Chapter Eighteen –
Second Journey of Paul Continued
ACTS 18:1:
We began
this journey with Paul and Silas in
Antioch of Syria;
they then traveled through the rest of
Syria
and through the region of
Cilicia
strengthening the Bodies of Christ along the way. When they came to the area
of the two cities of
Lystra and Derbe,
they will pick up young Timothy to travel with them. They delivered the
decrees to these cities which strengthened them to a productive unity. From
here they will travel to two new areas of Asia Minor;
Phrygia and Galatia.
Luke does not record anything about these visits and Paul will not return to
these regions until
Chapter 19.
Passing
through the region of Mysia (having been forbidden by the Spirit of God to
go into Asia and Bithynia at this time), Paul and his group have come to
Troas.
Here at Troas, Paul will have a vision encouraging him to go to Macedonia
and bring the Gospel. As they determine to go to Macedonia, we learn that
Luke joins them.
They set
out across the Aegean Sea and cross with relative ease, stopping at the
island of
Samothrace,
and the next day arriving at
Neapolis,
the sea port town for Philippi. From Neapolis they head straight to
Philippi,
the chief city of this region. While here, Paul would live the very words
that he would later instruct the Philippian Christians to practice after him
(Philippians
4:8-9). He would go on to bring the Gospel to already
religious people, produce good works in the face of adversity, and never
allow an opportunity to preach the Gospel of Jesus as the Christ to pass.
There would be great success in the power of the Gospel at Philippi.
From
Philippi, Paul will travel to
Thessalonica
and preached to the Jews and devout Greeks in the synagogue with much
success. The unbelieving Jews would stir up a mob and attempt to bring Paul
and his traveling companions out to the people. This would be unsuccessful;
however, it forced the brethren to send Paul and Silas away by night to
Berea.
Paul would enter the synagogue and bring the Gospel of Jesus as the Christ
to these Jews with a much different universal result. They searched, proved,
and readily accepted Paul’s evidence and teaching; however, Jews from
Thessalonica came to Berea and stirred up trouble there. The brethren sent
Paul away by ship to
Athens.
Upon arrival in Athens, and while he is waiting for Silas and Timothy, he
begins to speak in the cities synagogue and market place (Paul is uniquely
moved by the city being given over to idolatry); his preaching soon gains
him an audience with the cities philosophers. Paul’s sermon to these
philosophers finds some limited success and from Athens he will now come to
Corinth.
Please use
the map provided: http://www.plvcc.org/index.html?/articles_live_by_faith/image2/CNM19-Pauls2ndJourney.gif
Text #1:
Acts 18:1
“After
these things Paul departed from Athens and went to Corinth.”
Corinth: Greek, “kor'-inth”
(from Korinthos, "ornament"). This was the Roman appointed capital of the
Greek province of Achaia. It resided just southwest of the Isthmus that
joined the Peloponnesus to the mainland (the Isthmus averages about four
miles across).
The city
was situated very close to the three best harbors in the region, which in
turn made it a trade mecca and economically the jewel of Southern Greece. In
addition, there was a type of tramway for cargo to be hauled over-land
across the Isthmus to other ships and even smaller ships themselves would be
hauled across in order to avoid the often treacherous sea journey around the
Peloponnesus (an additional 200 dangerous miles). A canal across the Isthmus
was actually installed by French engineers in 1893.
In
addition to the riches of the world, the sea ports brought with it
the culture of the world itself, all converging in this one location. Many
Jews flocked to Corinth for the vast ability to trade world-wide from a
single location. This would help us understand the large synagogue in this
city.
Even though
this is a Greek province, being controlled by Rome and the amount of trade
in this city would additionally bring a large Roman presence here as well;
note these Latin names mentioned in scripture concerning those in Corinth:
Lucius,
Tertius, Gaius, Erastus, Quartus (Romans
16:21-23), Crispus, Titus Justus (Acts
18:7-8), Fortunatus, Achaicus (1
Corinthians 16:17).
Religiously,
Corinth was just as diverse as the people who came there. As we have already
mentioned the large number of Jews in the city and their synagogue;
additionally there could be found cults of the Egyptians, Romans, and the
Greeks.
The temple
of Aphrodite was found and believed to be atop the Acrocorinth. This temple
was purported to be served at any given time by one thousand prostitutes,
who sought the sailors of the city to practice their profession.
The temple
of Poseidon was on equal terms with that of the temple of Aphrodite in fame,
due to the vast labor force of mariners who frequented this cities harbors.
Numerous other temples dotted the city and it could safely be said that
idolatry was prevalent (Apollo, Hermes, Venus, Asklepios, etc…).
Corinth was known world-wide for its lack of moral restraint and
non-virtuous nature. As with most sea ports, this seems to be a constant
association, then throw in the temple of Aphrodite, and the wealth found
here and you have a perfect cocktail of moral and traditional decadence. The
word, “Korinthiazesthai” became a
word used in the Greek language to describe drunken immoral debauchery. In
addition, to call a woman a, “Corinthian woman or lass”, was to impugn her
morals (in a far more vulgar application). We will actually speak more about
this as we look into Paul’s dealings in this city.
The
city was additionally famous for a series of athletic games held in
honor to Poseidon (the Isthmian Games), these games were secondary only to
the Olympics.
Bema
“Paul spent
18 months in the city before the Jews of the city charged him with breaking
the law and brought him before Gallio at the city's place of judgment
(bema). The mention of Gallio provides an anchor for New Testament
chronology as we know from Roman sources that Gallio was proconsul of Achaia
from June 51 to May 52. Standing on this platform, the proconsul dismissed
the charges against Paul as a dispute of Jewish law and not of a criminal
nature.”
http://www.bibleplaces.com/corinth.htm
Agora
“In Corinth
Paul met Aquila and Priscilla, Jews recently expelled by Emperor Claudius
from Rome. The three of these were tentmakers (or leather workers) and
may have had their place of business in the city's commercial marketplace
(agora). This would have afforded Paul numerous occasions to speak
with customers and passers-by of the resurrection of Christ. Acts
notes that Paul spent each Shabbat trying to persuade Jews and Greeks.”
http://www.bibleplaces.com/corinth.htm
Next: “Preaching in Corinth!”