October 28 Daily Devotional

Acts 18

“After these things Paul departed from Athens, and came to Corinth; and found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, lately come from Italy, with his wife Priscilla … and came unto them. And because he was of the same craft, he abode with them and wrought: for by their occupation they were tentmakers. And he reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath day, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks.” After a time Silas and Timothy came from Thessalonica to meet Paul. They brought word to him about the church in that city and also about some questions that troubled the believers. To answer these questions Paul at about this time wrote two letters to the Thessalonians, namely the first and the second Epistle to the Thessalonians.

“Paul was pressed in the spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus was 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. And he departed thence and entered into a certain man’s house, named Justus, one that worshipped God.” There the preaching was continued. And many of the Corinthians believed and were baptized; among them Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, who believed on the Lord with all his house. “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.”

“And when Gallio was the deputy of Achaia, the Jews made insurrection with one accord against Paul, and brought him to the judgment seat, saying, This fellow persuadeth men to worship God contrary to the law. And when Paul was now about to open his mouth, Gallio said unto the Jews, If it were a matter of wrong or wicked lewdness, O ye Jews, reason would that I should bear with you: but if it be a question of words and names, and of your law, look ye to it; for I will be no judge of such matters. And he drove them from the judgment seat. Then all the Greeks took Sosthenes, the chief ruler of the synagogue, and beat him.”

Paul stayed at Corinth a year and six months, teaching the word of God. “Then he took leave of the brethren; and sailed thence into Syria, and with him Aquila and Priscilla.” And he came to Ephesus, and entered unto the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews. When they asked him to tarry a longer time with them, he consented not, “but bade them farewell, saying, I must by all means keep this feast that cometh in Jerusalem; but I will return unto you, if God will.” And he sailed from Ephesus and landed at Caesarea. From there he went up to Jerusalem to salute the mother church. Then he came back to Antioch.