Acts Bible Study: Day 28
Today’s passage: Acts 18
Focus verse: “Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you.” (Acts 18:9–10)
Paul and company head to Athens and then go to Corinth. There they meet a Jewish couple, Aquila and Priscilla. They’re tentmakers, just like Paul. Because they have so much in common, Paul stays with them.
Then he devotes himself full-time to telling the Jews in the area that Jesus is their Savior, but the people won’t believe. They oppose Paul and become abusive.
“Your fate is on you,” Paul says. “I tried, but you wouldn’t listen. Now I’m going to share this good news of Jesus with the Gentiles.”
Despite the opposition from the Jews, many people believe and are baptized. The church of Jesus continues to grow.
One night, God comes to Paul in a vision: “Don’t be afraid. Press on. I’ll protect you.” Based on this promise, Paul stays in Corinth for eighteen months. He teaches them about God.
Though Paul’s opponents continue to harass him and even drag him before Gallio, the proconsul, God’s pledge to keep Paul safe remains. Through it all, God protects Paul and no harm befalls him. But this doesn’t mean he remains free from opposition.
Paul could have interpreted God’s promise of protection as a lifelong pledge, one that would accompany him throughout the rest of his ministry.
Yet the context implies that it’s only good while Paul stays in Corinth. Once he leaves, though God will still be with him, the assurance of safety doesn’t continue.
Sometimes when God tells us something, it’s only for a season and not for the rest of our life. God’s instructions may change. What he tells us to do in one situation may not apply in another.
Consider the Israelites when they spent forty years in the desert. God gave them manna to eat, along with specific instructions about how much to pick up, how long it would last, and when to gather it.
This provision remained in place only when they were in the desert. Once they left, the manna stopped.
Questions:
- What can we do to make sure we don’t hold on to an instruction from God for longer than he intends?
- What about not following it long enough?
[Discover more about God’s provision of manna in Exodus 16:35, Numbers 11:4–9, Joshua 5:12, and John 6:58.]
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Read more about the book of Acts in Acts Bible Study: Discover How the Early Church Can Inform What We Do Today, available in e-book, paperback, and hardcover.
Revitalize your faith with Acts Bible Study by Peter DeHaan. This 40-day journey through the early church reveals timeless lessons on community, perseverance, and Holy Spirit power.
Peter DeHaan writes about biblical Christianity to confront a status quo faith and live a life that matters. He seeks a fresh approach to following Jesus through the lens of Scripture, without the baggage of made-up traditions and meaningless practices.
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