Did Paul Preach Seventy-eight Sabbaths at Corinth?—Acts xviii.
To some this may seem a strange question. It is strange that it should be necessary to ask it. But as it has been denied by our opponents, and the assertion made that such a declaration was either the result of ignorance or willful perversion on the part of Sabbatarians, it may be well to notice it. Verse 1. “After these things Paul departed from Athens and came to Corinth.” Verse 4. “And he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks;” and after the coming of Silas and Timotheus, being pressed in Spirit he testified that Jesus was the Christ; and when they opposed themselves, blasphemed, &c., he shook his raiment, and said that from henceforth he would turn to the Gentiles. Verses 5, 6. Here says the opponent, is the end of Paul’s preaching on the Sabbath in Corinth. But let us see. Verse 7. “And he departed thence,” (whence? From the synagogue. Where was the synagogue? In Corinth,) “and entered into a certain man’s house named Justus,” (where was this house?) “whose house joined hard to the synagogue!” And the chief ruler of the synagogue and all his house believed, “and many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized.” Verse 8. Then Paul is in Corinth yet. Verse 9. “Then spake the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision, Be not afraid but speak and hold not thy peace; for I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee; for I have much people in this city.” What city? Corinth. “And he continued there a year and six months (which would include seventy-eight Sabbaths) teaching the word of God among them.” Verses 10, 11. The record is now fairly before us. All the departure Paul made, was from the Jewish synagogue to the house of Justus which was hard by. He continued in the city a year and six months. And although it is stated that Paul while he had the use of the synagogue reasoned every Sabbath, which is not distinctly stated after the place of his meetings was changed from the synagogue to a house hard by, still we have the command of the Lord to him to “speak and hold not his peace;” and we do not believe that Paul was disobedient to the heavenly “vision.” To assert on these premises that Paul did not “speak” but held his peace, on the Sabbath during his sojourn in Corinth, is an assertion as groundless as it is gratuitous. Those who make it seem to be endeavoring to creep out of a key-hole to avoid unfavorable conclusions, rather than fairly meeting, and acknowledging the force of, true Apostolic Example.