carolyn Harlow. Jeremy. Jeff Green. Lyric. Earl Graves. Mickey Huff. Huff & Welch families. Helen Leigh. Paul Huffman. Schools, Teachers, Staff, Parents, Students. Church regathering plans. Layman family. Charlene Withrow. John. Brandon Casteel. Dirk Orr. Smith family.