November 14

Acts 18: 1-11

1 After this Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. 2 There he found a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had ordered all Jews to leave Rome. Paul went to see them, 3 and, because he was of the same trade, he stayed with them, and they worked together-- by trade they were tentmakers. 4 Every sabbath he would argue in the synagogue and would try to convince Jews and Greeks. 5 When Silas and Timothy arrived from Macedonia, Paul was occupied with proclaiming the word, testifying to the Jews that the Messiah was Jesus. 6 When they opposed and reviled him, in protest he shook the dust from his clothes and said to them, "Your blood be on your own heads! I am innocent. From now on I will go to the Gentiles." 7 Then he left the synagogue 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 official of the synagogue, became a believer in the Lord, together with all his household; and many of the Corinthians who heard Paul became believers and were baptized. 9 One night the Lord said to Paul in a vision, "Do not be afraid, but speak and do not be silent; 10 for I am with you, and no one will lay a hand on you to harm you, for there are many in this city who are my people." 11 He stayed there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.

The Church in Corinth begins as others before it. Paul goes to the synagogue and argues that Jesus is the Messiah. Paul does have a sense that the Jews should hear this word first. With the rejection of this word, Paul shakes the dust off his clothes and moves on to proclamation to the Gentiles.

Paul has an extended stay in Corinth. His relationship with this church is strong. The congregation is made up of Jews, Aquila and Priscilla, and Gentiles, Crispus and Titius Justus. It is a church that will occupy much of Paul’s time in the future. The work here begins with personal and religious ties and extends into the whole community.

Even in the face of opposition, Paul is assured that this is God’s work. He is not alone, he is supported by those who believe, but more importantly by the one is really at work. God is calling God’s people to faith.

Reflection questions:
1. Paul finds fellow Aquila and Priscilla, fellow tentmakers. This relationship will follow him beyond Corinth. How do we find fellow believers in our vocations?
2. How does the presence of God and God’s command to witness give comfort when we are opposed for our witness?
3. Are we open to sharing the gospel to those outside our community when our friends or neighbors reject it?