The Mission: Do not Be Silent

Jonathan Douglass

Acts: The Mission of the Church • Sermon • Submitted 2 years ago

Acts 18:1–17

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Intro

(Hidden: Why are we studying Acts?)

If you have your Bibles, please turn to Acts 1. We are about 2/3rds of the way through the book of Acts and we have hopefully learned many important truths from its pages. If you are in Acts 1, we need to be reminded of Jesus’ words in verse 8.

Acts 1:8 (ESV) But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

Acts is a critical book, for it is the hinge that connects the Gospels to the letters in the New Testament and it is critical because it helps us understand three important truths. It helps us

Acts helps us...

understand our mission

You might wish to highlight or underline your Bibles. Our mission is located in the phrase, “you will be my witnesses.” Our mission is to declare Jesus’ great love everywhere we go. You might write a number “1” by this mark because it is the first important truth, our purpose in life. Second, Acts helps us...

understand the role of the Holy Spirit

You can mark up the words “Holy Spirit” and “power” and mark them with a number “2”. Our mission can only be accomplished by the Holy Spirit who gives us power to be about our father’s business. As we will see in this morning’s text, Paul would have given in to fear had it not been the power of the Spirit living in him. Finally, Acts helps us...

understand how to work together as a church

You can mark up the three times the word “you” appears and mark those with a number “3”. Jesus was speaking to the 120 or so disciples who were with him on the mount just before He ascended into Heaven. “You” means the local church, for these disciples banded together and became the first church in the world. They could only accomplish their mission if they worked together and kept in step with each other through the power of the Holy Spirit.

This early church and and the churches they planted encountered very hard things! We have read about how they worked together to overcome famine, severe persecution, false doctrine, bickering, quarrels, racial tensions, and many other challenges. Acts is critical for us study and to be intimately familiar with because Satan uses these same pressures against us today.

We need to be a church who clearly understands our mission, who are completely filled by the Spirit, and who overcome mighty obstacles by working together. So, where did we leave off?...

(Hidden: Where did we leave off?)

Paul was on his 2nd missionary journey and had been travelling in Macedonia, modern day Greece. You might remember from Acts 17 that in Thessalonica, Jews formed a mob and tried to harm Paul, Silas, and Timothy. That mob pursued them to Berea and in Acts 17:14, Silas and Timothy remained for a short while and were able to teach and build up those churches while Paul went on to Athens.

(SLIDE: Image of Acropolis near Mars Hill)

In Athens, Paul used cultural conversations to spark an interest spiritual things. God is not an unknown God, but instead he declared that, “God is not far from us.” He is intimately involved in the affairs of His children. God wants to be known, that is why Jesus came as a baby and why his earthly mission was to die on the cross to forgive sin. Forgiveness of sin removes all barriers to the relationship with God and mankind!

We continue our study in Acts 18 this morning and Acts 18:1 informs us that Paul “left Athens and went to Corinth.”

(SLIDE: MAP)

(What was Corinth’s culture like?)

Corinth was positioned about 46 miles to the West and was a leading Greek city. Its population was at least 20 times larger than Athens with at least 200,000 people residing there. Corinth worshipped the goddess Aphrodite and so sexual immorality abounded in the city. In fact immorality, dishonesty, and drunkenness were so abundant that the phrase “to live like a Corinthian” described a person who lived a debased life.

Paul had been separated from his ministry team, then in v 5 they join up again for what was to become an intense year and a half (v11) of ministry in Corinth. at about 50 A.D.

I am going to jump around in the text this morning, so I think it is important we read our whole passage at one time, then you will be able to see how everything connects.

Please stand for the reading of the Word, Acts 18:1-17 (READ FROM MY BIBLE)

Acts 18:1–17 ESV

1 After this Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. 2 And he found a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to leave Rome. And he went to see them, 3 and because he was of the same trade he stayed with them and worked, for they were tentmakers by trade. 4 And he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and tried to persuade Jews and Greeks. 5 When Silas and Timothy arrived from Macedonia, Paul was occupied with the word, testifying to the Jews that the Christ was Jesus. 6 And when they opposed and reviled him, he shook out his garments and said to them, “Your blood be on your own heads! I am innocent. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.” 7 And he left there and went to the house of a man named Titius Justus, a worshiper of God. His house was next door to the synagogue. 8 Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed in the Lord, together with his entire household. And many of the Corinthians hearing Paul believed and were baptized. 9 And the Lord said to Paul one night in a vision, “Do not be afraid, but go on speaking and do not be silent, 10 for I am with you, and no one will attack you to harm you, for I have many in this city who are my people.” 11 And he stayed a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them. 12 But when Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews made a united attack on Paul and brought him before the tribunal, 13 saying, “This man is persuading people to worship God contrary to the law.” 14 But when Paul was about to open his mouth, Gallio said to the Jews, “If it were a matter of wrongdoing or vicious crime, O Jews, I would have reason to accept your complaint. 15 But since it is a matter of questions about words and names and your own law, see to it yourselves. I refuse to be a judge of these things.” 16 And he drove them from the tribunal. 17 And they all seized Sosthenes, the ruler of the synagogue, and beat him in front of the tribunal. But Gallio paid no attention to any of this.

(What was Paul’s ministry in Corinth?)

Paul continued representing God to the ungodly. In verse 6, we find that he was occupied by teaching the Word.

(What is the key verse for the ministry in Corinth? )

Then something remarkable occurred… the Lord, Jesus, directly spoke to Paul in a vision. This vision found in verses 9-10 are critical to understanding the ministry in Corinth in 50 A.D. and are key to understanding our mission for 2022 and until the Lord returns! You might wish to highlight this verse. We read....

Acts 18:9–10 (ESV) And the Lord said to Paul one night in a vision, “Do not be afraid, but go on speaking and do not be silent, 10 for I am with you, and no one will attack you to harm you, for I have many in this city who are my people.”

This is remarkable because God didn’t send an angel like He did to Zechariah, Joseph, and Mary. Jesus himself was the one who appeared and spoke to Paul. Who did Paul love and follow? Jesus. Who did Paul hear on the road to Damascus? Jesus.

4. Why did Jesus appear here?

Why did Jesus appear here? Why not send an angel? First, God does what He wills, Jesus could have sent an angel and have accomplished the exact result, but Paul loved Jesus, he had suffered much violence for the sake of Jesus and it pleased Jesus to personally comfort Paul in this way.

Second, Paul was afraid when he came to Corinth. Maybe the intense persecution at Thessalonica and Berea still troubled him or maybe Paul knew Corinth would be a hard city to minister in. When Paul wrote his first letter to the Corinthians about five years later, he admitted his fear...

1 Corinthians 2:1–5 (3 slides) And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. 2 For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. 3 And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, 4 and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5 so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.

He was weak with fear and much trembling. Certainly, the mob who opposed him in verse 6 also provoked Paul to fear when they angrily opposed, cursed, and insulted him.

Why else did Jesus appear personally? Paul would be tempted to be afraid in the months ahead. Paul needed to prepare for the challenges that were ahead.

This is where I am going to jump around in the text. I think if we are going to accomplish our mission, we need to consider each element of verse 9, the first of which is...

Do Not Be Afraid

Why? What was there to be afraid of? As I have already stated, Corinth was plagued by sexual immorality, strife, religious diversity, corruption, and a deep love for selfish gain and worldly things. Paul wrote about all those struggles in first Corinthians. The Corinthians struggled with such a diversity of sin. In fact, if there is any sin a Christian ever struggles with, 1 Corinthians addresses it in some form or fashion!

Paul was about to face much hardship. Jesus was telling Paul and us...

Do not be afraid of what the government can do to you.

This is the first lesson Paul was reminded of when he arrived in Corinth.

Do not be afraid when the government rejects God. (18:2)

Do not be afraid when governments deny Romans 13 by trying to usurp God’s throne, by trying to become gods themselves.

Claudius the Roman Emperor, rejected God (v2). Claudius, by commanding all Jews to leave Rome was essentially telling them, “you are not my people. You do not belong in Rome, and I don’t want you influencing my people with your faith.

Don’t be afraid of the government because God has a purpose in hardship. In verses 2-4, Aquila and Priscilla were in Corinth because of the Roman government. Even though the edict was an evil one, God caused much good to come from it! I’ll show you the good in the next main point.

Do not be afraid when the government cares more for its own power than for the people it serves. (18:14-17)

Claudius expelled the Jews from Rome, in part, to protect his power. If you check the facts in your Bible in Acts 18:14-17 you will also deduce that Gallio was a self-absorbed, power hungry, self-preserving ruler. He cared more for his position than for his people.

He wanted nothing to with Jewish affairs and, unfortunately, this was very common in Roman cities. Roman rulers allowed the Jews to do as they wished so long as Roman law was not being broken. Herod Antipas, King of Judea set this example when he returned Jesus to Pilate. Pilate followed that example when he washed his hands free of Jesus’ blood and delivered Jesus to the Jews.

Roman rulers often distanced themselves from the people they ruled, and so, here in Acts 18, Gallio did the same thing. Let’s read his own words.

Acts 18:14–16 (ESV) Gallio said to the Jews, “If it were a matter of wrongdoing or vicious crime, O Jews, I would have reason to accept your complaint. 15 But since it is a matter of questions about words and names and your own law, see to it yourselves. I refuse to be a judge of these things.”

Wrongdoing occurred right in front of him and Gallio, the brother of the famous Seneca, did nothing. He was corrupt. He turned a blind eye to crime. We see this today all over. People would rather maintain their seats of power rather than set aside budgets to fight crime. Officials today believe, “You can do whatever you want so long as my own welfare is not endangered.” I find this next part quite telling of Gallio’s character..

16 And he drove them from the tribunal. 17 They seized Sosthenes, the ruler of the synagogue, and beat him in front of the tribunal, but Gallio did not pay attention to any of this.”

Hadn’t Gallio just stated he would get involved in wrongdoing and vicious crime, but the Jews wrongly and viciously violated Sosthenes and the corrupt government turned a blind eye. Isn’t government supposed to punish evildoers and reward those who do good?

Do not be afraid when the government disobeys God. God and His just government will never act as Gallio did! Do not be afraid of government, God’s government is still greater!

Paul learned another lesson in Corinth...

Do not be afraid of what people will do to you.

We have already looked at verse 6 when the Jews opposed and cursed Paul. He was afraid though. He realized he was wasting his time with that group of people and turned to the Greeks and other Gentiles in the city when God addressed his fear.

Acts 18:9–10 ESV

9 And the Lord said to Paul one night in a vision, “Do not be afraid, but go on speaking and do not be silent, 10 for I am with you, and no one will attack you to harm you, for I have many in this city who are my people.”

God’s timing is perfect and wonderful, for it is in the very next verses when things got ugly. People violated the law against Sosthenes and recieved no earthly justice but we should not be afraid of the government or the people, for no one but God cares for our eternal souls. The next element of verse 9, in Jesus’ own words is to....

Go On Speaking (slides move fast!)

In fact, I wonder if Luke was intentionally contrasting Paul and Gallio. Gallio was afraid of the mob, Paul was not. Gallio trusted his political stance to save him, and Paul trusted God to save him! Jesus declared in verse 10… “for I am with you” “For I have many in this city” So go on speaking...

…when we are reviled and opposed. (v5-6) (flip quickly!!)

...because God will make a way.

and make a way He certainly did....

Aquila & Priscilla became valuable to not only only Paul, and not only to the Corinth church, but also to the church in Rome and Ephesus. God made a way...

Jewish law required theological students to learn a trade, so while Paul was being trained as a Pharisee, he also learned to be a tentmaker. God used Paul to strengthen and equip Aquila and Priscilla for future ministry, they became ministry partners! God made a way....

Silas and Timothy arrived to reinforce the ministry (v5)

Silas and Timothy’s arrival was ordained by God… they arrived just before Paul and the new Corinthian believers experienced a very challenging situation. Their reinforcement would have been a significant morale boost to Paul!

The Thessalonian church had sent a financial gift, found in 1 Corinthians, to Paul by Silas and Timothy so Paul could minister in Corinth without being a burden on the new church.

…because God still has many people.

Titius Justus placed his faith in Jesus as did and Crispus and his household (v7-8). This is important: because Paul obeyed God by speaking, the Corinthian church was born!

In 1 Cor 3:4-9 Paul said he baptized Crispus, Titius Justus Gaius, and the household of Stephanus. Paul didn’t recall baptizing anyone else so you know what that means? It means the early church followed Paul’s example. They continued speaking to their friends and neighbors causing the church to grow!

No one on earth can silence Jesus’ message of forgiveness, relationship, and eternal life, do not be afraid, go on speaking. Jesus’ encouragement of “do not be silent” is critical for our mission today

Do Not Be Silent (18:10-11)

How? Totally depended on confidence in God (do not be afraid, and determination to obey no matter how hard.)

God provides courage when we need it. (18:10: Mt 28:19-20, Is 41:10)

That courage comes because God is with us according to verse 10. Those words, “with you” can be a temporary strengthening.

Jesus said “you will always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me.” When Jesus was on earth, he only lived in physical body for a short time. Jesus said, “I will be with you a little longer and then I am going to Him who sent me.”

“With you” can be permanent such as when Lk 1:28 when Gabriel appeared to Mary “greetings o favored one, the Lord is with you!” She experienced God’s nearness her whole life as God’s child.

Also, we find Jesus’ last words before ascending to Heaven in...

Matthew 28:19–20 (ESV) 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Jesus promise was not just directed at Paul. That promise was not for him alone, Jesus reminded Paul of what he already knew… Jesus will never leave his children alone. He will never leave them vulnerable to the wolves. He provides courage when we need it, He provides....

God provides protection when we need it. (Mt 10:28)

Verse 10 is strikingly similar to Matthew 10:28...

Matthew 10:28 (ESV) 28 And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.

God allows his children to die, but not before their mission is over. God is all powerful: he holds salvation in his hands. Trust God for our eternal protection: nothing else matters.

and finally,

God provides endurance when we need it. (18:11, 17-18)

Even after the Paul watched the Jews beat Sosthenes, he remained in Corinth “many days longer” according to verse 18, which was clarified back in verse 11. He didn’t run away with his tail between his legs, he firmly clung to God’s promise for duration of that 1.5 year ministry.

I want to leave you with an image, one that really stuck in my head this week.

(SLIDE: UFO/CLOSE ENCOUNTER)

Paul’s close encounter with Jesus changed Paul’s life: in the years to come Paul reminded believers the Lord was with them! And he remembered, even while he awaited his own execution, that God was protecting him until his mission was over.

When Jesus speaks, it should never leave us the same! If you are in the auditorium or on Zoom, or listening at a later time, know this, you have had a close encounter with Jesus this morning. You have heard and read Jesus words and you and I should never be the same because we have witnessed something remarkable, something inspirational!

We must daily listen Jesus’ written Word just as if He was literally speaking to us in a vision. Do not be silent, for we have had a close encounter with Jesus!