 |
| And the LIGHT drove out the darkness… |
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.
Acts 18:6
The
life of the Apostle Paul casts a long shadow of contradiction in the sense of
human reason, and of grace in the eyes of God and the Church. Who would ever
have believed that this man who had savagely persecuted the Church would become
one of its most prodigious ministers and defenders. His calling was one of
extraordinary wonder having been struck down on the Road to Damascus while
enroute to cause much pain and suffering to the Church there. It was the Lord
Jesus Christ in His first post Ascension appearance that apprehended and
brought Saul (Paul) to his knees in desperation. Paul is a highly educated member
of the Jewish tradition, having been under the tutelage of the wise Gamaliel.
Though responsible for the deaths of many Christians, he yet believes himself
to be doing God a service. But that line of thought perished in an instant when
Paul was blinded by the Light of Christ.
Many who first come as catechists, or new converts, are blinded at the first
moment they suddenly realize the depth of their salvation in Christ. They will
need to be led by more mature Christians in the Way, the Truth, and the Life
since no beginner is fully aware of the fullness of the Gospel at first light.
Paul preaches first to the Jews with only marginal success. He is rejected by
them just as was our Lord. So he is compelled to follow precisely God's plan
for him from the same event of the experience on that Road to Damascus.
How often do new Christians begin with fire and bluster in the wrong direction,
and are set anew on the road that God had intended all along. The One who
officiates over the affairs of men KNOWS all. So Paul will now concentrate on
the greater Gentile Church. Perhaps even Paul did not know that he was simply
being directed by that Providential and unseen Hand from on High. It will
happen again to Paul after he has preached far and wide to the Gentile churches
and is then forced to go to Rome as a prisoner. Why? I believe that once Paul
has planted the Gospel Seed so prolifically and widely, God now desires Paul to
be still in a prisoner role and write those wonderful and inspired Epistles to
the churches so that we, too, could benefit in our own day. So as a prisoner
later at Rome, Paul was led by the Holy Spirit to become the Lord's Scribe. Let
us observe the moment of Paul's change in emphasis:
1 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. 4 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. 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. 7 And he
departed thence, and entered into a certain man's house, named Justus, one that
worshipped God, whose house joined hard to the synagogue. 8 And
Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his
house; and many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized. 9 Then
spake the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision, Be
not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace: 10 For I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt
thee: for I have much people in this city. 11 And
he continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them. (Acts 18:1-11)
After
these things Paul departed from Athens, and came to Corinth. The
greatest obstacle to Paul’s teaching thus far has been the very people who
should have been the most receptive – the Jews. Having received the Law and the
Prophets from old times, instead of having a greater propensity for Light, they
were jaded and intolerant of truth. They rejected the Gospel and attempted to
prevent others from receiving it. If one class will not hear and receive, we
must go to others who will and, so, Paul will go to the Gentiles almost
exclusively.
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. Those Jews who did
receive the Gospel had a fuller understanding of the fullness thereof. Such is
the case with Aquila and Priscilla. They had left Rome at the
order of Claudius Caesar. It seems that the Jews had been only a burden to Rome
as well as to the Gospel. Even Caesar expels them!
Paul took particular care not to
give any reason for offense to those who would receive the Gospel. He worked at
his trade as a tentmaker to defray his expenses as well as charges that he was
after filthy lucre. And because he was of the same craft, he abode
with them, and wrought: for by their occupation they were tentmakers.
There is never dishonor in honest labor. When circumstances permit, the
minister of God must take as little of the church treasure as possible to live.
Work is honorable.
And he
reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks. It
seems that the Gentiles, generally speaking, were always more receptive to Paul’s
preaching than the Jewish populations; however, his use of the synagogue
suggests that these Corinthian Jews were far less opposed to it than others.
And
when Silas and Timotheus were come from Macedonia, Paul was pressed in the
spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus was Christ. These
two had come from Thessalonica to assist and encourage Paul in the work. Being
rejected by both Jew and Gentile at Athens, Paul is heavily burdened in his
heart to speak out boldly to the Jews regarding Jesus as their long-awaited
Messiah (Christ).
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.
Anyone who fails to accept the Gospel when it is preached is in open opposition
of his own soul. Those who have vacant hearts enough to reject the Gospel will
neither suffer any compunction at blaspheming its Author. The Word of God is a
two-edged Sword. It cuts in both directions. It may either convict the sinner’s
heart, or it may finally condemn him to an eternity of separation from God. The
minister’s role is to preach the fullness of the Gospel. We are not to dwell on
the failure of all hearers to openly receive it. We sow the seed, and the Holy
Spirit will nurture the seed in the darkness of the heart (soil). If we do our
full duty as ministers of Christ, no sinner will have the benefit of claiming
to have never heard the Gospel preached. Once having heard the Gospel, the
sinner is now responsible for his response to it. Then whosoever heareth the
sound of the trumpet, and taketh not warning; if the sword come, and take him
away, his blood shall be upon his own head. Nevertheless, if thou
warn the wicked of his way to turn from it; if he do not turn from his way, he
shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul. (Ezek 33:4, 9) So Paul leaves off centering his
preaching of the Jews and now focuses his greatest effort on the Gentiles.
And he
departed thence, and entered into a certain man's house, named Justus, one that
worshipped God, whose house joined hard to the synagogue. Paul
did not depart, as may be presumed, from the house of Aquila and Priscilla,
but, instead, removed his preaching from the synagogue to the house of Justus.
This house was conveniently positioned next to the synagogue which would afford
further opportunity to those who were inclined of the synagogue to attend his
preaching. Though the Jews and strangers may reject the Gospel, it may
nonetheless be made available for their hearing if the Holy Spirit so draws
them.
And
Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his
house; and many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized. It
was not the custom of Paul to engage in many baptisms but apparently left this
function to the ministers arising in the congregations, however, the conversion
of Crispus was of such import that Paul made an exception and did, indeed,
baptize this chief ruler of the synagogue. Again, we find a suggestion of the
covenantal nature of baptism in that Crispus and his whole house believed
and was baptized. As oft as this is mentioned in the New Testament,
it is obvious that, at some, point, the whole household must necessarily
include the very young.
For a man whose career of
persecution of the Church had ended on a stony road to Damascus, Paul has moved
a great distance into the particular favor of the Lord. His appearance to him
on that road, as well as the other appearances or counsels, demonstrate that we
may all be called and chosen of God from diverse backgrounds that may even
include the darkest of sins. Then spake the Lord to Paul in the night
by a vision, Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not
thy peace: For I am with thee, and no
man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city.
The Hand of God is not excluded from any conditions of man. Here, the Lord
counsels Paul to speak with great courage and fear not to speak the whole
Gospel with boldness for He is with him and will protect him. The Lord, as a
good shepherd, knows His Sheep. He has many of whom Paul may not be aware in
Corinth. As a matter of fact, there are many today who have yet to become of
aware of their calling and election in Christ. It is for this reason that we
must not lose heart or confidence in the salvation of any child of Adam. God
knows His chosen from those who will perish, and He has a time and a place for
them on the Damascus Road. Those much people
in this city were likely unaware of their calling in God at the
moment, but God knew of it!
And
he continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them. Such
a sojourn was no doubt necessary to insure that all of the elect of God of the
city would hear and know the Gospel. Though there were doubtless daily threats
against Paul in Corinth from the Jews, he nevertheless had faith in the counsel
of the Lord and took no care for his safety. We may also learn a lesson in our
ministries from Paul. Even though the whole church may seemingly try to close
our mouths from speaking exceptional features of the Gospel, we must preach
with courage and cast all caution to the wind. Let God be true and every
man a liar! (Romans 3:4)
