Acts - Week 59

Week 59 Acts 18 

Day 1 

READ 

Acts 18:7-8 

7 Then he left and went to the home of Titius Justus, a Gentile who worshiped God and lived next door to the synagogue. 8 Crispus, the leader of the synagogue, and everyone in his household believed in the Lord. Many others in Corinth also heard Paul, became believers, and were baptized. 

After Paul’s message was rejected in the synagogue, he went to the home of Titius Justus, a Gentile who worshiped God. He lived next door to the synagogue. Paul’s message had effect in the synagogue even though most rejected it. The leader of the synagogue believed in Jesus as well as his household. Plus, others in Corinth heard the gospel and also trusted in Jesus and were baptized.  

REFLECT 

Let this be encouraging to you to realize that others hearing the gospel may believe in Jesus even though it is not known to you at the time. As you are sharing the gospel with one person, a listener may be the one who turns to Jesus. 

RESPOND 

Talk with your disciple about this passage. Encourage each other to know that by sharing the gospel with an individual some listener may be the one who turns to Jesus. One way to witness is also to ask someone if you could say what you had told an individual about being ready to enter eternity. This gets the message across in a less direct manner. 

Day 2 

READ 

Acts 18:9-11 

9 One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision and told him, “Don’t be afraid! Speak out! Don’t be silent! 10 For I am with you, and no one will attack and harm you, for many people in this city belong to me.” 11 So Paul stayed there for the next year and a half, teaching the word of God. 

This gives the background for Paul’s ministry in Corinth for the next year and a half. God enabled Paul to know there were many in Corinth who would receive the gospel message and believe in Jesus. His vision encouraged him to be unafraid and to boldly speak out. He was even assured that no one would attack him. After what he had been through previously, these must have been encouraging words for Paul to hear. 

REFLECT 

How would you have liked to be living in Corinth during these 18 months while the apostle Paul was ministering there? What questions would you have asked him? 

RESPOND 

Two passages can be helpful to you and your disciple about the command and need to share the gospel with others. Read Matthew 28:18-20 and 2 Corinthians 5:17-19. You have the ministry of reconciling others to God. 

Day 3 

READ 

Acts 18:12-13 

12 But when Gallio became governor of Achaia, some Jews rose up together against Paul and brought him before the governor for judgment. 13 They accused Paul of “persuading people to worship God in ways that are contrary to our law.” 

This passage tells of religious people wanting a government official to get involved. Gallio was concerned about Roman law but these Jews brought before him spiritual differences they had with Paul’s teaching. Today there are also government officials who are asked to settle spiritual debates. It will be interesting to see how this turns out in the first century. 

REFLECT 

Think of some occasions when spiritual matters are brought before government officials. Has the result turned out well? 

RESPOND 

Talk with your disciple about the problems that can be involved when government officials seek to solve spiritual debates.  

Day 4 

READ 

Acts 18:14-16 

14 But just as Paul started to make his defense, Gallio turned to Paul’s accusers and said, “Listen, you Jews, if this were a case involving some wrongdoing or a serious crime, I would have a reason to accept your case. 15 But since it is merely a question of words and names and your Jewish law, take care of it yourselves. I refuse to judge such matters.” 16 And he threw them out of the courtroom. 

Gallio, the government official, cut off the Jewish accusers of Paul and threw them out of the court.  As a Roman official he made it clear he was not the one to settle spiritual debates. He told them to settle those themselves. Some think Gallio was wrong to do this; others think he was distinguishing correctly between church and state. Wherever you live; this can be a problem. 

REFLECT 

Do you think Gallio was wrong in refusing to settle a debate over spiritual matters? Why should he have done otherwise? 

RESPOND 

Romans 13:1-5 encourages believers to submit to the government. Acts 4:16-20, however, reveals the civil disobedience believers should have when the government oversteps its authority and asks them to do something contrary to what God wants.  

Day 5 

READ 

Acts 18:17 

17 The crowd then grabbed Sosthenes, the leader of the synagogue, and beat him right there in the courtroom. But Gallio paid no attention. 

Perhaps Sosthenes became the ruler of the synagogue after Crispus trusted in Jesus as Savior. The beating he received indicates the anti-Semitism that existed in Corinth; plus, the opposition to Paul’s gospel of salvation by grace through faith in Jesus. Because this was a conflict over spiritual matters, Gallio remained consistent and paid no attention to it.  

REFLECT 

Do you know of those who have animosity toward a particular ethnic group? Be sure you follow Jesus command to love others as He has loved you. 

RESPOND 

Read John 13:33-35 to see Jesus’ command to love others. Notice what such love will prove to a watching world.