Acts 18
God places us in cities and moments where His light is already at work—we simply walk through the door.
Acts 18 portrays Paul’s extended ministry in Corinth, a cosmopolitan city of trade, culture, and entertainment. After being expelled from Rome, Priscilla and Aquila set up their tentmaking business in Corinth, where Paul joins them. Paul’s initial work in the synagogue is met with resistance, but the Lord assures him through a nighttime vision that He has many people in this city, prompting Paul to remain for 18 months. Gallio’s refusal to prosecute Paul marks a turning point: Christianity remains under the legal protection afforded to Judaism. This chapter also highlights the growing team around Paul—Priscilla, Aquila, Silas, Timothy, and Apollos—all active in spreading the gospel. Notably, both synagogue leaders in Corinth—Crispus and possibly Sosthenes—are led to faith. Apollos, a gifted speaker, receives further instruction from Priscilla and Aquila and becomes a prominent force for the gospel.
Personalized Journal Entry in the Holy Spirit's Voice Through Scripture
I sent Paul into Corinth not merely to speak but to remain—for I had many in that city marked out to hear the Word and believe. Though the voices of rejection rang loudly in the synagogue, My Word was not silenced, and I opened the heart of Crispus to believe. My servant was not alone; I provided him a house next door, a convert from the Gentiles, and support through Priscilla and Aquila, whom I sovereignly placed there before his arrival.
When Paul’s soul grew weary from the tension and rejection, I appeared to him in the night, not with rebuke but with reassurance. I told him not to be afraid and not to be silent—for I was with him. I told him that no harm would befall him until his work was done, for My presence is not only for comfort but for commissioning. He stayed, not in panic, but in peace.
The opposition rose again before the tribunal, but Gallio saw through their pretense. I turned their schemes to nothing. Even when Sosthenes was beaten, I had already prepared his heart, and he too would become a brother.
Apollos entered the scene like a torch lit with truth, yet lacking the full glow of My baptism. I led him to Priscilla and Aquila, those shaped by grace and capable of pouring wisdom gently. They refined the flame I had already kindled. And Apollos, mighty in the Scriptures, proved that the Christ had come—not with opinion, but with Scripture fulfilled.
In every town, I position My people. In every synagogue, I bring forth My own. I knit together lives—Paul, Aquila, Priscilla, Apollos, Crispus, Sosthenes—so that Christ may be proclaimed, not by one voice, but by many. I am not hindered by resistance, nor delayed by misunderstanding. I move through conversations, friendships, and hospitality, igniting hearts with truth.
Scripture references: Acts 18:1–28, 1 Corinthians 1:1, Romans 6:1–7, 2 Corinthians 11:9, Leviticus 20:9, Ezekiel 33:1–6, 1 Thessalonians 3:6, Numbers 6:1–21
Real-Life Analogy
Have you ever been in a grocery store checkout line when a stranger in front of you turns and starts chatting about something simple—a sale item, a shared frustration about waiting? It feels like a small, forgettable moment. But maybe that moment turns into something more: you mention something encouraging, and their eyes light up. That encounter wasn’t random. That was God placing you, like Paul in Corinth or Priscilla near Apollos, right where someone needed a glimpse of His presence—through you.
Prayer
Father, thank You that You always go before me. You don’t send me into places randomly but with purpose. Just as You placed Paul among friends, among opposition, and among open hearts, I trust that You are placing me in the right conversations and moments each day. I rest in the assurance that You are with me, not only for protection but for participation. May I be a living part of Your mission today, knowing You’re working in every detail. I rejoice that Your presence is not something I chase—it’s already within and around me. I simply walk forward, trusting You to draw others as You always have.
Devotional Source: Grace and Truth Study Bible, Zondervan
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