Brief Summary Of Paul, Silas And Timothy At Corinth

Acts chapter eighteen
Paul, Silas and Timothy at Corinth; Paul symbolically turns from the Jews, to go to the Gentiles at Corinth (vv1-6); Paul starts a work with Crispus, a Jew, who believes along with his house; many Corinthians believe and are baptised (vv7-8); Paul continues to teach at the Corinthian church for eighteen months (vv9-11); Paul departs and teaches in the synagogue at Ephesus (vv18-20); Paul strengthens the disciples in Galatia and Phrygia (v23); Apollos at Ephesus; shown more truth by Aquila and Priscilla; helps many who believed and convinces many Jews that the Christ they are waiting for is Jesus (vv24-28).
Acts chapter nineteen
Paul preaches the gospel to some disciples of John the Baptist at Ephesus; they believe and
are baptised (vv1-7); Paul preaches in the school of Tyrannus in Ephesus for two years (8-10); Paul’s labours in Ephesus reap many conversions (vv11-20).
Acts chapter twenty
Paul raises to life the young man who fell and died at Troas (v6-12); Paul addresses the Ephesian elders at Miletus; warns them about the troubles a head (vv17-38).
Acts chapter twenty-one
Paul returns to Jerusalem (vv1-17); Paul tells the Jerusalem elders and the apostles the things God had wrought amongst the Gentiles (18-19); Paul’s vow to calm down the Jews (vv20-26); the Jews stir up the people to kill Paul (vv27-31); Paul is rescued by the Roman captain (vv32-40).
Acts chapter twenty-two
Paul’s defence as a Christian (vv1-22); Paul rescued as he was a Roman citizen (vv23-30).
Acts chapter twenty-three
Paul before the Sanhedrin (vv1-9); the conspiracy to kill Paul (vv10-22); Paul sent by protective guard to Caesarea to Governor Felix (vv23-35).
Acts chapter twenty-four
Paul twice before Felix; Paul preaches to Felix (vv1-24); Felix convicted but not converted (v25); left a prisoner for two years (vv26-27).
Acts chapter twenty-five
Paul before Governor Festus (vv1-9); Paul appeals to Caesar (vv10-21); Paul’s innocence stated (vv22-27).
Acts chapter twenty-six
Paul’s defence to King Agrippa, almost persuading him to repent and believe (vv1-30); Paul’s innocence stated again (vv31-32).
Acts chapter twenty-seven
Paul sent to Rome by ship; caught up in a storm; ship wrecked but all get safely to land (vv1-44).
Acts chapter twenty-eight
They land on the island of Melita; the viper (snake) bites Paul; Paul’s recovery from certain death (vv1-6); Paul heals Publius’ father (vv7-8); others healed (v9); Paul sails to Rome (vv10-16); Paul preaches to the Jews at Rome; some believe (vv17-24); Paul condemns the Jews and directs his attention to the Gentiles; Paul teaches for two years about the Lord Jesus Christ (vv25-31).
What can be said after reading through Acts? Do the apostles and Paul do things contrary to or in opposition to the Great Commission? Do they baptise first then seek to get a confirming amen to the gospel message afterwards? Do they impose a covenantal, cultural mandate on the people they meet? Do they rail against the ideologies of the Roman Empire? Do they embark on a campaign to defend the rights of slaves and women? The answer to all these questions is
NO.
They proclaim the glory of God and salvation through the Lord Jesus Christ. They accuse the Jews of his murder but even moderate this by declaring that Jesus’ death was part of the plan of God to save those fore-ordained to believe and to be saved. They clearly make disciples by teaching the word of God and explaining what it says. At times a part of the Gentile culture is used as an example to allow the conversation to proceed on to the biblical truth. They speak and people believe. Nowhere does salvation come to any by spiritual osmosis. This emphasis on teaching may be why the KJV used the word ‘teach’ instead of ‘disciple’ in Matthew 28:19. The text says, ‘disciple the nations’ so one might be led to ask something like, ‘how do we disciple’? Acts answers this question.
It is clear that the apostles and Paul went everywhere and only failed to go when commanded by God not to go.
They baptised and taught their disciples. Only in a few cases is the Acts story silent on their baptism. One should not use this as a reason to not baptise believers. The best explanation is either Luke was not aware of their baptism or Paul did not pass on this information to Luke or he was unaware of the circumstances of their baptisms. Remember that baptism was a very big deal with Paul at Corinth. This has been twisted by paedobaptists to imply that baptism was non-essential when Paul in I Corinthians 1:17 says this: For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. They miss the point of Paul’s words. Paul is not dismissing baptism but seeking to right the Corinthian ship which had clicks or parties formed on the basis of who baptised them. If we read or examine verses 11-16 preceding v17, then this becomes crystal clear:
I Corinthians 1:11-16 says: 11For it has been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you. 12Now this I say, that every one of you say, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. 13Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were ye baptized in the name of Paul? 14I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius; 15Lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name. 16And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any other.