Charles Spurgeon Commentary Acts 18
Charles Spurgeon Commentary
Acts 18
Charles Spurgeon Commentary
Acts 18
"After these things he departed from Athens, and came to Corinth." — Acts 18:1 (ASV)
Another most important city in Greece, where he struck at the very center of the country by preaching the gospel, since these were the centers of commerce and also of literature.
"And he found a certain Jew named Aquila, a man of Pontus by race, lately come from Italy, with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to depart from Rome: and he came unto them;" — Acts 18:2 (ASV)
Lodged with them.
"and because he was of the same trade, he abode with them, and they wrought, for by their trade they were tentmakers. And he reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath, and persuaded Jews and Greeks." — Acts 18:3-4 (ASV)
He stepped into the synagogue, and when the time came for strangers to address the audience he began to argue that Jesus was the true Messiah. Nor did he argue in vain, for there were some who were persuaded. He endeavored to persuade them all, both the Jews and the Gentiles, who came together to listen to him.
"But when Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia, Paul was constrained by the word, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ." — Acts 18:5 (ASV)
He may not have brought out the whole truth at first, but argued little by little to bring them, as it were, up the steps until they should be prepared to receive the grand doctrine that Jesus is the anointed one. HIS spirit was pressed at last to come to that point more fully.
"And when they opposed themselves 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." — Acts 18:6 (ASV)
Oh! what a blessed "from henceforth" that was for you and for me! He no longer confines his ministry to Jews, but goes out seeking the Gentiles –takes up his true commission – becomes the apostle of the Gentiles. But let all of us take heed of opposing the gospel, because it is not to be trifled with impunity. A time comes at last when God's gospel seems to have done with us. Its ministers say, "We are clean." They shake off the dust of their feet, and they go elsewhere to proclaim the gospel to others who may be less opposed to it. What a thing to be able to say, "I am clean." I wonder how many in this house of prayer could say that of everybody round about them, "I am clean. The blood be on your own heads. I am clean.
I have spoken to you about Christ. I have warned you. I have invited you." "Night and day with tears," as he says elsewhere. "I have pleaded with you, and now I am clean. I am clean." You know there is many a man that is clean in the blood of Christ in that sense who has not yet discharged his obligations to his fellow men, and cannot say, "I am clean." I thought it a grand thing of George Fox, the Quaker, when he was dying, when he said, "I am clean; I am clean of the blood of all men." To the best of his knowledge he had fearlessly proclaimed all the truth that he knew, where-over he had opportunity. O ministers of Christ, teachers of the young, and all you that know Christ, the Holy Spirit be upon you, so that you may speak the gospel till you can say, "I am clean."
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