NASHVILLE (BP) – This weekly Bible study appears in Baptist Press in a partnership with Lifeway Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. Through its Leadership and Adult Publishing team, Lifeway publishes Sunday School curricula and additional resources for all age groups.
This week’s Bible study is adapted from the Explore the Bible curriculum.
Bible Passages: Acts 18:1-11, 18-21
Discussion Questions:
- How can partnering with other believers make us more effective in our ministry?
- How have other believers supported your personal walk with Christ and ministry for Him?
- How do you sense God calling you to help others as they follow the Lord?
Food for thought:
Some parents jokingly say their children’s first words were not “Mama” or “Dada,” but “I can do it myself.” Unfortunately, many of us never grow out of the “I can do it myself” stage. Instead of asking for help, or even letting others volunteer to help, we prefer to tackle tasks alone. Maturity requires more than personal ability. Like the apostle Paul, we should recognize the value of others and the strength that results from doing things together.
From Athens, Paul went to Corinth in southern Greece. Corinth was a major city and the provincial capital of Achaia. In Corinth, Paul met Aquila and his wife, Priscilla. They were believers who had left Rome in 49-50 A.D. when Claudius expelled all Jews from the city. They had settled in Corinth. They were also “tentmakers” (Acts 18:3) by trade. Since they shared this vocation with Paul, he began working with them.
Apparently, Paul used the money he earned as a tentmaker to fund his ministry. When not making tents, Paul reasoned in the synagogue. He engaged the Jews every Sabbath and also shared the Gospel with Greeks in the city.
Silas and Timothy arrived in Corinth with a financial gift from the Macedonian churches. This allowed Paul to spend less time on tentmaking and more time “preaching the word” (v. 5) and testifying that Jesus is the Messiah. Luke noted that the Jews in Corinth resisted Paul’s message.
The term Luke used can mean “blasphemed” and suggests the Jews defamed God rather than Paul. In response, Paul “shook out his clothes” (v. 6) as a testimony against them. Declaring himself innocent of anyone’s blood, Paul turned his attention to the Gentiles in Corinth. This did not close the door completely on the Jews, but Paul did focus on an audience that demonstrated more openness to the Gospel.
Paul began preaching and teaching in the home of Titius Justus, which was next to the synagogue. A synagogue leader named Crispus, along with his family, also chose to follow Christ. They were among a large number of Corinthians who believed and were baptized.
In a vision, Jesus encouraged Paul. He promised His presence and His protection. He commanded Paul to be faithful because He had “many people in this city” (v. 10). Paul stayed in Corinth for 18 months.
After a year and half, Paul finally said farewell to the brothers and sisters in Corinth. Aquila and Priscilla accompanied him, suggesting that Silas and Timothy may have stayed for a while to encourage the young church. Paul stopped in Ephesus and spent a brief time debating with Jews in the synagogue. While he did not stay, he left Aquila and Priscilla there to help that congregation. Paul would spend three years in Ephesus later in his ministry, but he declined to stay longer on this trip. He was eager to get back to Jerusalem, possibly to fulfill a vow that he had made in Cenchreae (v. 18).
Explore the Bible
Explore the Bible is an ongoing Bible study curriculum that helps groups dig into the key truths of each Bible book, while keeping the group on pace to study through the Bible books in a systematic way. More information can be found at Lifeway.com/ExploreTheBible.
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