Acts: To The Ends Of The EarthSample

The gospel is "boxing above its weight." So far, it has won converts in four European cities, but now it comes to Corinth, the toughest of them all.

Corinth was located between two harbours and was renowned as a place of prosperity and wickedness.

Again, the Jews oppose Paul (v. 13). In response, Paul shakes the dust off his feet as a sign of God’s judgement on their hardness of heart (v. 6). The missionaries leave the synagogue, and yet the gospel is still effective (vv. 7–8).

In each city where there is opposition, the opposition is used by God to open up new areas of endeavour. The missionaries left Philippi, came to Thessalonica, were sent to Berea, escorted to Athens, and then went out of the synagogue in Corinth into the house of Titius Justus (v. 7). God uses the bad as well as the glad to see His purposes fulfilled.

What keeps the missionaries going in the face of such opposition? Paul was not a loner—he had meaningful and supportive friendships (vv. 1–4). Paul was sustained by the timely arrival of Silas and Timothy and the good news they brought with them (v. 5; see also 1 Thess. 3:6). A direct word comes to Paul from God (vv. 9–10)—he is not to be anxious or silent, for God has His elect and will call them out through Paul’s ministry.

Ministry is always a battle, but there will be a Lydia, a jailer, a Dionysius, Damaris, Jason (see Acts 17:5–9), and many others to encourage us along the way. God’s message is unstoppable. He buries His messengers, never His message.

Paul’s ministry was persuasive (Acts 17:4; 18:4) and he keeps persuading, right to the end (Acts 28:23–24). The fact of God’s sovereign control in the face of fierce opposition means that Paul never backs off in his ministry. Even in his trial before Festus and King Agrippa, Agrippa says to Paul, "Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?" (Acts 26:28).

Paul persuades as long as he has breath.

Reflection

What special promise of God encouraged Paul (vv. 9–10)? How does this word encourage you? Identify how each hindrance of the gospel recorded in these chapters opens up new opportunities for ministry. What does this teach you about God?