Acts 18:12-17 

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.” ¹⁶ So he drove them off. ¹⁷ Then the crowd there turned on Sosthenes the synagogue leader and beat him in front of the proconsul; and Gallio showed no concern whatever.

Creator

Someone asked: “If God is powerful, why did he need six days to create everything? Why did He not create everything in just a snap of a finger?”

Unbelievers always find ways to discredit God. Anyhow, it’s very logical: God created things in sequence—the heavens and the earth, light, water, plants, living creatures, and lastly, humans. He prepared one thing as requisite for the other. If you were the first mankind God has created before He created light, water, and plants and animals for your food, what would you do?

God is the God of order; He prepared everything for our good.

In Acts 18:9-10…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.”

Paul might have heard rumors of Jewish people planning to attack him. Some concerned believers might have warned him about the hostility of the Jews.

When God told Paul not to be afraid, Paul might have sense some kind of anxiety in his heart; God guaranteed Paul’s safety in Corinth. Indeed the Jews in Corinth made a united attack on Paul but it’s not very clear if they harmed him. It’s not mentioned how they assaulted Paul.

To be consistent on what the Lord said in v.10…“ ¹⁰ For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city,” then, the Jews did not harm him but they arrested and brought him to court.

Why did the Jews in Corinth not beat Paul like his experience in the other cities?

Remember v.8… 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.

In the previous church planting endeavor of Paul, he was persecuted and jailed. In Corinth, God did not allow such things to happen; God had Paul’s ministry in Corinth a little bit smoother; Paul had to face some charges, though.

1.  Charge

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.”

Those Jews who attacked Paul sought favor from the government because they were divided when Crispus, a synagogue leader believed in Paul’s message. Crispus might be a very influential synagogue and the Jews could not gather majority support from the Jewish community.

The Lord Jesus has predicted this kind of disciple’s difficulty and it sure happens.

Jesus said in Mark 13:9… ⁹ “You must be on your guard. You will be handed over to the local councils and flogged in the synagogues. On account of me you will stand before governors and kings as witnesses to them.

What is it that you have personally sacrificed on account of the Lord? What is your worst experience ever since you became a believer? What was it that you have decided to do for the Lord and people who know you thought you were just crazy about your faith?

Cactus

It’s amazing how God appropriated plants. Consider a cactus – God designed cactus plants to grow and flourish in tropical regions, in the desert places. Cactus plants have uniquely designed features and beauty. If you water a cactus the way you water vegetables, it will surely die.

God created everything according to His beautiful plans. Some people thrive in blue-collar job; others thrive in white collar jobs.

God has designed believers to excel in the ministry they are called to serve Him. Believers are given specific spiritual gift. We, believers, should serve God according to our calling using our spiritual gift. Have you heard your calling?

Paul thrived in planting churches among Gentiles but not much success among the Jewish people. The Lord has chosen Paul as His apostle to the Gentiles.

Do you know if you are called to minister among Filipinos in Canada? Have you explored if God is calling you to international missions?

If God sends you somewhere, if you heard your calling clearly, God will take care of you; wherever God sends you, don’t be afraid; God is in control;

2.  Control

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.” ¹⁶ So he drove them off. ¹⁷ Then the crowd there turned on Sosthenes the synagogue leader and beat him in front of the proconsul; and Gallio showed no concern whatever.

Gallio ignored the charge of the Jews against Paul; he said that if it’s misdemeanor or serious crime, he would listen. But, when the Jews beat Sosthenes, a synagogue leader, Gallio showed no concern whatsoever.

Was beating a synagogue leader not a misdemeanor or serious crime to him?

Gallio was a proconsul of the province of Achaia. The emperor Augustus divided the Roman provinces into senatorial and imperial: senatorial provinces were presided over by proconsuls; imperial provinces were administered by legates or propraetors—elected magistrates rank next below a consul.

Gallio was highest ranking government official in Corinth. As proconsul, Gallio was the commander of the Roman army; God allowed a powerful person like Gallio to favor Paul. Gallio did not necessarily believe in the Lord Jesus but God used him to control what should be done in Paul ministry in the city of Corinth.

The ministry of Paul in Corinth and in the mission field is a biblical event manifesting God’s design and control of things to be done for His glory.

Jehoiachin

In Jeremiah 35:31-34…³¹ In the 37^th year of the exile of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the year Awel-Marduk became king of Babylon, on the 25^th day of the 12^th month, he released Jehoiachin king of Judah and freed him from prison. ³² He spoke kindly to him and gave him a seat of honor higher than those of the other kings who were with him in Babylon. ³³ So Jehoiachin put aside his prison clothes and for the rest of his life ate regularly at the king’s table. ³⁴ Day by day the king of Babylon gave Jehoiachin a regular allowance as long as he lived, till the day of his death.

God allowed King Jehoiachin, the grandson of King Josiah to be exiled in Babylon but God made everything favorable to him.

Wherever God leads us, He provides; the Lord said in Jeremiah 29:7, ⁷ Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.”

In a sense we are exiled in Canada because the Republic of the Philippines has been attacked by poverty and over population that leads to minimal opportunities. As believers, it favors us to pray for this city and our government officials.

Paul reminded in 1 Timothy 2:1-2… ¹I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— ² for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.

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