Acts 18:1-11

1 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.

Questions to consider:

• How does God lead Paul in Corinth with regard to housing, activity, and length of stay?
• What does this teach you about God? About Paul? Do you seek God’s guidance in these
areas?
• What significant change in strategy does Paul make when the Jews of the synagogue
oppose his message?
• Have you experienced God’s protection from opposition? In what ways?

Possibilities for prayer:

It is inevitably discouraging when something you are really excited about is rejected by the people around you. Paul definitely experienced this a lot in his sharing the Gospel in various places. But God has a way of encouraging Paul in his work--after being rejected, and entire household comes to God, and God even spoke to Paul in a vision about this specific issue. Today, let’s pray that God would be encouraging us in very tangible ways about the good things we’re doing for the kingdom. We can also pray that God might use you to be an encouragement to someone else.