After this Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. There he found a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had ordered all Jews to leave Rome. Paul went to see them, and, because he was of the same trade, he stayed with them, and they worked together—by trade they were tentmakers. Every sabbath he would argue in the synagogue and would try to convince Jews and Greeks. When Silas and Timothy arrived from Macedonia, Paul was occupied with proclaiming the Word, testifying to the Jews that the Messiah was Jesus. When they opposed and reviled him, in protest he shook the dust from his clothes and said to them, “Your blood be on your own heads! I am innocent. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.” Acts 18:1-6
In 46 B.C. Julius Caesar rebuilt Corinth after it was destroyed by the Romans 100 years prior. After speaking in Athens at the Areopagus Paul is led by Spirit to Corinth where the Lord has him meet Priscilla and Aquila, Jews who give their lives to Christ’s Lordship. Paul stays in Corinth evangelizing for 18 months.
Whereas the city of Athens was overcome by idol worship, Corinth is knee deep in sexual pleasures and selfish self-focus. Corinth, a city of 400,000, has a temple built to the Greek goddess Aphrodite, or Venus (Roman name). In that temple there are 1000 prostitute priestesses. Corinth’s sins are similar to some today.
Now Paul has come to Corinth on his second missionary journey, and will end his third missionary journey here. In the synagogue he is preaching the Lordship of Jesus Christ (ref. 1 Corinthians chapters 1-4) and Christ Resurrected (reference 1 Corinthians chapter 15). Loving and imitating Christ enables Christians to live in the Lordship of Jesus Christ. Solamente Christos, Only Christ.
As Paul is preaching in the synagogue, proclaiming the Word of God and testifying to the Lordship of Jesus Christ, a riot breaks out against Paul. These are those who reject Christ Resurrected. In response, Paul shakes the dust from his clothes and says, “Your blood be on your own heads! I am innocent. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.” (V. 6)
Paul shakes his clothing indicating that soon God would shake them off from relationship to Him, unworthy to be numbered within His people. Paul says, “I am pure,” or “innocent,” whereas he has given his full testimony against sin and is calling them to repent, to accept Christ’s salvation. Hereafter Paul does not break off all contact with the Jews, he just does not go into the synagogues to preach and argue Christ anymore.
Holy Spirit uses Paul to call folks into honoring the Lordship of Jesus Christ. Holy Spirit is the heart’s interpreter about spiritual things to those who are spiritual. (1 Cor. 2:13J. Those who are spiritual discern the Lordship of Jesus Christ by the Holy Spirit’s help and thus have the mind of Christ. So as Paul founds the Church at Corinth through Priscilla and Aquila he brings the Revolution of Christ, planted in a city seeped in sin.
As we look at our cities and do comparisons we may see the same sins– immoral and abhorrent sexual pleasures and excessive self concentration. It is the Spirit which reveals this to you so that you are called by Spirit to stand against these using the Word of God, the Lordship of Jesus Christ, New Birth and salvation, and answer your call to speak a similar message as Paul in Athens or Corinth.
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Lordship of Jesus Christ– making Jesus Christ the Lord of your life for the rest of your life. How do you make Him Lord of your life? You say to Him: I repent of my sins, I make you Lord of my life, and I receive the New Birth (John 3). Then listen to Bible Based preaching (AlphaChurch.org), read and study the Scriptures– Spirit helps you with a new spiritual understanding, study the Scriptures (AtMyFathersDesk.com), and choose Christian friends who help you grow in your faith in Him. Learn obedience to Jesus Christ.Christ is calling you. Will you respond where you are with the words Spirit gives to you?
