A Year And A half In Corinth

Acts 18:5-11

Paul had left Silas and Timothy in Berea to ground the church while he went on to Athens. When he went on to Corinth, he apparently left word or sent a message telling them where to meet him. He had been in Corinth for a significant period of time, teaching in the synagogue, and laying a foundation for faith in Christ.

“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 18:5)

After several weeks or perhaps months of laying a foundation for faith, showing from prophecy the requirements for the Messiah, Paul felt led to declare clearly that Jesus was the Messiah. They had not questioned the messianic teachings, but neither had they accepted Jesus as Messiah. Like many today they would listen and agree as long as no commitment was required. There has to be a point of commitment, as Luke 14:26-27 states. “If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.”

“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. And he departed thence, and entered into a certain man's house, named Justus, one that worshipped God, whose house joined hard to the synagogue.” (Acts 18:6-7)

When directly confronted with the necessity of accepting or rejecting Christ themselves, the Jews wouldn’t commit, trying to argue both sides and ultimately blaspheming God and Christ by implying that the things described might not be of God but of Satan. Having fulfilled his obligation to them by giving them the opportunity to believe, he would devote his efforts to reaching out to the Gentiles in the community. They first started holding church in Justus’ house, next door to the synagogue.

“And 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.” (Acts 18:8)

While most of the Jews in Corinth rejected Christ, the most dedicated to God accepted him, including the then leader of the synagogue, Crispus. Many of the Corinthian people also believed, following the Lord in baptism, after hearing God’s word.

“Then spake the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision, Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace: For I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city. And he continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.” (Acts 18:9-11)

Though it was essentially a pagan city, God told Paul he had many people there. What a comfort to know that they had no need for concern in the city because God would protect them. It was only the Jews who had caused the persecution. For a year and a half, Paul was able to continue to preach freely in Corinth, with his entire team to help. It is one of the few times when we are given a time frame for starting a church.