Acts 18:1

After these things Paul departed from Athens, and came to Corinth; and found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, lately come from Italy, with his wife Priscilla; (because that Claudius had commanded all Jews to depart from Rome:) and came unto them. And because he was of the same craft, he abode with them, and wrought: for by their occupation they were tentmakers. And he reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks. And when Silas and Timotheus were come from Macedonia, Paul was pressed in the spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus was Christ. (Acts 18:1–5)

When God told a trembling Paul, "Do not be afraid, but speak," He gave a word the church still needs in a world that wants us silent.

From Athens to Corinth

As we saw last week, Paul had come to Athens, where he found altars to hundreds of gods—the big gods like Apollo and Diana, and small altars to all kinds of deities, even one to the unknown God. He preached Christ in the marketplace and was taken up to Mars Hill, the Areopagus, in that city called the birthplace of Western civilization. He preached the gospel using even their own poets, but it was not well received. Most mocked and said, "We'll hear you again on this matter." A few believed.

It's likely that while Paul was in Athens, Silas and Timothy briefly visited him. Remember, when Paul first arrived he sent his companions from Berea back to fetch them quickly, because what he saw in the city so stirred him. They probably met him, then were sent back—Silas to minister in Berea and Timothy to the new churches in Thessalonica. Paul then went on to Corinth, fifty-five miles west of Athens.

A City Given Over to Pleasure

If Athens was the philosophical center, Corinth was the political and commercial capital of that region. Though there was a synagogue there, the city was wholly Greek and given over to licentiousness and immorality. There was a saying in that day—to "live like a Corinthian" meant a life full of immorality, drunkenness, and the pursuit of sensual pleasures. Corinth was the Las Vegas of the first century. What happened in Corinth stayed in Corinth.

The city was known for the temple to Aphrodite at its center. Every evening more than a thousand temple priestesses—in reality temple prostitutes—would come down into the city, and the people would worship Aphrodite in sensual ways, with the money given to the temple. Every two years the Isthmian games came to the city, so it was given to athletics as well as pleasure.

Corinth was a huge city, probably second only to Rome, with more than 100,000 people. It sat on a thin neck of land between the Aegean Sea on the east and the Adriatic on the west—only four miles separated them. Rather than sail the dangerous way around the Peloponnesian Peninsula, merchants would haul their ships out of the water and drag them on carts across that four miles. It was a city of great commerce, of slavery, of pleasure-seeking and false-god worship. And Paul comes there to bring the gospel.

Eighteen Months in Corinth

In each previous city Paul stayed only a short time—three Sabbath days in Thessalonica, probably no more than a month in Athens or Berea, three or four months in the cities of Galatia. But in Corinth he would stay eighteen months, because God was going to do a great work there. That work would be met with all kinds of issues. The church at Corinth had more problems than perhaps any other first-century church; two of Paul's longest letters were written to them, much of it as rebuke, because the world had crept into the church so quickly after Paul planted it. When I think of Corinth I'm often reminded of the church in California, the church in America, where the world has crept in in so many ways.

Aquila and Priscilla

Paul departed Athens alone and found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus and recently come from Rome. As verse 2 notes, Claudius Caesar had banished the Jews from Rome in AD 49, so Aquila and his wife Priscilla were expelled and came to Corinth to set up shop. Early church tradition holds that Priscilla came from a wealthy background, perhaps even royalty.

They were attending the synagogue when Paul arrived, and they shared something in common: they were tentmakers, and so was Paul. We tend to think of Paul as a full-time minister, but he also worked in the marketplace and provided for himself, especially in Thessalonica. Occasionally churches sent help—the Philippians were known for supporting his ministry—but Paul primarily worked by day and looked for every opportunity to preach, whether in the synagogue or the marketplace. He and Aquila worked together, and Paul even lived with them.

Plowing Before Planting

As was his custom, Paul reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath. We don't know how long he was there witnessing before Silas and Timothy arrived. But notice that it was not until they came that Paul was "pressed in the spirit" and testified that Jesus was the Christ. So what was he reasoning about before that?

I believe Paul was reasoning from their Scriptures—the law and the prophets. He had an amazing grasp of the Old Testament, and he was plowing before he planted the seed. Plowing in evangelism is extremely important. Often we think of evangelism as striking up a conversation, sharing the four spiritual laws in five minutes, and getting a decision. But in the New Testament, and in the life of Jesus, it was completely different.

When the rich young ruler ran and threw himself at Jesus' feet asking, "Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?"—we'd probably jump straight to the four spiritual laws. But Jesus didn't. He said, "Why do you call me good? There is only one who is good, and that is God." Then He spoke about the law, and the man went away sorrowful because of his wealth. In the same way, Paul went into the synagogue, built relationships, spoke of the law and the prophets, and looked for the opportunity to share Christ.

When Silas and Timothy arrived bringing reports that the young churches in Thessalonica and Berea were growing and thriving even under persecution, Paul was so stirred that he knew it was time to plant the church in Corinth. So, pressed by the Holy Spirit, he testified that Jesus of Nazareth is the Messiah.

Opposition and a Vision

As in Galatia, Thessalonica, and Berea, the moment Paul preached Christ he met opposition. Acts 18:6 says, "And when they opposed themselves, and blasphemed, he shook his raiment, and said unto them, Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean: from henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles." This is exactly what Jesus told His disciples in Matthew 10:14—preach to the lost sheep of the house of Israel, and if they reject it, dust yourself off and go to the next city.

Paul entered the house of a man named Justus, who worshiped God, next door to the synagogue. Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house, and many of the Corinthians, hearing, believed and were baptized. Now the church in Corinth is officially planted—but opposition is building, just as before.

In every previous city, when opposition arose, the church pulled Paul aside and said it was best for him to go. I'm certain some in Corinth were saying the same. But the Lord had a different plan. "Then spake the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision, Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace" (Acts 18:9).

"Do Not Be Afraid, but Speak"

I believe God would speak that very same word to us today. Our adversary, the devil, is very effective at intimidating the body of Christ into keeping our mouths shut, scaring us from sharing the gospel of truth. There are those in our culture, especially in the media, who loudly declare that Christians should keep their mouths shut and keep their faith within the walls of the church—it's a personal thing, don't bring it into the public arena.

That is their belief, their worldview, their doctrine. Why is it they can loudly proclaim their doctrine, yet they want us to be quiet about ours? Because the gospel is a stumbling block to those who are perishing. It causes conviction; their souls writhe in pain when they hear the Word, because the gospel is a bright light shining upon the darkness of their hearts. They don't want us to talk about sin, death, judgment, prophecy, or the coming of the Lord, because all of it scares them. And praise God it does. I would say: speak up. Open wide your mouth and speak the word of truth.

A Humbled, Trembling Apostle

Notice God says, "Do not be afraid." To whom do you say that? To someone who is afraid. In 1 Corinthians, written years later back to this church, Paul describes his arrival:

For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God... For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: but we preach Christ crucified... God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise. (1 Corinthians 1:18–27)

And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom... For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. (1 Corinthians 2:1–3)

Paul did not come to Corinth with great power and oratory. He came in trembling and weakness. God had to speak to this humbled man: "Be not afraid, but speak; hold not thy peace: for I am with you" (Acts 18:9–10). Underline those words: "for I am with you."

"I Have Many People in This City"

This is the same word God gave Joshua before Israel entered the promised land: "Be strong and of a good courage... Have I not commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage" (Joshua 1:6–9). Do not be ashamed of the gospel; do not be fearful to proclaim it, even when the world calls it foolishness.

God continues, "no man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city." There were many in Corinth who would be allies, but also many God had elected, ordained, and called to life. There are many in our world today whom God desires to come to Him, and they need to hear the Word. As Paul told the Romans, "How shall they hear without a preacher?" It is not sufficient to have good pastors teaching good studies within the walls of this church; we do this so that you, the body of Christ, would be equipped to take the Word into the world.

When Paul received this vision, verse 11 says, "And he continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them." For eighteen months Paul, Silas, and Timothy stayed as the church was built.

A Letter Written from Corinth

Something else important happened in Corinth in AD 51–52. It was here, when Silas and Timothy met up with Paul, that he penned the letter we call 1 Thessalonians, written at the very end of AD 51. Second Thessalonians followed about mid-year AD 52. So we will take time to study both.

Remember the historic context. Paul came to Thessalonica around mid-51, still bruised from the beating he had received in Philippi. He preached three Sabbath days, a church was planted, and immediately he was driven out by Jews who stirred up zealots determined to destroy not only Paul but the new church wherever he went. This baby church was under persecution and tribulation, and Paul writes to encourage and instruct them.

Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians... We give thanks to God always for you all... Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ... For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance... And how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God; and to wait for his Son from heaven... even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come. (1 Thessalonians 1:1–10)

Mature Faith in a Young Church

Paul writes to believers going through tribulation who were still a good witness, though young in their faith—this church was probably only about six months old. Most of you have followed Jesus longer than six months. Imagine if, when you were a brand-new Christian, someone made it their aim to destroy your faith by any means, even persecution and physical harm. Yet this young church displayed mature Christian behavior.

When Paul prays for them, he remembers three things: their work of faith, their labor of love, and their patience of hope. These are the benchmarks of Christian maturity. The last three chapters of Hebrews deal with faith, hope, and love as marks of maturity. In 1 Corinthians 13 Paul concludes, "Now abideth these three, faith, hope, charity; but the greatest of these is charity." Throughout the New Testament these three are the benchmarks—and a church saved only six months was already displaying their roots.

A Faith That Works

Today we often think of faith only mentally—a hurdle we jump over to believe that Jesus is God, died, and rose. Many in our nation will say, "Yes, I believe that," and mentally assent to it. But mental faith must become practical faith. Our belief must change our behavior. James said, "Faith without works is dead," and "the devils also believe, and tremble."

Demons believe there is one God; they believe Jesus is the Son of God and rose again—they testified to it in the Gospels—yet it has in no way transformed their reality. There are people today who believe historically that Jesus lived, died, and rose, but it has not changed them; they have no faith that works. The Thessalonians' faith became reality and was being exercised in their lives.

A Labor of Love

One way their faith was worked out was in how they loved their community. Paul prayed for their love to abound even more (1 Thessalonians 3:12). As believers whose faith is transforming our behavior, we are to love as Jesus taught—to love the Lord with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and to love our neighbor as ourselves. Jesus went further: "Love thine enemy."

This love is wholly different from the world's idea of love. The world views the supreme exhibition of love as physical, sexual love—and that is completely false. The Scriptures reveal a self-sacrificing love willing to humble oneself to exalt another, to bear another's burdens. "Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ." "God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son."

Here's the amazing thing: when you step out by faith to bring the labor of love to your community, the world will hate you—just as it hated Jesus, the most beautiful demonstration of love, and killed Him. When you labor to bring the love of Christ to a sick and dying world, they will persecute you, just as they persecuted Paul and the Thessalonians.

Patience of Hope in Tribulation

How do we react to persecution? Honestly, in California we don't experience much—our greatest "persecution" is someone taking our parking space. But as those seeking maturity, how do we react when tribulation comes? Look at how this church reacted: with patience of hope. Verse 6 says they received the word "in much affliction"—the Greek word thlipsis, meaning tribulation, persecution, oppression.

It's the same word Jesus used in John 16:33: "These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have thlipsis: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." We would all much rather He had said, "In the world ye shall have peace." But He didn't, because Jesus is not a liar. You and I will experience tribulation. Paul told Timothy, "All that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution."

So how can we have peace in the storm? Just before, in John 14:1–3, Jesus said, "Let not your heart be troubled... In my Father's house are many mansions... I go to prepare a place for you... I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also." Jesus gives us the great promise of an enduring kingdom and His return to gather us to Himself.

Eyes Fixed on Eternity

Paul keeps pointing the suffering Thessalonians to eternity. "The sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us." Watch how often he does it:

• 1 Thessalonians 1:9–10—they wait for His Son from heaven, "even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come." He repeats in 5:9, "God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ." - 2:19—"For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?" - 3:13—that He may establish our hearts "unblameable in holiness... at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints." - 4:13–18—"For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout... and the dead in Christ shall rise first: then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord."

His final exhortation in 4:18: "Wherefore comfort one another with these words." How do we have patience of hope while working out our faith and laboring in love in a world that hates us? We remember that God has prepared a place for us and will come to carry us there. The sufferings of this present world are not worthy to be compared with the glory to come.

Not in Word Only

Finally, return to 1 Thessalonians 1:5: "For our gospel came not unto you in word only." It is unfortunate that in our day the gospel is largely delivered in word only—preached, printed, online, on TV, in movies. Necessary, yes, but Paul says it came in three ways.

First, the word—it came by the preacher's word. Second, power—"in power, and in the Holy Ghost," whether in miracles or in the transformation of the people. Third, a good example—"and in much assurance, as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake." Paul didn't come trying to take anything from them; he came delivering the life-giving Word.

With real sorrow, I say the modern church has often not been a good example of the gospel. Ask unbelievers about church and they say it's full of hypocrites—because in many ways we have not lived it out. But when Paul, Silas, and Timothy came to Thessalonica, people could look at them and say, "They are different." My question is: can people look at my life, at our lives, and say, "They are disciples of Christ"? Do we show forth the fruit of the Spirit—love, joy, peace, kindness, gentleness, self-control? Do people see the teaching we proclaim with our lips?

You will be laughed at, rightly, if the gospel is only something you talk about or wear on a t-shirt and don't live out. If my life is not seen by outsiders as one striving to live what I teach—I'm not perfect, I have not attained, but striving—then they have a right to laugh. So may we, in the culture we live in, though they dismiss, mock, or persecute us, be those who show forth the gospel truth in word and in deed.

Closing Prayer

Father God, as we continue through Your Word, as we study week by week and day by day, would You please, by Your Spirit, transform us more and more into the image of Your Son. Transform us by the renewing of our minds. Let us not be conformed to this world, Father. As people see us in this community, I pray that they would see You in us, that we would let our light so shine among men that they would see our good works and glorify You, our Father in heaven. Shine brightly through Your church, Father, and work in our lives to be those like Paul, like Silas, like Timothy, who display the reality of the gospel. For we ask it in Jesus' name. Amen.