Protected by God

Acts 18:12-23

After a year and a half of preaching freely without interference in Corinth and winning many of the Corinthians, as well as the former leader of the synagogue to Christ, Christianity was generally accepted by the Corinthians. Jews from other areas, however were not willing to let things alone, inciting a conflict.

“And when Gallio was the deputy of Achaia, the Jews made insurrection with one accord against Paul, and brought him to the judgment seat, Saying, This fellow persuadeth men to worship God contrary to the law. “ (Acts 18:12-13)

In an effort to make their attacks on Paul appear legitimate, the Jews filed suit against him with the Roman deputy, Gallio. The charge was that he convinced men to worship God in an illegal manner. Since Roman law permitted religious freedom, there was no Roman law about the subject. The Jews had adopted traditional interpretations of the law, commonly known as the Talmud, as being as binding as the actual commands, much as lawyers today use precedent. Like modern precedent, it often contradicted the original intent of the actual law.

“And when Paul was now about to open his mouth, Gallio said unto the Jews, If it were a matter of wrong or wicked lewdness, O ye Jews, reason would that I should bear with you: But if it be a question of words and names, and of your law, look ye to it; for I will be no judge of such matters. And he drave them from the judgment seat.” (Acts 18:14-16)

Gallio recognized that the charges were completely outside his authority as a Roman officer, and refused to take a legal position. To have taken a legal standing would have been like declaring the Catholic churcha s right and any other belief as wrong. As governor, he did not have the authority to do so. He threw them out.

“Then all the Greeks took Sosthenes, the chief ruler of the synagogue, and beat him before the judgment seat. And Gallio cared for none of those things.” (Acts 18:17)

Crispus, the former chief ruler of the synagogue had become a Christian, and had been replaced by Sosthenes. The Greeks had seen the results of Paul’s teaching for a year and a half, and recognized that the problem was not a result of Paul’s teachings, but of the Jews’ determination to have control. They beat Sosthenes, because he was the leader of the Jews, as a warning that they were not going to put up with such disruptions in their city.
Modern police forces can use their best methods to prevent crime with little effect, but when the people get involved, crime decreases immediately. Gallio refused to intervene, probably because he figured the surest way of stopping the problem was by letting the people take care of it.

“And Paul after this tarried there yet a good while, and then took his leave of the brethren, and sailed thence into Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila; having shorn his head in Cenchrea: for he had a vow.” (Acts 18:18)

After staying in Corinth for a while longer, Paul took Priscilla nd Aquila with him to Syria. In Cenchrea, he took a Jewish vow and had his head shaved as a symbol of it. It is probable that some of Paul’s party stayed for a while in Corinth.

“And he came to Ephesus, and left them there: but he himself entered into the synagogue, and reasoned with the Jews. When they desired him to tarry longer time with them, he consented not; But bade them farewell, saying, I must by all means keep this feast that cometh in Jerusalem: but I will return again unto you, if God will. And he sailed from Ephesus. “ (Acts 18:19-21)

In Ephesus, Paul went into the synagogue and preached to the Jews, and was well received. They wanted him to stay longer, but due to his vow he was not free to spend the time. Instead he left Aquila and Priscilla and some of the others to help teach the Christians there. Ephesus was Timothy’s first pastorate, and the book of I Timothy was written to him to advise him in how to establish the church. It was probably written while Paul continued his journey to Jerusalem and visit the other churches. That the church was already there before Paul went is implied in II Timothy 4:12, when Paul said he had sent Tychicus to Ephesus.

“And when he had landed at Caesarea, and gone up, and saluted the church, he went down to Antioch.” (Acts 18:22)

Paul sailed on to Caesarea, and went to Jerusalem where he met with the church and the other apostles as well as fulfilling his vow. He then returned to Antioch where he and Barnabas had first been called and sent out. It was still a special place to him, even more than the church in Jerusalem.

“And after he had spent some time there, he departed, and went over all the country of Galatia and Phrygia in order, strengthening all the disciples.” (Acts 18:23)

After spending some time in Antioch, renewing old friendhips and encouraging the church, Paul revisited the churches he and Silas had started in Galatia and Phyrgia.