The first part of Acts 18 describes the founding of the church in Corinth. Although one of the most problematic of the early churches given the nature and tone of Paul’s two epistles to the Corinthians, God had a special plan for this Greek city known for its linked sins of idolatry and immorality. I find it significant that despite its prominence, there is no record of a church being formed in Athens at this time, as Paul departed from there after meeting with considerable skepticism, although some believed (end of Ch. 17). But God used it to bring Paul to Corinth, just as he used a dismissive command from the Roman Emperor Claudius to move Aquila and Priscilla from Rome to Corinth. They joined with Paul and established themselves financially in Corinth in their common business of tentmaking, while Paul preached every Sabbath in the synagogue there (18:2-3). Finally, God brought Silas and Timothy to Corinth from Macedonia (v. 5). Together, this team had an effective ministry in the city despite intense resistance from many Jews. Verse 8 tells us that even:
Crispus, the leader of the synagogue, believed in the Lord with all his household, and many of the Corinthians when they heard were believing and being baptized.
After direct encouragement from the Lord Himself to continue speaking boldly, Paul settled in Corinth for an entire year and a half, teaching the word of God among them (vv. 9-11). The Corinthian church was born and began to be discipled as a result of God bringing a diverse team together from different places and backgrounds, but who shared a common faith in Jesus Christ and a common desire to see people come to faith in Him and His church grow. They were not intimidated by persecution or distracted by the worldliness of the city, but obeyed their Lord’s command to preach the gospel and make disciples. It’s a perfect model for us as the body of Christ as we consider the times in which we live.