CHRIST PREACHED IN CORINTH

Acts 18:1-4 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; (because that Claudius had commanded all Jews to depart from Rome:) 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, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks.

Without much success, and without establishing a church of Christ in the city of Athens, Paul realized the futility of its people receiving the gospel message of salvation through Christ Jesus. Therefore, he departed and traveled about 45 miles eastward and came to Corinth. This city was the capital of Achaia and was uniquely and conveniently situated on a narrow isthmus with commercial seaport access to both the Ionian as well as the Aegean Seas. At this time Corinth was a thriving city noted for its commerce and wealth. Its population was primarily given to the idolatrous worship of Venus, the proclaimed goddess of spring and of beauty. It is said that the city had a large pagan temple in which Venus was worshipped and it was filled with thousands of courtesans promoting acts of prostitution. This idolatrous worship was totally given to lewd, shameful, and unrestrained sinful behavior. In few words, the majority of people that inhabited Corinth were openly living a life founded on, and controlled by, the vices of sensuality and licentiousness.

Under these circumstances, and if he were directing his own steps, Corinth would seem to be the last place the apostle Paul would have traveled to find people openly receptive to the gospel message of salvation through Christ Jesus. However, he was providentially directed into this city and there found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, a large district in northern Asia Minor, which historically was inhabited by many displaced Jews. Although Aquila was born here, he had lately come from Italy, with his wife Priscilla, because that Claudius had commanded all Jews to depart from Rome. By his decree, the Emperor Claudius banished all Jews from Rome. More than likely this was because, as history tells us, Jewish leaders were responsible for religious insurrections within the city.

Paul, having found Aquila and Priscilla, came unto them. And because he was of the same craft, he abode with them, and wrought: for by their occupation they were tentmakers. The trade that Paul more than likely learned during his young adulthood in Tarsus was tent making. Although various individuals and congregations supported him during his ministry, on many occasions, and probably by his learned craft, Paul supported himself rather than being burdensome to his fellow Christians (See Acts 20:34; 1 Thess. 2:9; 2 Thess. 3:8; 1 Cor. 4:12). Having the same occupation as Aquila and Priscilla, Paul developed a close relationship and abode with them in Corinth for a period of time. And while there, he reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks. The following verse tells us that Paul, being led by the Holy Spirit of God, preached to them that Jesus Christ was the Messiah, the Son of God, the risen Savior, and that He came to fulfill the promises of Old Testament prophets. No doubt his message was similar to the one he preached in Thessalonica (Acts 17:2-3). The following verse also tells us that Silas and Timothy, having remained in the city of Berea for a period of time, rejoined Paul in Corinth and resumed their roles as his fellow servants of Jesus Christ.

The Jews of Corinth completely rejected Paul's preaching; they vehemently opposed his message of salvation through Jesus, and considered it to be blasphemous against their Mosaic doctrine. Because of their opposition, Paul shook his raiment - that is, due to their unrepentant rejection, Paul also rejected them for as long as they continued to demonstrate their opposition to his Holy Spirit-inspired teaching of God's word. He then said unto them, Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean: from henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles (Vs. 6). Obedient to the Lord's command (Matt. 10:6), Paul, as was his custom (Rom. 1:16), first offered God's plan of salvation to the Jewish nation, and afterwards turned to the Gentiles. The lesson that Paul brought to the Roman Christians certainly applies to those of Corinth to whom Paul preached on this occasion: For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon Him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved (Rom. 10:12-13). Thus, Paul continued preaching Jesus Christ to all in Corinth.