Acts 18:1

Sunday, 25 June 2023

 

After these things Paul departed from Athens and went to Corinth. Acts 18:1

 

Note: The order of the words in the NKJV doesn’t follow the Greek. It should read, “And after these things, Paul having departed from Athens came to Corinth” (CG).

 

Paul has spoken at the Areopagus and a few converts were noted from his time there. Now, with that complete, Chapter 18 begins with, “And after these things.”

 

With his efforts complete, a new direction will now take place. Nothing is said of the length of time he was in Athens, but whenever it was time to move on, Luke next records, “Paul having departed from Athens came to Corinth.”

 

Depending on where he started from and arrived at, it was about fifty miles by land. Thus, it would take about two days to make the trip. If he sailed, it would have been a day’s journey. At the time of Paul, it was a Roman colony. There was a synagogue there and it was a city of great commerce. Verse 18:11 says that Paul stayed in this new location for a year and a half. Of the city, Albert Barnes states the following –

 

“Corinth was the capital of Achaia, called anciently Ephyra, and was seated on the isthmus which divides the Peloponnesus from Attica. The city itself stood on a little island; it had two ports, Lecheeum on the west, and Cenchrea on the east. It was one of the most populous and wealthy cities of Greece, and at the same time one of the most luxurious, effeminate, ostentatious, and dissolute. Lasciviousness here was not only practiced and allowed, but was consecrated by the worship of Venus; and no small part of the wealth and splendor of the city arose from the offerings made by licentious passion in the very temples of this goddess. No city of ancient times was more profligate. It was the Paris of antiquity; the seat of splendor, and show, and corruption. Yet even here, notwithstanding all the disadvantages of splendor, gaiety, and dissoluteness, Paul entered on the work of rearing a church; and here he was eminently successful. The two epistles which he afterward wrote to this church show the extent of his success; and the well-known character and propensities of the people will account for the general drift of the admonitions and arguments in those epistles. Corinth was destroyed by the Romans 146 years before Christ; and during the conflagration several metals in a fused state, running together, produced the composition known as Corinthian brass. It was afterward restored by Julius Caesar, who planted in it a Roman colony. It soon regained its ancient splendor, and relapsed into its former dissipation and licentiousness. Paul arrived there in 52 or 53 ad.”

 

As noted by Barnes, the church at Corinth will be the recipient of two epistles. The state of the city reflects the state of the church that sprang from it. There were many problems that had to be addressed and corrected, but Paul’s love for those at Corinth is perfectly evident in his words to them.

 

Life application: Paul tirelessly moved from one place to the next, understanding where he was needed or when he had accomplished his mission. For whatever reason, his time in Athens was short. On the other hand, he will spend a considerable time in Corinth. We may not leave our own area for evangelizing, but we can still look for opportunities in our area that will be fruitful. However, there is also nothing wrong with consistency.

 

Just because there is not a lot of fruit evident in a particular area, it does not mean you are not having an effect. Faithfully showing up on a regular schedule brings a familiarity of your face to those you interact with. Eventually, they are going to have the troubles and trials that all people run into. At those times, they are more likely to reach out for advice or help. This can take many months or even years, but it is likely to come.

 

From there, and depending on how things turn out, others will see the outcome and the ball can begin to roll. Growth in converts can increase quickly at such times. But it took faithful consistency for it to come about. If you are looking to minister to others, talk to the Lord about your efforts and ask Him to direct you. Be patient and yet be forward enough to ensure those you encounter are aware of why you are doing the things you are doing.

 

Nothing you do for the Lord will go unrewarded by Him. So just keep at it, remembering that if you are doing what He would expect of you, that He is pleased with your efforts.

 

Lord God, sometimes it may seem like our wheels are spinning and we are not getting any traction in our spiritual life. But if we are pursuing You and doing what You would approve of, then it must be acceptable to You. And so, Lord, help us to contentedly press on with our efforts. Direct our steps according to Your wisdom and be glorified in how we serve You. Amen.