Corinth - Paul’s Ministry to Kings, Jews & Gentiles

“Believe” in Acts: Part 18 - Corinth - Paul’s Ministry to Kings, Jews & Gentiles:

Upon arrival in Corinth from Athens, Paul met a Jew named Aquila and his wife Priscilla. Aquila was born in Pontus, which is an area along the south coast of what is now the Black Sea, where many Jews took up residency when Israel was driven from their land in the dispersion. (Acts 2:88 And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?

indicates there were Jews from Pontus in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost and Peter writes to Jews scattered throughout Pontus and other countries, 1 Peter 1:11 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,

.) Aquila and Priscilla had been forced to leave Rome when Caesar Claudius ordered all Jews out. They were tentmakers like Paul and he took up residence with them, Acts 18:1 - 31 After these things Paul departed from Athens, and came to Corinth;

2 And found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, lately come from Italy, with his wife Priscilla; (because that Claudius had commanded all Jews to depart from Rome:) and came unto them.

3 And because he was of the same craft, he abode with them, and wrought: for by their occupation they were tentmakers.

. (According to commentaries, Claudius’ edict was issued around A.D. 52 in consequence either of disturbances caused by Jews in Rome, or of Judaea itself being almost in a state of rebellion.) Aquila and Priscilla’s names appear six times in the NT; three in Acts, Acts 18:22 And found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, lately come from Italy, with his wife Priscilla; (because that Claudius had commanded all Jews to depart from Rome:) and came unto them.

, Acts 18:1818 And Paul after this tarried there yet a good while, and then took his leave of the brethren, and sailed thence into Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila; having shorn his head in Cenchrea: for he had a vow.

, and Acts 18:2626 And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly.

, and once each in Romans 16:33 Greet Priscilla and Aquila my helpers in Christ Jesus:

, 1 Corinthians 16:1919 The churches of Asia salute you. Aquila and Priscilla salute you much in the Lord, with the church that is in their house.

and 2 Timothy 4:1919 Salute Prisca and Aquila, and the household of Onesiphorus.

. There is no mention when they came to believe Paul’s Gospel, which may have been in response to his preaching in Corinth but they were obviously believers according to the passages just mentioned. They are always mentioned together, and we know we will meet them along with Paul when we are taken up to Heaven when the Lord comes for His Church, The Body of Christ.

When Paul first arrived in Corinth, he attended the Synagogue every Sabbath, teaching both Jews and Gentiles. He had left Silas and Timothy in Berea some time before, Acts 17:1414 And then immediately the brethren sent away Paul to go as it were to the sea: but Silas and Timotheus abode there still.

and then sent for them when he was in Athens, Acts 17:1515 And they that conducted Paul brought him unto Athens: and receiving a commandment unto Silas and Timotheus for to come to him with all speed, they departed.

. They caught up to him in Corinth where we read that Paul was pressed to earnestly testify to the Jews that Jesus was the promised Messiah, Acts 18:4 & 54 And he reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks.

5 And when Silas and Timotheus were come from Macedonia, Paul was pressed in the spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus was Christ.

. Most Jews at that time followed the Law of Moses but did not believe Jesus was their Messiah. Paul loved them, as he later wrote the Romans: “That I (Paul) have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart. For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh:” Romans 9:2 & 32 That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart.

3 For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh:

2 That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart.

3 For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh:

and “Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.” Romans 10:1 - 41 Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.

2 For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.

3 For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.

4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.

1 Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.

2 For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.

3 For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.

4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.

. Christ was and still is a stumbling block to the Jews, 1 Corinthians 1:2323 But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;

, and in Corinth they resisted Paul’s message and spoke evil and reviled it, so Paul told them “Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean: from henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles.” Acts 18:66 And when they opposed themselves, and blasphemed, he shook his raiment, and said unto them, Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean; from henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles.

6 And when they opposed themselves, and blasphemed, he shook his raiment, and said unto them, Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean; from henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles.

.

We are reminded here that when the Lord Jesus Christ saved Paul on the road to Damascus, He told him He was send to Gentiles, Kings and the Jews, Acts 9:1515 But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:

; Acts 22:1 - 161 Men, brethren, and fathers, hear ye my defence which I make now unto you.

2 (And when they heard that he spake in the Hebrew tongue to them, they kept the more silence: and he saith,)

3 I am verily a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God, as ye all are this day.

4 And I persecuted this way unto the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women.

5 As also the high priest doth bear me witness, and all the estate of the elders: from whom also I received letters unto the brethren, and went to Damascus, to bring them which were there bound unto Jerusalem, for to be punished.

6 And it came to pass, that, as I made my journey, and was come nigh unto Damascus about noon, suddenly there shone from heaven a great light round about me.

7 And I fell unto the ground, and heard a voice saying unto me, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?

8 And I answered, Who art thou, Lord? And he said unto me, I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest.

9 And they that were with me saw indeed the light, and were afraid; but they heard not the voice of him that spake to me.

10 And I said, What shall I do, LORD? And the Lord said unto me, Arise, and go into Damascus; and there it shall be told thee of all things which are appointed for thee to do.

11 And when I could not see for the glory of that light, being led by the hand of them that were with me, I came into Damascus.

12 And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good report of all the Jews which dwelt there,

13 Came unto me, and stood, and said unto me, Brother Saul, receive thy sight. And the same hour I looked up upon him.

14 And he said, The God of our fathers hath chosen thee, that thou shouldest know his will, and see that Just One, and shouldest hear the voice of his mouth.

15 For thou shalt be his witness unto all men of what thou hast seen and heard.

16 And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.

; Acts 26:12 - 1912 Whereupon as I went to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests,

13 At midday, O king, I saw in the way a light from heaven, above the brightness of the sun, shining round about me and them which journeyed with me.

14 And when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking unto me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.

15 And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest.

16 But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee;

17 Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee,

18 To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.

19 Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision:

. The book of Acts records Paul’s fulfillment of that mission; testifying to Kings - three of them while in Roman custody in Caesarea; 1) to Felix, Acts 24:1 - 251 And after five days Ananias the high priest descended with the elders, and with a certain orator named Tertullus, who informed the governor against Paul.

2 And when he was called forth, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying, Seeing that by thee we enjoy great quietness, and that very worthy deeds are done unto this nation by thy providence,

3 We accept it always, and in all places, most noble Felix, with all thankfulness.

4 Notwithstanding, that I be not further tedious unto thee, I pray thee that thou wouldest hear us of thy clemency a few words.

5 For we have found this man a pestilent fellow, and a mover of sedition among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes:

6 Who also hath gone about to profane the temple: whom we took, and would have judged according to our law.

7 But the chief captain Lysias came upon us, and with great violence took him away out of our hands,

8 Commanding his accusers to come unto thee: by examining of whom thyself mayest take knowledge of all these things, whereof we accuse him.

9 And the Jews also assented, saying that these things were so.

10 Then Paul, after that the governor had beckoned unto him to speak, answered, Forasmuch as I know that thou hast been of many years a judge unto this nation, I do the more cheerfully answer for myself:

11 Because that thou mayest understand, that there are yet but twelve days since I went up to Jerusalem for to worship.

12 And they neither found me in the temple disputing with any man, neither raising up the people, neither in the synagogues, nor in the city:

13 Neither can they prove the things whereof they now accuse me.

14 But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets:

15 And have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust.

16 And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void to offence toward God, and toward men.

17 Now after many years I came to bring alms to my nation, and offerings.

18 Whereupon certain Jews from Asia found me purified in the temple, neither with multitude, nor with tumult.

19 Who ought to have been here before thee, and object, if they had ought against me.

20 Or else let these same here say, if they have found any evil doing in me, while I stood before the council,

21 Except it be for this one voice, that I cried standing among them, Touching the resurrection of the dead I am called in question by you this day.

22 And when Felix heard these things, having more perfect knowledge of that way, he deferred them, and said, When Lysias the chief captain shall come down, I will know the uttermost of your matter.

23 And he commanded a centurion to keep Paul, and to let him have liberty, and that he should forbid none of his acquaintance to minister or come unto him.

24 And after certain days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, which was a Jewess, he sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith in Christ.

25 And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee.

, 2) to Festus, Acts 25:6 - 126 And when he had tarried among them more than ten days, he went down unto Caesarea; and the next day sitting on the judgment seat commanded Paul to be brought.

7 And when he was come, the Jews which came down from Jerusalem stood round about, and laid many and grievous complaints against Paul, which they could not prove.

8 While he answered for himself, Neither against the law of the Jews, neither against the temple, nor yet against Caesar, have I offended any thing at all.

9 But Festus, willing to do the Jews a pleasure, answered Paul, and said, Wilt thou go up to Jerusalem, and there be judged of these things before me?

10 Then said Paul, I stand at Caesar's judgment seat, where I ought to be judged: to the Jews have I done no wrong, as thou very well knowest.

11 For if I be an offender, or have committed any thing worthy of death, I refuse not to die: but if there be none of these things whereof these accuse me, no man may deliver me unto them. I appeal unto Caesar.

12 Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council, answered, Hast thou appealed unto Caesar? unto Caesar shalt thou go.

and 3) to King Agrippa, Acts 25:22 - 26:32. Three in Scripture is the number for Divine perfection.

As already noted, Acts records that Paul went to the Jew’s Synagogue in each town he visited but most Jews to whom he witnessed not only rejected his Gospel but persecuted him. Thus, we find three times in Acts, after Jews rejected his message, he pronounced he was turning from them and going to the Gentiles:

1. Paul told the Jews at Antioch in Pisidia they could not be justified by the Law of Moses, but only by believing the Gospel, Acts 13:3939 And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.

, and then after many Gentiles responded to Paul’s message, the Jews turned on he and Barnabas: “Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you (Jews): but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles. For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth. And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.” Acts 13:46 - 4846 Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.

47 For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth.

48 And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.

.

2. Here in Corinth, when Paul told the Jews that Jesus was their Messiah: “And when they opposed themselves, and blasphemed, he shook his raiment, and said unto them, Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean: from henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles.” Acts 18:6.

3. Later, while in Rome, Paul made the third and last proclamation about this after preaching to the leaders of the Jews in that city. He concluded: “Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it.” Acts 28:2828 Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it.

.

Here again we note that three in the Bible is the number for Divine perfection, which validates the completion of Paul’s mission to bear the Lord Jesus Christ’s name before the Jews as well as Kings. Following the book of Acts are 13 epistles Paul wrote primarily to Gentiles. Of course, there were some individual Jews who believed the Gospel of Grace Paul preached during his ministry, such as Aquila and Pricilla, just as today there are some who believe. I’ve already quoted Romans 9:2 & 3 and Romans 10:1 - 4 stating Paul’s heartfelt desire and prayer that Israel be saved. Paul explains clearly in the 9th, 10th and 11th Chapters of Romans that the promises God made to Israel as a Nation were set aside or put on hold for a period of time. That’s been almost 2000 years now during which the Church, called the Body of Christ has been filling with believers. At some future date, which only God knows, all believers for the last 2000 years will be caught up to heaven when those who are alive and remain will join the resurrected dead in Christ, 1 Thessalonians 4:13 - 5:5; 1 Corinthians 15:51 - 5851 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,

52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.

54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.

55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?

56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.

57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

.

The nation Israel has been back in a very small portion of the land God originally promised them since 1948, but they are not there because they believe The Lord Jesus Christ is their Messiah. However, after we, the Body of Christ, are taken to heaven, God will resume His prophetic program and fulfill His promises to Israel; they will endure the Great Day of the Lord, which is the judgement called the Great Tribulation. Then, it is written: “And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn. In that day shall there be a great mourning in Jerusalem, as the mourning of Hadadrimmon in the valley of Megiddon.” Zechariah 12:10 & 1110 And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.

11 In that day shall there be a great mourning in Jerusalem, as the mourning of Hadadrimmon in the valley of Megiddon.

. This prophesy was only partially fulfilled at the cross when the Jews looked upon Jesus, Who they pierced, John 19:3737 And again another scripture saith, They shall look on him whom they pierced.

. It will be fully fulfilled at a future day when all Israel (all Jews in that nation) will be filled with the Spirit of God. Then they will morn for what was done to their Messiah, Revelation 1:77 Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.

; then The Lord Jesus Christ will establish with Israel His Kingdom on earth and they will have all the land God promised them, they will live in peace and will be God’s priests to all the inhabitants on earth - Amen and Amen!