Acts: Go & Be Chapters 10-18Sample

What is this passage saying?

Paul is in Corinth, like Philippi and Thessalonica, we know Paul will write letter to believers in these cities. On this journey in Corinth Paul meets Aquilla and Pricilla, they were Jews banished from Rome by the order of Claudius. We find out in this passage that Paul was a tent maker, he stays with Aquilla and Pricilla and the three work together. His work did not affect his calling to share the Gospel. Paul faithfully went to the Synagogue every Sabbath to reason with the Jews. As we have learned from the past chapters, there will be Jews who strongly oppose. Paul shakes off his coat and tells them, “Your blood be on your own heads! I am innocent.”. Their rejection of Jesus was completely on them. So, Paul went and shared the Gospel with the Gentiles. The next few verses tell us that there were already worshippers of God in Corinth. One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision encouraging him to keep speaking with boldness assuring him that no one is going to hurt him, for the Lord had many people in the city. In the book of Acts we begin by following the life of Peter and then transition to following the life of Paul. But we can’t forget that God was doing work in other people’s life. The God of the universe was not stuck in one place, He is omnipresent, His works were happening all over. In the days following this word from the Lord the Jews took Paul to local judge to have him tried. Since this was a religious matter Gallio, the proconsul had no interest in the whole thing. Paul was safe in the will of God- the Lord had spoken, no one was going to harm him.

What is this passage teaching?

In this passage we get to see all the ways God is working everything together. Paul had complete assurance that he was in the will of God. The Lord had placed believers all around him to minister to him. Paul happens to meet Jews from Rome who had the same trade as him. The house next to the synagogue was owned by a worshiper of God named Titus Justus, Paul was able to stay with him. The ruler of the synagogue, Crispus, believed in the Lord as well as his whole household. Then in God’s kindness He speaks to Paul to encourage Him. The Lord is not only using Paul mightily, but He is also ministering to Paul in beautifully personal ways. The Lord is not just working in Paul’s life during these moments in history, He is also working in the life of every believer on earth at that time. Which He is still doing today, He is ministering you to and to every believer on earth. He has done this throughout all of time. His omnipresence is astounding. We can’t even comprehend the magnitude of our God. Be confident O Christian, your God is in control, nothing is out of his sight.

How do I respond?

Ask the Lord to help you see His hand in everything. He has not stopped providing for you, make sure that you don’t miss it.