Lesson 24:Paul’s Second Missionary Journey (3):From Corinth to Antioch (18:1-22)

Overview of the Passage & Helpful Facts for Further Bible Study

A. Paul preached the gospel in Corinth for 18 months (18:1-17).1. From Athens, Paul traveled 50 miles southwest to Corinth.2. Paul met two fellow-tentmakers, Aquila & Priscilla (18:2-3).3. Paul reasoned with & testified to Jews continually (18:4-5).4. The response to the gospel was, as usual, varied (18:4, 6-8).

a) Some of the Jews opposed Paul & blasphemed his sacred message.

I.

A. When men reject the gospel, Christians are not obligated to continue preaching to them!1. When rejected, Paul [1] stopped preaching the gospel to his

rejecters, [2] shared with his rejecters that they were responsible, [3] sought fertile soil for the gospel.

2. When people reject, we can [1] stop preaching to them, [2] share with them that they are responsible, and [3] seek fertile soil/receptive hearts for the gospel.

II. Significant Truths from this Passage for Our Understanding

Overview of the Passage & Helpful Facts for Further Bible Study

A. Paul preached the gospel in Corinth for 18 months (18:1-17).1. From Athens, Paul traveled 50 miles southwest to Corinth.2. Paul met two fellow-tentmakers, Aquila & Priscilla (18:2-3). 3. Paul reasoned with & testified to Jews continually (18:4-5).4. The response to the gospel was, as usual, varied (18:4, 6-8).

a) Some of the Jews opposed Paul & blasphemed his sacred message.b) Both Jews and God-fearing Gentiles were steadily being converted.

I.

B. Being converted to Christ requires one to hear, believe and be baptized (Acts 18:8)!1. To be saved, one must hear the gospel of Christ (Rom.

10:17+14; 1 Cor. 15:1-4).2. To be saved, one must hear and believe the gospel (Rom.

10:9-10, 14, 17).3. To be saved, one must hear and believe the gospel and be

baptized (Mark. 16:16).4. God’s plan of salvation could not be any simpler to read,

understand or follow.

II. Significant Truths from this Passage for Our Understanding

Overview of the Passage & Helpful Facts for Further Bible Study

A. Paul preached the gospel in Corinth for 18 months (18:1-17).1. From Athens, Paul traveled 50 miles southwest to Corinth.2. Paul met two fellow-tentmakers, Aquila & Priscilla (18:2-3).3. Paul reasoned with & testified to Jews continually (18:4-5).4. The response to the gospel was, as usual, varied (18:4, 6-8).

a) Some of the Jews opposed Paul & blasphemed his sacred message.b) Both Jews and God-fearing Gentiles were steadily being converted.

5. Paul was reassured by the Lord to keep on keeping on (18:9-11).

I.

C. While fulfilling the Great Commission, we must not be silent, afraid or lonely!1. Circumstances (whether self-inflicted or externally-

instigated) must not influence our resolve to preach the gospel, for they do not influence our responsibility!

2. Paul was told: “Do not be afraid, do not stop speaking, do not keep silent!”

3. We have been given the same admonitions and assurances (cf. Acts 4:20; Matt. 28:19-20; Heb. 13:5-6).

II. Significant Truths from this Passage for Our Understanding

Overview of the Passage & Helpful Facts for Further Bible Study

A. Paul preached the gospel in Corinth for 18 months (18:1-17).1. From Athens, Paul traveled 50 miles southwest to Corinth.2. Paul met two fellow-tentmakers, Aquila & Priscilla (18:2-3).3. Paul reasoned with & testified to Jews continually (18:4-5).4. The response to the gospel was, as usual, varied (18:4, 6-8).

a) Some of the Jews opposed Paul & blasphemed his sacred message.b) Both Jews and God-fearing Gentiles were steadily being converted.

5. Paul was reassured by the Lord to keep on keeping on (18:9-11).

6. Jews sought to silence Paul thru legal channels (18:12-17).

I.

Overview of the Passage & Helpful Facts for Further Bible Study

B. Paul made his way back to Antioch by way of Ephesus and Jerusalem (18:18-22).1. When Paul left Corinth, Aquila and Priscilla traveled with

him (18:18).2. They sailed 250 miles east to Ephesus, where he reasoned

with the Jews (18:19).3. Leaving Aquila and Priscilla in Ephesus, he sailed to

Caesarea (500+ miles east).4. From Caesarea, he “went up” (elevation) to Jerusalem and

then back to Antioch (22).

I.

A. Even in the most wicked places, there are souls needing & hungering for righteousness!

B. When someone refuses to listen to the truth, we have done our part and can move on!

C. We must not be afraid of man and his response to the gospel! We must trust in God!

III. Practical Points of Application for Our Lives