WEEK 26 – CORINTH – PRISCILLA AND AQUILA

Paul next moves on to Corinth.  For a fairly detailed description of Corinth when Paul first arrived follow this link CORINTH. We believe that Silas and Timothy were still elsewhere, probably at Berea (Acts 17.13).  There is some evidence that later they joined Paul in Corinth for a time.

Originally Athens had been a prominent city, but by Paul’s time it was being eclipsed by Corinth as a center of military, commercial and religious significance.  Corinth had been rebuilt in 46 BC by Julius Caesar and made major Roman colony. By Paul’s time, Corinth was a major multicultural center, probably the wealthiest city in Greece with a population perhaps of 750,00 persons.  As a religious center it was the home of Aphrodite, the goddess of love and the home of rampant prostitution, some of it tied to the temple of Aphrodite.  To be called a “Corinthian girl” was not a compliment. Homosexuality was a major influence as well, tied to the temple of Apollo, the god of human/male beauty.

And, of course, there was a Jewish synagogue.

1. Read chapter 18, verses 1-8. Who does Paul meet in Corinth and why are they there? When Paul becomes a guest in their home, what does he learn they have in common and what does that knowledge result in?

2. Paul begins by debating both the Jews and Greeks in the synagogue? What does he tell the Jews?  What is their reaction to Paul ultimately?

3. What does Paul do and say as a result of their response?

4. Paul essentially starts a church in the home of a Gentile named Titius Justus. What are we told about TJ?  Who is a prt of this church? What do they do when they hear the gospel from Paul?

5 Why do you think they believed when the other Jewish people did not?

6. Read verses 9-11.  What does Paul experience? What does this encouragement prompt Paul to do?

7. Read verses 12-17.  During Paul’s 18 months, however, he is not without opposition. Why does Gallio throw out the case against Paul?  What is the response of these Jewish opponents of Paul?