TEXT: Acts 18:1-17

SUBJECT: Acts 21

Today, with the Lord's blessing, we'll continue in our study of Acts, looking for what Jesus Christ is up to from His seat in Glory. Remember, the Book of Acts is every bit as much the story of Christ as the Gospels are. What He once did on earth and physically, He's now doing from heaven by His Spirit.

In reading the Book, therefore, we're not trying to get a fix on Paul or the Early Church, but on Christ. On what He's doing to extend His Kingdom in the world.

PREACHING

Our story begins with Paul arriving in Corinth. Corinth is big city about fifty miles west of Athens, Greece. It belongs to the Roman Empire, of course, but most of it's people are Greek in language and customs. The city is also a commercial center--a lot of business and trading went on there.

Speaking of business, Paul has to make a living. As a boy, he had learned the trade of tent-making. When he got to Corinth, he found a believing Jewish couple who did the same work, and went into business with them. They are wonderful people themselves, and become close and lifelong friends with the Apostle. They are "Aquila and Priscilla".

He worked with them six days a week. But on the Sabbath, he laid aside his work to preach the Word of God. Corinth had a Synagogue, and as a learned Rabbi, Paul had the right to teach there.

Which he did. His method was Bible exposition and appeal. A pastor once preached a beautiful Gospel sermon. Every word was right; every illustration perfect. But afterwards, a businessman came up to him and said,

Paul was not like this pastor. He not only said, "Jesus is the Christ", but he "persuaded both Jews and Greeks".

He commanded them; he pleaded with them; he wept for their souls. Sinners knew Paul wanted them to be saved through faith alone in Christ alone. They knew he had a personal stake in it.

Do I make that clear when I preach? Do you make it clear when you witness? We're not "laying out information", we're appealing for faith and obedience.

We are--that is--if like Paul we're being "constrained (or, urged or moved) by the Spirit".

RESPONSE

How did the Corinthians respond to the Paul's preaching? They were split over it.

But others didn't. They did the worst thing an unbeliever can do. It's not persecute the preacher (though that's pretty bad), but they "Blasphemed"--or spoke evil of Jesus Christ.

When Paul heard their filthy words about Christ, he did one of the most dramatic things in his life. He

To "shake the garment" is a visible curse. It means, "May God shake you off as a man shakes the dirt off his clothes!".

Paul has done everything he can for the Synagogue in Corinth. If they won't hear the Gospel, let them be lost!

He quits the Synagogue for good. And sets up a church in the home of "Justus" who lives next door.

ENCOURAGEMENT

One night, Paul has a vision. It's more than an especially real dream; it's a Word from Jesus Christ. He says,

Strengthened by the Lord's promise, Paul stays in Corinth for a year and half "teaching the Word of God among them". These are good days for Paul; maybe the only holiday he ever had from persecution.

HARASSMENT

But it doesn't last forever. The Jews are still mad about Paul splitting their Synagogue and winning others to Christ. Their Rabbi, a man named Sosthenes" hatches a plot to run Paul out of town.

He and his friends come to the Governor and accuse Paul of

He doesn't mean "the Law of Rome", but "the Law of God". And bringing this up to a Roman Judge is a big mistake! He has better things to do with his time than to settle theological disputes.

Had Paul been guilty of some "Wrongdoing or wicked crime" he would hear the case. But because he's not accused of breaking any Roman Law, why are you wasting my time? Gallio turns away in disgust and runs them out of court.

Just outside the door a mob is waiting to "greet" the Jews. They grab Sosthenes and beat the daylights out of him. While the governor shrugged, smiled, and...

Paul's work in Corinth is done. After eighteen happy months there, he sets sail for Antioch--and more suffering.

That's the story.

THE MESSAGE

Now, what does it mean? Here's what:

Paul's life in Christ had had little to cheer him. It was full of pain, rejection, and doing without.

He was the world's greatest missionary, but nobody supported him. All the years of preaching were supported by his own hands--by hard physical work.

He had no family to comfort him, of course. And lately, he'd had no friends to help and cheer him.

His missionary work had met fierce opposition in every town. He was expelled from Antioch, stoned in Lystra, and jailed in Philippi. His house was stormed in Thessalonica and he was laughed at in Athens. A life of uninterrupted suffering.

Except in Corinth. There the Lord gave him a break from his suffering. And encouraged him with His special Presence and with some visible fruit for his labors.

The Lord does this for us too. He doesn't give us carefree lives, of course, but once-in-a-while he gives us rest or comfort or cheer. When we need it most.

A good friend of mine is almost crippled with polio. He's in terrible pain almost all the time. But once-in-a-while, the Lord gives him a good day. He's very thankful for that; he sees it as a promise of the Good Day to come--the day when God "Wipes away every tear".

On a much lower level, let me tell you a story about myself. For the last year or two, I've been somewhat discouraged about our midweek service. Eighty come on Sunday morning; and we're lucky to have ten on Wednesday night. For weeks I was wondering if we shouldn't cancel it altogether. I hadn't said anything to anybody, but one Sunday, I was about to bring it up when a friend came to me saying,

That was , to me, the most encouraging word I heard in a long, long time. It was as much from the Lord as Paul's vision was!

If you thought about it, you could come up with many examples of your own. The times you've been just worn out with the cares of the world, when the Lord brought special comfort or encouragement to you.

The Bible promises this relief. Both negatively and positively.

This means: Hold on! Maybe you're exhausted with work; maybe you're disheartened by your family; maybe you're worried about your health; maybe you're just tired of life!

Hold on in faith. It won't be long till the Lord gives you a break. He knows how weak you are; how tired; how discouraged--"He knows our frames; He remembers that we are but dust".

Do you know why He knows your weaknesses so well? Because of the Incarnation. In the fullness of time, God joined the human race with all its infirmities of body and soul.

He knows what it's like to have no money. He knows what's it like to lose a loved one. He knows what it means be up all night. He knows what it is to have no friends. He knows what physical pain is. Mental anguish. Emotional torment. Spiritual loneliness.

In short, "We have a high priest who can sympathize with us in our temptations...because He Himself was tempted as we are".

When He had had all He could take; when Christ couldn't go on any more, He got help from heaven--"Angels came and ministered to Him".

You'll get the same help. Because Jesus cares. The Lord encourages His people when we need it most.

You know He's done it in the past. Now trust Him for the future.

God bless you every one. Amen.