He is with me to the end. God who hath begun a good work
in you, He will finish it. That which begins in grace will
end in glory. Now back to Acts chapter 18.
Acts chapter 18. Acts chapter 18 verse 1. And
it begins after these things." Now these
chapter divisions are not in the original transcript or the
original script. These divisions in verses or
chapter divisions are given to us to help us find things in
the Word of God. But when it begins with and or
after these things, Paul departed from Athens and came to Corinth. It refers back to all that had
taken place there in Athens, how He stood in the courts of
men and declared unto them the gospel of Christ. And some, it
says, if you look just back in chapter 17, verse 32, and when
they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked, others
said, well, we'll hear thee again later. But it says down there
in verse 34, some believed the gospel. After these things, Paul
boldly declared the gospel to those in Athens. And after that,
by the determinate counsel of God, after these things, God
brought Paul down to Corinth to preach the gospel. Now, why
Corinth? Why Corinth? Well, it tells us
down there in verse 10, Why Corinth? Because God said, I have many,
I have many people, I have much people in this city. You see, there were some of God's
elect living in Corinth who must hear the gospel, who must believe
the gospel, who must receive Christ, and must confess Him
in believers' baptism. Now, so that's how Paul came
from Athens, came to Corinth by God's purpose to preach the
gospel, that God might use that message to quicken and to call
sinners to Christ in faith. Now notice verse 2 and verse
3. We see something more of the providence of God, the good providence
of God. And I mean by that the things
that fall out in the believer's life, are ordered of God. The steps of a righteous man
are ordered of God. In verse 2 and 3 we see a good
example of God's providence, how he provides for his people.
And when Paul came to town there at Corinth, he found some company. He found a Jew who was born in
Pontus, his name was Aquila, who lately came from Italy with
his wife, Priscilla. Because at Claudus, this was
the Caesar there in Rome, he commanded all the Jews to depart
from Rome. The reason behind that, I don't
know, but I know this, it was by the purpose of God, by the
decree of God. And he came unto them, verse
3 says, because he was of the same, Paul was of the same trade,
the same craft, and he lived with them and he worked with
them. And their occupation was, you didn't know Paul was a tent
maker, did you? He was a tent maker. We see the
good providence of God. Aquila and Priscilla were forced
to leave Rome and come to this city of Corinth. You know, I'm
thinking in my heart, Aquila says to his dear beloved wife,
Priscilla, why is this happening to me? Why is this persecution
coming on me? And Aquila probably said, yeah,
it's been tough. These old Romans, they're persecuting
us because we're Jews. They were forced to leave that
city. And look who they ran into. They ran into God's servant with
God's message. You see, they can look back on
this, Aquila and Priscilla, they can look back on this persecution
and they can say this, all things do work for good to them who
are called according to God's purpose. You see, it's by the
sovereign providence of God that they were forced out of Rome
and forced into this city of Corinth, and it's here where
they heard the gospel and where God saved them by His grace. So, something else we see is
the providence of God, how God brought these two, this husband
and wife, to Corinth. They established a business,
they established a home, and you know what, when Paul came
to town, You know, nobody knew him in this town. He was a complete
stranger. But he found some friends. He
found some friends who were of the same trade that Paul had
learned sometime in his life. He had learned this trade of
being a tent maker. Having no one to support him,
and having no friends in that city, he looked up, or he found,
by God's providence, this couple, Aquila and Priscilla. And they
were tent makers, and he said, well, can I work for you? Well,
they said, certainly. Now, I don't think at this time
that Aquila and Priscilla knew the gospel. God knew them, but
they didn't know God. And here this union, this company
came together, Aquila and Priscilla and the Apostle Paul. And you
know what happened? They heard Paul preach the gospel
and God saved them because the testimony of Scripture is this,
find Romans 16. Romans chapter 16. When Paul writes to the believers
in Rome, in Romans chapter 16, look what he says of Quilla and
Priscilla. You see why God forced them out of Rome and why they
provided housing for the Apostle Paul and a job? that they might
hear the gospel and believe. He says in Romans 16, 3, Greek,
Priscilla and Aquila, my helpers, my helpers in Christ, who have
for my life laid down their neck, unto whom not only I give thanks,
unto whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of
the Gentiles. These were faithful believers
who did this. Turn to 1 Corinthians chapter
16 now. 1 Corinthians chapter 16. They
believed the gospel and they put their life on the line for
the gospel. And it says here in 1 Corinthians
16, 19, Aquila and Priscilla salute you in the Lord with the
church that is in their house. You see that? They established
a gospel witness in their house. That's where believers gather
together and the church there in Corinth had its very beginnings
in the house of Aquila and Priscilla. You see the providence of God
working in their life and working in the Apostle Paul's life? Why
he left Athens and why he came to Corinth and he brought all
them together? You see, it's by the purpose
of God. Nothing's by accident. God crossed
their path with the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. Now, notice
if you will, verse 3, Because he was of the same craft, he
abode with them and worked. For by their occupation they
were tent makers. Now there's nothing wrong with
a man laboring and sweating. The sweat of the brow and the
labor of the hands is a good, proper thing. Paul did this to
support himself. When he came to these towns,
Evidently, he had no one to support him. He didn't have those who
followed with him and supported him. But he did this for one
particular reason. If you'll turn to Acts chapter
20. Acts chapter 20. He did this that no one could
accuse him of preaching the gospel for gain, for money. Look what
he says here in Acts chapter 20. He's talking here to those
who were of Ephesus, and he says in Acts chapter 20 verse 32,
And now, brethren, I commend you to God. This is his farewell
address to the believers in Ephesus. I commend you to God, the word
of His grace was able to build you up and give you an inheritance
among all them that are sanctified. I've coveted no man's silver
or gold. Yea, yourselves know that these
hands have ministered unto my necessities and to them that
are with me. And he labored with his hand,
supporting himself so that no one could accuse him of being
in the ministry or going around preaching to get gain, personal
gain or otherwise, monetary gain. Find 1 Thessalonians. Here's
another scripture on that. 1 Thessalonians chapter 2. So God provided him a job with
this trade that he had learned. 1 Thessalonians chapter 2. Notice
this, if you will. I want 1 Thessalonians chapter
2 verse 9. 1 Thessalonians 2 verse 9. For ye remember, brethren, our
labor and travail, for laboring night and day, because we would
not be chargeable unto any of you, we preach the gospel of
God unto you. So Paul was very careful when
he came to these different cities not to give the appearance that
he was just a traveling missionary seeking their money rather than
seeking their salvation. Matter of fact, he says in another
place to the Corinthians, he said, I don't seek yours, I'm
interested in you. I want you to know the gospel
and to believe the gospel. Now, does this mean that we should
not give to fully support the ministry of the Lord. Now, some
have used this example of Paul, and some have said, not any of
God's people, but some have said, well, you know, we don't believe
in paying the preacher. Well, I don't believe in paying
the preacher either, but I do believe in supporting the ministry.
Now, pastors are to be supported. Now, Paul taught this. Turn to
1 Corinthians chapter 9. So we are to support, we are
to support the pastor of the church. In 1 Corinthians, I want
chapter 9, verse 13. He said, Do you not know that
they which minister about the things live? Do you not know
that they which minister about holy things live of the things
of the temple? He's talking about the priest
under Levitical law. They which wait or serve the
altar are partakers of the altar. The remnant of those sacrifices,
they took that meat home to their family. Look at verse 14. Even so, hath
the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live
by the gospel. They should be supported by the
gospel. Now, so we can't take this as
an example and say, well, we shouldn't support the ministry.
Yes, we should. we should sacrificially give
to support the ministry of God, if it's God's servant preaching
God's gospel. Now, back to the text. Acts 18. And while Paul worked privately,
verse 4, he reasoned in the synagogue, that is the assembly of the Jews,
every Sabbath day, that is the Jewish Saturday, and persuaded
the Jews and the Greeks. So Paul was busy about preaching
the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ when he had the opportunity
to do so, and he said, I'm determined not to know anything among you
but Jesus Christ and Him crucified. Though Paul clearly preached
the gospel, and he did, it takes Almighty
God to reveal that message to our hearts. Hold your place there
and find 1 Corinthians chapter 2. 1 Corinthians chapter 2. Paul did preach the gospel, and
persuasively so, showing by the scriptures that Jesus is the
Christ. But it takes God to reveal God. I can preach and preach and preach,
unless God takes that word and teaches you and reveals Himself
to you, you'll never believe the truth. 1 Corinthians chapter
2 verse 14 says, that natural man receiveth not the things
of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness unto him, neither
can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned, spiritually
known. Now, back to the text. Acts 18. So while Paul was busy
making tents, he was also busy preaching the gospel of the Lord
Jesus Christ. Verse 5, look at verse 5, and
when Silas and Timothy were come, now here's his two preaching
partners, Silas and Timothy, when they were come from Macedonia,
Paul was compelled in his heart, in his spirit, and he testified
to the Jews that Jesus of Nazareth, He is the Christ. Now why was
Paul, it seems like that He was more motivated by the coming
of Silas and Timothy. Well, I thought about that, and
I think there's a couple things involved here. He was encouraged
by their presence. We need one another. We need
to encourage one another. And no doubt Paul was encouraged
by just the very presence of Silas and Timothy, also to help
him preach the gospel to others. He was encouraged by their presence,
by their help. Something else too is involved
here. When Silas and Timothy came from
Macedonia, you know what they brought? They brought financial
help. They brought financial help for
Paul. Now Paul was at liberty to preach the gospel more often
and more places because it freed him from tent making to building
up the kingdom of God. Now, I can make good on that.
Find 2 Corinthians 11, 9. 2 Corinthians 11, 9. So when they
came, they came with encouragement, but they also came with help.
And they took care of Paul. So he was at liberty to preach
the gospel, just not on the Sabbath day, but every day. He could
leave his tent-making job and enter in and preach the gospel
wherever. 2 Corinthians 11, 9. 2 Corinthians 11 9, he said, And
when I was present with you and wanted, now he had need. When I was present with you and
wanted, I was chargeable to no man. For that which was lacking
to me, the brethren which came from Macedonia, they supplied. So you see why he was encouraged?
They supplied. Yea, he says, in all things I've
kept myself from being a burden unto you, and so I'll keep myself. But when these brethren came,
they encouraged him, and they helped him, and set him at liberty
to go preaching, just not on the Sabbath, but every day, preaching
the gospel. As it says there in verse 5,
he was pressed, encouraged, I love you. Thank you for watching. Thank you very much. you Thank you very much. you in Christ Jesus so we entered
into this man's house this man was a believer by the grace of
God, and he lived next door to the synagogue. Verse 8, And Crispus,
the chief ruler of the synagogue, he also believed on the Lord
with all his house. And many of the Corinthians,
hearing, believed, and were baptized." They heard the gospel. Here's
the beginning of this church in Corinth. It was a large church,
a blessed church. Many converts, in this city. God will bless his message to
the hearts of his people. He said, my sheep, hear my voice. I know them, they follow me,
and I give unto them eternal life. Justice, Crispus, and many
others were among God's people who heard this message, who fell
in love with the Lord Jesus Christ. Now notice this, I want you to
look at this verse 8. Notice God's ordained means. to accomplish His purpose. You
see, Justice and Crispus, they were of God's elect. They were
ordained to believe this gospel. But you know what? They must
hear it, and they must believe it. They hearing, believed, and
they confessed Christ in believers' baptism. Now here's God's method
of grace. The gospel was preached unto
them. Hold your place there and find
1 Corinthians 15. 1 Corinthians 15. The Gospel was preached to them
from the Word of Truth. 1 Corinthians 15 verse 1. Moreover, brethren, I declare
unto you the Gospel which I preached unto you, which you have received
wherein you stand, by which also you are saved. 1 Corinthians
15 verse 2. If you keep in memory, what I
preached unto you, unless you believed in me. For I delivered
unto you, first of all, that which I also received, how Christ
died for our sins, according to the Scriptures, that He was
buried, that He rose again the third day, according to the Scriptures."
He preached the Gospel, how that Christ died for our sins, according
to God's purpose and God's grace. So there is the first thing we
see, there is a necessity of preaching the Gospel. The second thing we see there
in our text, it says that hearing, they believed it. Now my friend,
faith is a gift of God. Faith is a gift of God. And when
that faith is given, it receives this message as truth and believes
and rests in the Lord Jesus Christ. This believing is according to
the working of God's mighty power. It's not the will of the flesh,
not the will of man, but it is of God. They believe, and look
what it says there thirdly, they confess Christ in believer's
baptism. Now it tells us right here who's
baptism is for. Who is to be baptized? Those
who have heard the truth and those who believe the truth.
And they gladly confess Christ in believer's baptism. What does
hinder me from being baptized? Remember what Philip said, if
you believe, if you believe, you may. Now notice verse 9 and 10. Then spake the Lord to Paul in
night by a vision. Now in this day, because the
Scriptures were not completed. The New Testament had not been
written. In this day and this time, God spoke to His servants
by dreams and visions. He doesn't speak to His servants
that way in this day. He speaks to believers through
His Word, through His truth. That's why when I get up here
and preach, I open up the book and say, turn here and read here.
I don't come to you preaching, well, you know, last night I
had a dream. Well, usually it's just because
I ate too much watermelon the night before. So we don't trust
dreams and visions. But in this day, God spoke to
these men because the Word of God was not completed. God spoke
to these special men by a special way and the message was this,
don't be afraid, but speak and don't hold back. Do not stop
preaching my truth, hold nothing back, and be not afraid." Now
this is good instruction for me. You wouldn't want me to hold
back, would you? This is good instruction for
me. We need not fear any man when we fear God and declare
His gospel. Is that right? That's right.
Fear not. Speak! Don't hold back. You remember he said, I preach
to you the counsel of God. Don't hold back. I know the gospel
is offensive to the natural man. We talk about sin and depravity
and death. Talk about how ungodly we are.
Those things are offensive to the natural man. But to the believer,
you know, we rejoice in those things. You know why? Because
if you know that, you know that salvation is for sinners. He
said, I didn't come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
So be not afraid, speak, don't hold your peace. He gives three
reasons here. Verse 10. Three valid reasons
that we're to keep on preaching the gospel of God, pointing sinners
to the Lord Jesus Christ. He says, the first thing is this.
He said, I'm with you. I'm with you. Now hold your place
there and find Matthew 28. He said, I am with you. Now the
Lord said, I'll never leave you, I'll never forsake you. When
I go preaching the gospel, I go with absolute confidence that
the Lord is with me and that He will bless His Word. Matthew
28, verse 18, this is a resurrected Lord giving His instruction to
His disciples. Verse 18, He said, All power
is given unto Me in heaven and earth. Go, therefore, and teach
all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of
the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all
things whatsoever I have commanded you, and you get a hold of this,
I am with you always, even unto the end." So I can go with confidence
preaching this gospel that the Lord is with me. And as a believer,
we can go through this life knowing that the Lord said, I'll never
forsake you. I'll never, no never, no never
forsake His people. So, that's the first thing. I'm
with thee. Acts 18 verse 10. I'm with thee. Go preach the gospel knowing
I'm in charge. I have all power. I will bless
my message. I will call out my sheep. I'm
with you. I'm with you. Secondly, he said,
no man shall set on thee to hurt thee. We have his presence and
we have his protection. No one will hurt you. Now Paul
continued here 18 months preaching the gospel and no one molested
him. Now we've seen in other cities,
much harm came to him. But here, God said, no one will
touch you for eighteen months. And we see the absolute Lord
whom we serve is in control of all things, even the rage of
wicked men. He lets it go or He restrains
it by His purpose. And in this particular case,
He restrained these wicked men. In another case, He let the restraints
loose and they stone-palled, remember? But here He constrains
them. You see, God is in control of
all things. Even wicked men, He controls
all their actions. That's right. God is God over
all things. Of Him and through Him and to
Him are all things. So we have His presence, we have
His protection, and then we see God's purpose. What it says in
verse 10? For I have. Here's the reason
behind all this, because for I have much people. A people
in this city. Now who are these people? Who
are these people? I know by birth, by nature, by
practice and choice. You know who they are? They're
just like you. Sinners. Ungodly. They're just like you. They're
just like me. Unworthy of the least of God's
mercy. Uncaring, unknowing and ungodly. That was God's elect in Corinth
before they met the Master, the Lord Jesus Christ. They're His
people by grace, chosen, given to the Lord Jesus Christ in that
covenant of grace. Let me show you that. Turn to
John chapter 6. Who are these people? Well, they're
a sinful people. But you know what? They're a
chosen people. They're His people by a gift
of God. God gave His elect unto the Lord
Jesus. He says this in John 6.37, All
that the Father giveth me shall come to me. You see, they are
His people by gift. They were given to Christ in
that covenant of grace. They are people by gift of God. Now turn to John chapter 17. They are a gift of people. People given by God John 17. He mentions this again that gift
of people John 17 verse 2 as thou has given him power over
all flesh that he should give eternal life to as many as the
father hath given him This is God's elect. This is his people
down in verse 6 of John 17 I've manifested thy name unto the
man which thou gavest me out of the world thine they were
And you gave them to me You see, He came and He died for His people.
He said, I lay down my life for the sheep. Who are these people?
They're people given of God in that covenant of grace. Who are
these people? They're people not only by gift,
but they're His people by purchase. By purchase. Turn to Acts chapter
20. Look at this here. Acts chapter
20, verse 28. So they're His people by gift.
They're His people by purchase. You see, they're bought. You
no more your own, you're bought with a price. We're bought with
His blood. Now notice this, Acts 20, 28. Take heed therefore unto yourselves,
all the flock over which the Holy Spirit hath made you overseers,
to feed the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. We're a bought people. We're
a given people, a chosen people. a redeemed people, and then we're
His people by conquest. That is, He conquers His people
with the gospel. We hear, but not word only, in
power. In power. And the gospel is the
power of God unto salvation. Thy people shall be willing in
the day of His power. Now listen to this. Give me just
a minute. You know, Paul didn't know these
people when God said this to him. Don't be afraid. Don't leave. I've got much people. Paul didn't know these people.
He never met them. But the Lord knew them. And the
Lord loved them. The foundation of God stands
sure, having this seal. The Lord knoweth them that are
His. He knows His people. And in time,
He calls them to Himself. He said, I know my sheep by name.
The Lord preserved them till he called them with the gospel
and made them willing. And as we studied in 1 Corinthians,
He confirmed them to the end. Now I pray the Lord has much
people in this city. I'm sure that He does. Because
He established a gospel witness here in this city. And I pray
that the Lord has much people in this city. And as we continue
to preach the gospel here, by the means that God has given
us, radio, newspaper, internet, through the pulpit, through the
tape ministry, that God would be pleased to call out His people and give them life in Christ.
Well, what's Paul going to do? Verse 11 said, he continued,
he continued a year and a half, teaching the Word of God among
them. And my prayer for us is that
we may continue. Will you go with me? Will you
come with me? Will you support the gospel?
Let's continue, my friend. This is the miracle of Christ. This is the true grace of God
in Christ Jesus. And it is the gospel that sets
sinners free. So come. Let's continue by His
grace.