Acts 18:8, commentary and pictures

At Corinth Paul proclaimed Jesus as the promised Messiah, proving His claims from Moses and the prophets and lifting up the cross, and Crispus the chief ruler of the synagogue believed on the Lord with all his house and was baptized with them, while many other Corinthians hearing believed and were baptized. He did not win them by charming oratory or mere philosophy that leaves the heart untouched, but by the grace and power of God moving upon hearers, with angels cooperating and the truth commended by the daily lives of the workers as well as their words. Through a year and six months of labor among a people almost wholly given to idolatry and gross immorality, this preaching raised up a flourishing church of Jews and Gentiles, bringing many truly converted from darkness into gospel light. Gentile converts were more numerous than Jewish converts, because the Gentiles were in a more favorable condition to receive the truth, not being walled in by the maxims and traditions of priests and elders. The conversion of Crispus did not convince stubborn opposers but intensified their hatred, and having no arguments against the truth they resorted to deception, malignant attack, and blasphemy of Jesus, yet this same fruit proves the divine character of the mission and calls workers today to branch out and make the world their field rather than laboring for the churches only.

Corinth's Setting and Context

Acts 18:8 belongs to the very beginning of Paul's labors during his residence in Corinth. Corinth was a thoroughfare of travel and a leading commercial center where people from many lands gathered, offering a place where a witness for God's truth could be established, though serious obstacles stood against the progress of the work. There Aquila and Priscilla were among the Jews who had taken up residence, and Paul abode with them after becoming acquainted with their character, and they afterward became distinguished as earnest workers for Christ.

The city was almost wholly given up to idolatry, with Venus as the favorite goddess and many demoralizing rites and ceremonies connected with her worship. Its people had become conspicuous even among the heathen for gross immorality, with little thought or care beyond the pleasures and gaieties of the hour. This included its pleasure-loving merchants, among whom Paul preached the gospel.

Paul's Preaching and Converts

Paul preached Christ as the promised Messiah, proving His claim from Moses and the prophets and setting forth the cross of Christ. He did not depend on charming oratory or mere philosophical discussion that leaves the heart untouched, but on the grace and power of God. His words moved the hearers to faith, bringing conviction and belief to those who listened in Corinth.

Those conversions displayed God's grace and power, with angels cooperating in the work. The gospel was made known through the workers' daily lives as well as through their words. Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house and was baptized with his household, and many of the Corinthians hearing believed and were baptized.

That preaching raised up a flourishing church at Corinth made up of Jews and Gentiles. It was the fruit of a year and six months of labor preaching the truth to those in the darkness of error. Many were truly converted, brought from darkness into the light of the gospel, and this proved the divine character of his mission. Gentile converts were more numerous than Jewish converts, because the Gentiles were in a more favorable condition to receive the truth, not being walled in by the maxims and traditions of priests and elders.

Opposition and Ongoing Witness

The baptism of Crispus with all his house, together with the many Corinthians who heard and believed and were baptized, did not convince the stubborn opposers but intensified their hatred and opposition toward Paul. His conversion angered and exasperated them instead of persuading them. As the number of converts increased, their opposition grew.

Their very rage proved they had no arguments to show that Paul was not preaching the truth. For lack of evidence they resorted to deception and malignant attack. They blasphemed the truth and the name of Jesus of Nazareth.

The work at Corinth, with its confusion and strife, was part of what Paul afterward reported to James and the elders at Jerusalem four years after he had last met them. In telling of Corinth he had to speak of those who spread confusion and strife in the church there, yet he told it with gentleness and courtesy. He avoided needless wounding and dwelt on points of agreement. That report of gospel progress showed the power of God working with his efforts. It softened feeling toward him, convinced the brethren that prejudice against him was unfounded, and led them to glorify God with hearty amens.

The same verse calls workers today to prove the divine character of their mission in the same way. They are to branch out more and make the world their field of labor rather than working for the churches only.