“DO NOT BE AFRAID…FOR I

AM WITH YOU…”

Acts 18: 1 – 18a

• Acts 18: 1 – 18a

• From Athens (new

beginnings) to Corinth

• Met and joined

Aquila and Priscilla –

tentmakers

• Roman Emperor

Claudius (40-50 ad)

pushed all Jews out of

Rome, so Aquila and

Priscilla went from

Rome to Corinth

• V3 & 4 While he made tents with Aquila and Priscilla, he

went every Sabbath “trying to persuade the Jews and

Greeks that Jesus is the Messiah

• V5 & 6 Silas and Timothy finally arrive from Berea and joined

Paul, he focused on preaching that Jesus is the Messiah –

then some of the Jews were abusive to Paul so…

• Paul shook his clothes – symbolic that the dust of their

presence made everyone around them dirty or equal to

idol worshippers … then Paul said,

• V6 “Your blood is on your own heads!” You are responsible

for your choice of rejecting Jesus as the Messiah

• V7 & 8 = So Paul went next door to Titius Justus’

home – He was a god-fearing worshipper – a non-

Jew who worshiped God.

• Crispus (the synagogue leader) and his whole

family/household believed as well as many others

believed and were baptized

• V9 & 10 = The Lord spoke to Paul in a vision, “Do not

be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. For I

Am with you, no one is going to attack and harm

you, because I have many people in this city.”

• V11 = Paul stayed for 1 ½ years in Corinth teaching

them the word of God

• V12 = We meet Gallio – the Proconsul (Governor) of

Achaia – trouble erupts again!

• V12 – 16 Some of the Jews in Corinth united to

attack Paul and brought him to Gallio for a

judgement

• Jews: “This man is speaking conflicts with our laws…”

• Paul: before he could speak to defend himself…

• Gallio: “This is not a crime against Rome…judge him

yourselves!”

• And Gallio kicked them out of the judgement hall

• Then the crowd turned against Sosthenes (the new

synagogue leader) and beat him up in front of

Gallio

• Gallio watched and didn’t care…

• Paul stayed in Corinth a little longer then sailed to

Syria with Priscilla and Aquila

LET’S LOOK AT VERSES 9 & 10 AGAIN

The Lord spoke to Paul in a vision, “Do

not be afraid; keep on speaking, do

not be silent. For I Am with you, no one

is going to attack and harm you,

because I have many people in this

city.”

• Acts 17 – we learned the Lord’s grace, mercy, and

justice brings us new beginnings…

• Acts 18 – In the midst of both painful and exciting

times, He tells us:

• Do not be afraid;

• Keep on speaking, do not be silent.

• For I Am with you,

• No one is going to attack and harm you,

because I …