David Bahn – Reflections

Acts 18:1-15

After this, Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. ² There he met a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had ordered all Jews to leave Rome. Paul went to see them, ³ and because he was a tentmaker as they were, he stayed and worked with them. ⁴ Every Sabbath he reasoned in the synagogue, trying to persuade Jews and Greeks.

⁵ When Silas and Timothy came from Macedonia, Paul devoted himself exclusively to preaching, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Messiah. ⁶ But when they opposed Paul and became abusive,he shook out his clothes in protest and said to them, “Your blood be on your own heads! I am innocent of it. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.”

⁷ Then Paul left the synagogue and went next door to the house of Titius Justus, a worshiper of God. ⁸ Crispus, the synagogue leader, and his entire household believed in the Lord; and many of the Corinthians who heard Paul believed and were baptized.

⁹ One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: “Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. ¹⁰ For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city.” ¹¹ So Paul stayed in Corinth for a year and a half, teaching them the word of God.

¹² While Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews of Corinth made a united attack on Paul and brought him to the place of judgment. ¹³ “This man,” they charged, “is persuading the people to worship God in ways contrary to the law.”

¹⁴ Just as Paul was about to speak, Gallio said to them, “If you Jews were making a complaint about some misdemeanor or serious crime, it would be reasonable for me to listen to you. ¹⁵ But since it involves questions about words and names and your own law—settle the matter yourselves. I will not be a judge of such things.”

“Do you really think that’s enough?” I asked this question to a hospitalized man in Cheynne, Wyoming many years ago. He started to cry. He knew it wasn’t enough. He had lived an exemplary life, was a state leader, and very committed to the wellbeing of many of the people of the state. But I asked the question of him when he had laid out his reasons for going to heaven when he died – something that was soon to happen. He knew he had not done enough to earn God’s favor. He needed God’s grace and mercy. He needed Jesus.

Fools rush in where angels fear to tread. And sure enough I rushed in to question this man because I was really unaware of just who he was. Had I known, I might not have pushed as I did. I was more brave than I realized.

I want to draw very few parallels between St. Paul and myself. He functioned in a totally other level of Christian faithfulness than I do. But in this case I wonder whether Paul and I are closer in the our awareness of our need for courage than we both realize.

I say this because of the ominous warning or encouragement God gives Paul when he’s in Corinth: “Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city.” (Acts 18:9-10)

If I had received that encouragement , I might have wondered just why God thought I might need it. Paul likely did too. Perhaps he knew that he had many days of hardships and challenges before him.

You and I would do well to remember this and similar encouragements from God. We may not have to face stonings, beatings, or imprisonments as did Paul. But there will surely come times when we will need to be courageous. Knowing God’s word, and remembering God’s promises, is key to standing against the threats that Satan slings at us – however they may come our way.