The Apostle Paul is teaching at Corinth and has just made the decision to stop teaching in the synagogue after some of the men there blasphemed the name of Jesus. From now on he intends to preach the gospel to the Gentiles and if men of his own nation want to come and hear it, that's fine, but he doesn't intend to go back inside the synagogue. We learned yesterday that quite a few Jews at Corinth came to believe in Jesus Christ under Paul's teaching. But as in every city so far, it's the Gentiles who most eagerly want to hear the message.
Paul feels incredibly discouraged. He's exhausted. He's disappointed. He's hurt for the sake of Christ that anyone would blaspheme His holy name. On top of all these things, a plot is brewing among Paul's enemies to seize him and bring him to the authorities. So the Lord comes to Paul and encourages him. "One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: 'Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city.' So Paul stayed in Corinth for a year and a half, teaching them the word of God." (Acts 18:9-11)
I can't help but be reminded of the prophet Elijah who, in his deep depression and exhaustion, believed he was the only prophet of God left. He was ready to give up, but the Lord assured him there were still seven thousand men in Israel who had never bowed their knees to the false god Baal. (1 Kings 19:18) The Lord said to Elijah, and to Paul, "You are not alone! I am with you and so are the many believers here. I know sometimes it feels like you're fighting an uphill battle, but I promise you that you will never fight alone. I've never lost a battle and I never will."
"While Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews of Corinth made a united attack on Paul and brought him to the place of judgment. 'This man,' they charged, 'is persuading the people to worship God in ways contrary to the law.'" (Acts 18:12-13) Gallio came from the upper echelon of Roman society and was appointed to oversee Corinth by Emperor Claudius himself. Gallio and his younger brother, the philosopher Seneca, were well known for being moderate and reasonable men of good disposition. Seneca would later become an adviser to the wicked Emperor Nero for a time, but political plots against Seneca accused him of embezzlement, moral debauchery, and treason. Both Seneca and Gallio died during the reign of Nero and it is said by some historians that he executed them, while other historians believe both men committed suicide. It was also under the reign of Nero that the Apostle Paul was put to death.
Paul intends to put on a calm and logical defense before the proconsul, but he doesn't have to. "Just as Paul was about to speak, Gallio said to them, 'If you Jews were making a complaint about some misdemeanor or serious crime, it would be reasonable for me to listen to you. But since it involves questions about words and names in your own law---settle the matter yourselves. I will not be a judge of such things.'" (Acts 18:14-15) The proconsul says something like, "Look, Rome isn't interested in your squabbles regarding religious doctrine. You claim this man is enticing your people to worship your god under some other name. You say he's preaching a message about salvation by faith instead of by works. What is that to me, or to Rome? I'm not a Jew. I'm not in a position to judge whether Paul's ideas are in conflict with your religion or not, but I can tell you that what he's doing is not in conflict with the laws of Rome. He hasn't done anything worthy of being brought before me for judgment. This case should never have come up at all. I'm not even going to hear it."
"So he drove them off. Then the crowd there turned on Sosthenes the synagogue leader and beat him in front of the proconsul; and Gallio showed no concern whatever." (Acts 18:16-17) In yesterday's study we were told that Crispus was the synagogue leader and that he and his family became Christians and were baptized. Sosthenes is apparently his successor, as Crispus would have been thrown out of the synagogue following his conversion. The men who enjoyed blaspheming the name of Christ would never have allowed a believer in Christ to be the head of their synagogue. When Luke says "the crowd" beat Sosthenes, he means the Gentiles at the court of Gallio. Sosthenes may or may not have been the main persecutor of Paul, but as the synagogue leader he was responsible for allowing Paul to be brought before Gallio unnecessarily, so I assume these men beat Sosthenes for wasting the proconsul's time. Gallio should not have allowed such a spectacle in his courtroom, but he he probably believes that this will prevent further unnecessary religious cases from coming before him.
Paul goes free without having to say a word. God has faithfully protected him as He said He would. Paul will be able to finish his mission work in Corinth without being troubled by anyone.
No comments:
Post a Comment