PAUL AT CORINTH
PA̤UL went from Athens to Cŏŕ inth, another city in the land of Greece. He was alone, for his fellow workers, Sī́ las and Tĭḿ o-thy̆, had not yet come from Thĕs-sa-lō̇-nī́ cȧ. But in Cŏŕ inth, Paul met people who soon became his dear friends. They were a man named Ăq́ uĭ-lȧ and his wife Prĭś ciĺ lȧ, who had lately come from Rōme to Cŏŕ inth. Every Jew in those times was taught some trade, and Pa̤ul's trade was the weaving of a rough cloth used for making tents. It happened that Ăq́ uĭ-lȧ and Prĭś ciĺ lȧ were tent-makers also, and so Pa̤ul went to live in their house, and they worked together at making tents.
On the Sabbath-days Pa̤ul went into the synagogue, and there preached the gospel and talked about Christ with the Jews̝ and also with the Greeks who worshipped God in the synagogue. Some believed Pa̤ul's words, and some refused to believe, but opposed Pa̤ul, and spoke against him. After a time Sī́ las and Tĭḿ o-thy̆ came from Thĕś sa-lṓ -nī́ cȧ to meet Pa̤ul. They brought to him word about the church at Thĕs-sa-lō̇-nī́ cȧ, and some questions that were troubling the believers there. To answer these questions, Pa̤ul wrote from Cŏŕ inth two letters, which you can read in the New Testament. They are called "The First Epistle to the Thĕs-sa-lṓ nĭ-ans̝," and "The Second Epistle to the Thĕs-sa-ló nĭ-ans̝." These two letters are the earliest of Paul's writings that have been kept. We do not know that Pa̤ul wrote any letters to churches earlier than these; but if he did write any, the letters have been lost.
Now that Sī́ las and Tĭḿ o-thy̆, as well as Ăq́ uĭ-lȧ and Prĭs-cĭĺ la, were with Pa̤ul, he was no more alone, and he began to preach even more earnestly than before, telling the Jews̝ that Jesus was the Christ of God. When he found that the Jews̝ would not listen, but spoke evil words against him and against Christ, Pa̤ul shook out his garment, as though he were shaking dust from it, and he said to the Jew, "Your blood shall be upon your own heads, not on me; I am free from sin, for I have given you the gospel, and you will not hear it. From this time I will cease speaking to you, and will go to the Ġĕń tīles̝.”
And Pa̤ul went out of the synagogue, and with him went those who believed in Jesus. He found a house near to the synagogue belonging to a man named Tī́ tus Jŭś tus, a Gentile who worshipped God, and in that house Pa̤ul preached the gospel to all who came, both Jews̝ and Gĕń tīles̝. Many who heard believed in Christ, and were baptized; and among them was a Jew named Crĭś pus, who had been the chief ruler of the synagogue. But most of those who joined the Church of Christ in Cŏŕ inth were not Jews̝, but Gĕń̄ tīles̝, men and women who turned to God from idols. One night the Lord came to Pa̤ul in a vision, and said to him, "Pa̤ul, do not be afraid; but speak, and do not hold thy peace. I am with thee, and no one shall come against thee to do thee harm; for I have many people in this city.”
And Pa̤ul stayed in Cŏŕ inth a year and six months, teaching the word of God. After a time the Jews̝ in a great crowd rushed upon Pa̤ul, and seized him, and brought him into the court before the Rṓ man governor of Greece, a ruler whose name was Gărĺ lĭ-ō. They said to the governor, "This man is persuading people to worship God in a way forbidden by the law.”
Pa̤ul was just opening his mouth to speak in answer to this charge when Găĺ l-ō, the governor, spoke to the Jews̝, "O ye Jews̝, if this were a matter of wrongdoing or of wickedness, I would listen to you. But if these are questions about words, and names, and your law, look after it yourselves, for I will not be a judge of such things." And Gaĺ lĭ-o drove all the Jews̝ out of his court. Then some of the Greeks seized Sŏś the-nēs̝, who was the chief ruler of the synagogue, and beat him before the judge's seat in the court-room. But Găĺ li-ō did not care for any of these things; for he thought it was a quarrel over small matters.
After staying many days Pa̤ul took leave of the brethren in the church at Cŏŕ inth, and sailed away in a ship across the Æ-ġḗan Sea to Ĕph́ e-sŭs, which was a great city in Ā́ s̝iȧ Mī́ nor. With Pa̤ul were his friends Ăq́ uĭ-lȧ. and Prĭs-cĭĺ lȧ. At Ĕph́ e-sŭs, Pa̤ul went into the synagogue of the Jews̝ and talked with them about the gospel and about Christ. He could stay only for a little while, although they asked him to remain longer; but he said, "I must go away now; but if it be the will of God, I will come again to you.”
And he set sail from Ĕph́ e-sŭs, but left Ăq́ uĭ-lȧ and Prĭs-ciĺ lȧ there until he should return. Pa̤ul sailed over the Great Sea to Cæs-a-rḗ ȧ, in the land of Jū-dḗ ȧ. At that place he landed, and from thence went up to Jē̇-rṳ́ sā̇-lĕm, and visited the mother-church. Then he journeyed back to Ań tĭ-ŏch, the city from which he had set forth. And this was the end of Pa̤ul's second journey among the Gentiles preaching the gospel.
Lesson 41. Paul's Second Journey.
(Tell Stories 10, 11 and 12 in Part Seventh.)
1. Who went with Paul on his second missionary journey? Silas and Timothy.
2. What great land did they visit on this journey? Europe.
3. In what city of Europe did they begin preaching the gospel? In Philippi.
4. What was done to Paul and Silas at Philippi? They were beaten and put in prison.
5. How were they set free from the prison at Philippi? By an earthquake.
6. What did the jailor of the prison at Philippi ask Paul and Silas when the earthquake came? "What must I do to be saved?”
7. What did Paul and Silas say to the jailor? "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.”
8. In what city after Philippi did they preach the gospel? In Thessalonica.
9. In what city did Paul preach a sermon on a hill? In Athens, on Mars Hill.
10. Where did Paul stay two years, preaching? At Corinth.