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as a whole rejected Paul’s testimony, “opposed themselves and blasphemed, his testimony was not in vain after all. A large and singularly gifted church grew up in Corinth. As they would not listen to his testimony, he left them and went to those who would, but he did not leave them until he had given a full testimony. In the face of their opposition and rejection he could say, “I am clean.” It is a great thing for any man to be able to say that. We can only say that we are “clean from the blood of all men” (Acts 20:26) when we can say as Paul did, “for I shrank not from declaring unto you the whole counsel of God” (ch. 20:27). If we do not warn.- men, if we do not declare unto them the way' of life, then their blood is upon us (Ezek, 33:4, 8, 9). Are we indeed clean from the blood of all in our homes, in our churches, in our Sunday School classes, in our community, and in the lands beyond the sea? As they would not receive his testi mony Paul left them, but he did not go far away; he went to a certain man’s house that was immediately adjacent to the syna gogue. Doubtless he chose this place> for his gatherings in order that he might still influence some Jews. The owner of the house, as is evident from the way he is described, and the usage of the word so translated, was not a full proselyte to Judaism, but had accepted many of the great truths for which the Jews stood, occupying the same relation to them that Cornelius did (cf. ch. 10:2). There is a school of Biblical interpretation that holds that a new dispensation begins at Acts 28:25-28, because in that place Paul is recorded as saying that he was going to leave the Jews who would not hear him, and turn to the Gentiles, but we see in the passage immediately before us Paul saying the same thing and doing the same thing, and there is no more reason for say ing a new dispensation began there than that one began here. The truth is, no new dispensation has begun since Pentecost. Paul’s labors in the house of Titus Justus bore abundant fruit, even the ruler of the
could be no possible doubt; it was this man Paul, and yet he wrought with-his hands (cf. ch. 20:34, 35). Paul got right down to honest toil and set a wholesome example for the church and for us (1 Cor. 9:6-12; 2 Thess. 3:8, 9; 1 Thess. 2:9). We are in great need of many Pauls today, so on fire with the gospel and love for souls that they will not wait for some one to promise support before they preach, but if need be support themselves in order that they may be able to preach the gospel free of charge. Paul also preached while he worked. He had an audience of but two, a small audience indeed, but how those quiet meetings counted for eternity. Sunday, March 4 . Acts 18 : 4 , 5- Paul must have been thoroughly tired by the end of the week, but he .found no excuse for absenting himself from the synagogue. Every- Sabbath found him at his post, reasoning'with the Jews who gathered at the synagogue, and persuading them and also thè Gentiles. Note the expression in v. 5, “Paul was constrained by the Word” (R.V.). It means that Paul had meditated upon the Word of God until it had gotten such a hold on him that he could not keep still (cf. Jer. 20:9; Acts 4 :20). The Word impelled him on. The Word showed him that Jesus was the Christ and so overpowered him with the thought that he could not keep it to him self, he must tell it out. This was the one great truth he emphasized, that Jesus was the Christ (cf. ch. 9:20-22). He did not preach Jesus as an example merely, but as a Divinely anointed Priest and King. Monday, March 5 . Acts 18 : 6 - 8 . As faithful as Paul’s testimony was, the - Jews were not willing to receive it ; “they opposed themselves, and blasphemed. The most faithful testimony will often be received in that way. That does not prove that the testimony is untrue or even that it has been unwisely put; it simply shows the thoroughgoing badness of the hearts of even religious men. But though the Jews
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