mentioned first simply as a matter of courtesy. In 1 Cor. 16:19 Aquila is again mentioned first. Though Paul was called to be an Apostle, and was greatly honored of God as an Apostle, nevertheless he did not think it beneath his dignity to do man ual labor. There are men today who think it. very wrong, “a lack of faith,” to do manual labor for their own support, or the support of their family, because God has “called” them to preach. If there was ever a man about whose call to preach there could be no doubt, it is this man Paul, and yet he wrought with his hands (cf. ch. 20:34, 35). Paul got right down to hon est 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, men 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. v. 4. “And he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and persuaded the Jews, and the ( omit, the) Greeks.” Paul must "have been thoroughly tired by the end of
Christ, and he could not keep it to him self, he must tell it out. The one great truth he emphasized was that Jesus was the Christ (cf. ch. 9:20-22). He did not preach Jesus as an example merely, but as the Divinely anointed Priest and King. v. 6 . “And when they opposed them selves, and 'blasphemed, he shook out his raiment, and said unto them, Your blood be upon your own heads, I am clean: from henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles." As faithful as Paul’s testimony was, the Jew's were not willing to receive it, “they opposed thefnselves, and blasphemed.” The most faithful testimony will often be received in that way. That does not prove that it is untrue, o r that it has been unwisely put, it simply shows that thor ough-going ’badness of the hearts of even religious men. -But though the Jews as a whole rejected Paul’s testimony and “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 that would, but .he did not leave them until he had given a full testimony. I 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
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