Acts 18--New Confidence

Blogger: Greg Lafferty

In today’s reading we witness Paul coming to the infamous city of Corinth. It had everything a missionary wouldn’t want to deal with, most notably ungodly wealth, rampant arrogance and shameless immorality. Ever try to share your faith with someone who was a rich, successful partier and proud of it? That heart can be a tough nut to crack.

And from the opening verses of Acts 18 we see this spirit had infected even the Jewish community, the people who should have known better. When Paul uses his typical reason and persuasion to show them Christ, they become abusive. Next thing you know Paul is out of the synagogue, away from the crowds, and talking to a lone Gentile named Titius Justus. Thankfully he and his family responded to the Gospel, but don’t miss the tension of the transition from a Jewish to a Gentile mission. It would have been so tempting for Paul to become intimidated and discouraged. He easily could have left the city for greener pastures.

What kept him going? What keeps you going when you’re rebuffed for sharing your faith? At bottom, it has to be confidence in God and the Gospel.

Consider Paul’s confidence. Before he even came to Corinth he decided not to compete with them in the areas of eloquence and worldly wisdom—two of their strong suits. Rather, he said, “I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified” (1 Corinthians 2:2). Paul knew the Gospel was the power of God for the salvation of all who believed. So he didn’t lose heart just because a few people didn’t believe.

Second, God gave Paul assurance that other people would believe—many other people. In Acts 18:9 God says, “Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. For I am with you…and I have many people in this city.” Point of fact: When God said this he didn’t have many people in Corinth. That is, he didn’t have many converts to Christ. But God had earmarked many people for salvation and knew how many would come to Christ through Paul’s ministry. And since the power of God is greater than human unbelief, these yet-to-become-believers were as good as His.

What confidence this gives, because we believe that everywhere, even in the hardest spiritual places, “God has many people in this city.” HE WILL OPEN HEARTS. Bank on it.