Sunday School Lessons: Acts 18

Lesson 22
Acts 18
Paul’s Second Missionary Journey continued.

Vs.1 After this Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. 2 And he found a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to leave Rome. And he went to see them, 3 and because he was of the same trade he stayed with them and worked, for they were tentmakers by trade. 4 And he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and tried to persuade Jews and Greeks.

Corinth was probably the most sinful city of the day.  It was the center of wickedness in that area of the world.  There he met Aquila and Priscilla, tentmakers who had come to Corinth when the Jews were cast from Rome.  Paul’s occupation was a tentmaker, too, so he worked with them and lived with them.  But even though he was working as a tentmaker, he still preached in the synagogue every Sabbath, and Jews and Gentiles were persuaded.  Aquila and Priscilla were among those who believed.

5 When Silas and Timothy arrived from Macedonia, Paul was occupied with the word, testifying to the Jews that the Christ was Jesus. 6 And when they opposed and reviled him, he shook out his garments and said to them, “Your blood be on your own heads! I am innocent. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.” 7 And he left there and went to the house of a man named Titius Justus, a worshiper of God. His house was next door to the synagogue. 8 Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed in the Lord, together with his entire household. And many of the Corinthians hearing Paul believed and were baptized.

Paul had waited for Silas and Timothy in Athens, but they finally caught up with him in Corinth and found him testifying to the Jews about Jesus.  This is a turning point in Paul’s ministry.  It is here that Paul began to focus his efforts on the Gentiles instead of the Jews.  When they came against him, he shook out his garments.  What do you think that means?  Can you remember any other Jewish customs that we’ve learned about that are similar?
He went next door to the house of Justus.  Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, his household, and many others believed and were baptized.  It is interesting that, once Paul declares judgment on them and leaves, we are told that Crispus, an important Jew, believes with his house.

9 And the Lord said to Paul one night in a vision, “Do not be afraid, but go on speaking and do not be silent, 10 for I am with you, and no one will attack you to harm you, for I have many in this city who are my people.” 11 And he stayed a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.

The Lord came to Paul again, directly guiding him.  Paul must have been feeling afraid and discouraged, but the Lord encouraged him to keep going, told him he would be safe, and that He had many people in the city.  Even in that sinful city, God had his people there.  He knew each one of them.  I think it is safe to say that many of the people of God had not yet heard the Gospel at this point, let alone believed on Christ.  But God knew each one that belonged to Him.  Paul stayed there for a year and a half, teaching God’s word to God’s people.

12 But when Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews made a united attack on Paul and brought him before the tribunal, 13 saying, “This man is persuading people to worship God contrary to the law.” 14 But when Paul was about to open his mouth, Gallio said to the Jews, “If it were a matter of wrongdoing or vicious crime, O Jews, I would have reason to accept your complaint. 15 But since it is a matter of questions about words and names and your own law, see to it yourselves. I refuse to be a judge of these things.” 16 And he drove them from the tribunal. 17 And they all seized Sosthenes, the ruler of the synagogue, and beat him in front of the tribunal. But Gallio paid no attention to any of this.

Gallio, the proconsul, was a Roman official.  The Jews were in one accord against Paul and brought him to the judgment seat. What was their charge against Paul?  Why wouldn’t Gallio hear their complaints?  What did he tell them to do?

After Gallio sent them away from the tribunal, or judgment seat, the Jews seized the ruler of the synagogue and beat him.  Do you remember who was ruler of the synagogue before?  Why do you think there is a new ruler of the synagogue?  Why do you think they beat him?  

Gallio was a Roman magistrate.  He was charged with upholding Roman law.  He told them to handle their own problems since they were of a religious nature. Do you think he did the right thing?  In our form of government, that is called the separation of church and state. (discuss)

18 After this, Paul stayed many days longer and then took leave of the brothers and set sail for Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila. At Cenchreae he had cut his hair, for he was under a vow.
Eventually Paul left Silas and Timothy in Corinth and took Aquila and Priscilla with him to Ephesus.  Paul cut his hair because he had taken a vow. Some people think that Paul was wrong to do this because it seems like he was returning to the Mosaic law instead of the Grace of the Gospel.  However, under grace, Paul was free to make a vow if he wanted to, or not make a vow if he didn’t want to.  Paul wasn’t making other people make a vow like him, or making part of the means of salvation.  

1 Corinthians 10 tells us “whether we eat or drink, or whatever we do, do all to the glory of God.”

14:1 As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions. 2 One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables. 3 Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him. 4 Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand.5 One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. 6 The one who observes the day, observes it in honor of the Lord. The one who eats, eats in honor of the Lord, since he gives thanks to God, while the one who abstains, abstains in honor of the Lord and gives thanks to God.

Eating meat or not eating meat, taking a vow or not taking a vow is not the most important thing.  The most important thing is to do all to the glory of God.

19 And they came to Ephesus, and he left them there, but he himself went into the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews. 20 When they asked him to stay for a longer period, he declined. 21 But on taking leave of them he said, “I will return to you if God wills,” and he set sail from Ephesus.
Remember that earlier, the Spirit would not let Paul go to Ephesus. Now he is in Ephesus and again, he is at the synagogue, preaching to the Jews.  They wanted him to stay, but instead he left Priscilla and Aquila there and promised to return of God wills.  
22 When he had landed at Caesarea, he went up and greeted the church, and then went down to Antioch.

From Caesarea, one could go to Jerusalem.  Paul went to Jerusalem as planned and then returned to Antioch.  This ends the second missionary journey.

23 After spending some time there, he departed and went from one place to the next through the region of Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples.

Verse 23 begins the third missionary journey to the region of Galatia.

24 Now a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was an eloquent man, competent in the Scriptures. 25 He had been instructed in the way of the Lord. And being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus, though he knew only the baptism of John. 26 He began to speak boldly in the synagogue, but when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him and explained to him the way of God more accurately. 27 And when he wished to cross to Achaia, the brothers encouraged him and wrote to the disciples to welcome him. When he arrived, he greatly helped those who through grace had believed, 28 for he powerfully refuted the Jews in public, showing by the Scriptures that the Christ was Jesus.

Apollos was a Jew from Alexandria in Northern Africa.  The church’s headquarters began in Jerusalem, moved to Antioch, and then for several centuries was located in Alexandria.  We know that he is a Hellenist because he has a Greek name.  He was mighty in the Scriptures, which means he was well trained in the Old Testament.  He had been taught, he was bold and accurately taught others about Jesus, but he had more to learn.  When Priscilla and Aquila heard him boldly speaking in the synagogue, they took him aside and corrected him and taught him the things he didn’t yet know about the Gospel.  He was a mighty preacher and was used by God to refute the Jews and prove using the Old Testament scriptures that Jesus is the Messiah.  Some people believe he may have written the book of Hebrews.

*These lessons are written for use with elementary aged students.  You can find lessons for previous chapters here.