Acts 18:1-17
March 23, 2003
Discouragement and Encouragement
"My heart is sunk…. It seemed to me I should never have any success among the Indians. My soul was weary of my life; I longed for death, beyond measure."
So wrote David Brainerd, describing his early weeks as a missionary to Native Americans at the beginning of the 1700s. Things didn't improve much the first two years. He felt his prospects of winning converts "as dark as midnight." Three years into the work, though, he finally witnessed a revival among the Indians of Crossweesung in New England, and after another year and a half, the number of converts numbered 150—not much by today's mass evangelistic standards, but profoundly significant in his day. Unfortunately, Brainerd died after only five years on the mission field, at age 29.
To say David Brainerd was discouraged in his brief and seemingly unsuccessful career as a missionary would be an understatement. To read his journal is a glimpse into dark tunnels of doubt, encroaching insecurities, and the pervasive fears we all face at various times. Our doubts, insecurities and fears may have little to do with the work of being a missionary, but their troublesomeness is nevertheless real, painful and matters very much to God.
That we are able to read Brainerd’s journals and peer into his struggles is largely due to what happened shortly after his death. Jonathan Edwards, America's great theologian, published Brainerd's journals. These were read widely in America and Europe. William Carey, the "father of modern missions," the man who ignited the Protestant missionary movement, which has been responsible for millions upon millions of conversions worldwide, pointed to Brainerd's journals as a key source of his inspiration to take up the missionary life. Who, then, can judge whether our work is worthwhile? Certainly we cannot when we're in the midst of discouragement. (taken from Ruth Tucker, From Jerusalem to Irian Jaya: A Biographical History of Christian Missions (1983), pp. 90-93)
Do you face discouragement? What drags you down so you can’t face another day? You may not be plagued by pervasive depression, but you may find your uncertainty about what tomorrow brings to be debilitating. It may be job uncertainty, a rocky romance, a shattered marriage… or no marriage at all which causes you to wonder how you can face life. When confronted with difficulties, what’s your response? Where can you go to be encouraged?
Our passage opens the door into that question. The reality and painfulness of discouragement is part and parcel of the Christian life. It is important to remember that as we read God’s Word that there is no triumphalism, none of the glory-stories that so permeate Christian biographies. As we watch the unfolding events from Iraq and remember back 12 years ago during the similar conflict, we can easily imagine that victory is also so easy, that success is just a matter of taking the next step. When that over confident optimism is applied to the Christian life and we come face to face with disease and death, with conflict and catastrophe we may easily wonder whether the good news is really all that good, whether the gospel works for me.
The discouragement Paul faced as an apostle certainly entailed the dramatic. We’ve seen times when he was beaten and imprisoned, run out of town and threatened. But those were not the only discouraging events in his life. The every day hardships, the ordinary misfortunes also would discourage: the long dusty miles trudging the highways of the Roman world, the sore legs, the tiredness, the sickness, the discomforts, the indifference of happy pagans, the suspicion of proud Jews, the sheer effort of going on and being faithful followers of Jesus Christ. Let’s look at discouragement and encouragement in light of Acts 18:1-17 (READ)
Discouragement 18:1-6
External discouragement
Discouragement comes from without and within. The source may be what we experience in the environment or our own inadequacies. It’s not so easy to distinguish between the two. Paul’s discouragement could easily have come from the city he was in.
In Acts 17-18 we see Paul focusing on the three centers of the ancient world: academic, economy and religion. In Athens he dialogued with the intelligentsia of the day, debating the philosophical underpinnings of Christianity. Corinth was the trade capital of Greece. Paul’s next stop on this missionary journey is Ephesus, where religion was the product of trade and discourse.
Corinth was located on the southern end of the isthmus connecting the Peloponnesus with the Greek mainland, a major center for commerce. It had two ports, Lechaeum on the west, which gave access to the Adriatic Sea, and Cenchrea on the east, opening into the Aegean Sea. The isthmus is only three and a half miles wide. Nero began a canal there, but was not completed until the 19th century. In Paul’s day ships unloaded at one port and carried overland the short distance to be reloaded on another ship at the other port. Small boats were placed on carts and transferred from one port to the other by means of a roadway specially designed for that purpose.
The people of Corinth were proud of the status of their city. Although destroyed by Roman armies more than a century before, Julius Caesar rebuilt the town in 46 B.C. Every two years the Isthmian games were held in Corinth. The city maintained political prestige as it was the capital of provincial Achaia, making it a city of greater importance over Athens. The cosmopolitan mix of "local Greeks, freedmen from Italy, Roman army veterans, businessmen and government officials, Orientals, . . . including a large number of Jews," lived in a "rip-roaring town" where, as Horace put it, "none but the tough could survive" (Epistles1.17.36; Longenecker 1981:480).
Behind the city, nearly 2,000 feet above sea level, rose the rocky eminence called the Acrocorinth. On its flat summit stood the temple of Aphrodite or Venus, the goddess of love. A thousand prostitutes served her and roamed the city's streets by night. The sexual promiscuity of Corinth was proverbial, so that to corinthianize meant to practice immorality. Corinth was `the Vanity Fair of the Roman Empire', a city which would discourage anyone who had the slightest sense of decency. It was a vast, teeming, thoroughly immoral place. If Athens represented the sins of the mind and intellect, Corinth exemplified the corruption of the flesh.
What external discouragements do you face? Over the past weeks as war seemed inevitable, for many there was a sense of dread, not a fear of losing a war, but of the impact of the action, the loss of lives, of the consequences which may not be known for years to come. Recognizing that we live in a fallen world, that all is not always bright sunshine and happiness can be discouraging.
The world in which we live exists in a state of an almost, but not yet. We know that good will come about, but evil remains. It is as though we are stuck in a Wisconsin March, a few sunny days here or there, a promise of Spring to come, but still the bitter snows, the grayness of the sky, the brown deadness of the land. Warmth and sunshine seems close, but too far and too long to wait. We may be discouraged by what is around us.
Internal discouragement
Personal inadequacies
Luke’s account does not give us much of glimpse into this, although we see glimmers of Paul’s own personal discouragement here. What helps us better understand what went on in Paul’s mind is what we read in 1 Corinthians 2:1-5 (read)
This passage causes some to say Paul regretted what he said to the Athenians, that he repented of his failed sermon at the Areopagus. But such is not the case. Paul does not repudiate the use philosophy or rhetoric to communicate the gospel, for in this letter he makes use of rhetorical arguments and godly wisdom. After Athens and while in Corinth, Paul is all the more convinced of the necessity to proclaim the same gospel he preached in Corinth, of the necessity for faith and repentance to be at the center of every message.
What stands out here is v3 - Paul admits that in the year and a half he was with them they saw him in weakness and in fear and much trembling. Not the image of the hard driven, always triumphant, super successful apostle. What his problem was, we do not know.
There is nothing more discouraging than to see your own weaknesses. We spend our entire lives denying our shortcomings and shifting blame for our failures. We are adept at listing strengths, but struggle to admit our inadequacies.
There are also signs of Paul’s discouragement due to personal inadequacies in Acts
We will look at Aquilla and Priscilla in a moment, but in v3, what is a help in his ministry is also a great hindrance and a source of discouragement. That he resorted to making tents was a work of necessity and a hindrance to what he felt God called him to do.
The word for “tentmaking” referred to a number of vocations. Tents were not the normal housing option for people in the world at that time, nor was there a huge camping craze in the Roman empire. The word used here may well have referred to those who worked with leather or goats hair, items associated not only with tents, but also with saddles, curtains, and rugs. For Paul to have a trade was not unusual, as rabbis said that all young men should learn a trade. Rabbi Judah says, "He that teaches not his son a trade is as if he taught him to be a thief."
There was a benefit for Paul to make use of his vocation as a tent maker while in Corinth.
The Corinthians may well have been distrustful of those who profited from their preaching. It was common for philosophers to travel from town to town, selling their teachings for a meal and lodging, thus living off the backs of hard working, but gullible citizens. Working freed Paul from the accusation of being a free-loader.
But such work kept Paul from doing what he believed God had called him to do: preach.
When Silas and Timothy arrive from Macedonia – he puts down the needle and thread and takes up God’s Word. Evidently Silas came with funds from other churches or they earned the income for Paul to preach. While there is nothing wrong with this bi-vocational approach, it kept Paul from doing what he did best and could be a source of discouragement.
Tent-making ministries are popular in our day. The term describes cross-cultural messengers of the gospel, who support themselves by their own professional or business expertise, while at the same time being involved in mission. Tent-making provides creative access to countries which would otherwise deny missionaries entrance. They provide a needed service, such as education or medicine, but also a freedom to build relationships and help establish churches.
But that helpful model may be a source of discouragement, as so much time is devoted to putting bread on the table and little time can is given to the gospel.
Personal rejection 5-6
While Paul was no doubt encouraged to be reunited with his friends, Silas and Timothy and he was able to completely devote himself to the Word and daily reason with Jews and Gentiles, that encouragement did not last long. Once again opposition arose and Paul felt the bitter sting of the gospel’s rejection.
This rejection is described as not just a polite disagreement, but a bitter refusal to consider what he said. The word “reviled” in v6 is literally blasphemed, so that Paul recognized that there came a point where he should no longer put himself in harms way. Paul’s response seems so severe to us, shaking off the dust, reminding his audience that they have only themselves to blame for their own damnation. This response is in keeping with the prophets of the Old Testament as Jeremiah, Moses, and Joshua all expressed frustration at the rejection they faced when used by God.
While our response may not be to shake the dust off our feet, we have all felt the sting of rejection. We know how demoralizing it is to be rebuffed by those we consider to be friends.
Encouragement 18:7-17
God encourages with particular people 7-8
Paul could not overlook the help of Aquilla and Priscilla, Silas and Timothy. Their presence was no doubt an important encouragement for him. They too knew the cost of discipleship. Luke briefly mentions the events that brought them to Corinth.
While Aquilla was from Pontus, on the southern shore of the Black Sea, he migrated to Italy. But while in Rome, he and his wife Priscilla were forced to leave by the Emperor Claudius. The Roman writer Suetonius in Life of Claudius (25:4) refers to this event when he reports: “the Jews were making constant disturbances at the instigation of Chrestus, he banished them from Rome'.
Chrestus, most likely a Latin reference to Christ, was at the root of these riots. Jews, both those who accepted and those who rejected Jesus as Messiah, were forced to leave. While this couple no doubt were discouraged by the events in their lives, were used of God to come alongside Paul to encourage him.
This pattern of encouragement continued as Silas and Timothy rejoined Paul, enabling him to do his work more effectively. There also were those who responded positively to the gospel, Titius Justus as well as Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue who, with his household, believed and were baptized. These events no doubt encouraged Paul.
Christian friends are too easily treated as hearers of our complaints rather than as causes of encouragement and as resources provided by the Lord to strengthen us in our Christian life.
In what the news called "The Miracle at Quecreek," nine miners trapped for three days 240 feet underground in a water-filled mine shaft "decided early on they were either going to live or die as a group." The 55 degree water threatened to kill them slowly by hypothermia, so when one would get cold, the other eight would huddle around the person and warm that person, and when another person got cold, the favor was returned.
"Everybody had strong moments," miner Harry B. Mayhugh told reporters after being released from Somerset Hospital. "But any certain time maybe one guy got down, and then the rest pulled together. And then that guy would get back up, and maybe someone else would feel a little weaker, but it was a team effort. That's the only way it could have been." They faced incredibly hostile conditions together—and they all came out alive together. ("Teamwork Helped Miners Survive Underground," CNN.com (7-28-02)
God encourages with precious promises 9-11
God speaks to Paul one night in a vision. What is promised to Paul is certainly specific to his situation, but we can draw applications from what was said for our encouragement. Paul’s encouragement comes not in circumstances or even in the people God has placed in his life, nor his periodic success in his job as an apostle. Rather the ultimate encouragement comes in what God says he has done and will do. There are five promises here:
Do not be afraid
Throughout Scripture God repeatedly gives this command which has as its basis an important promise. Again and again this command is given as a reminder that there is nothing we ever face that should so convince us that all is hopeless. God’s control in the midst of the worst circumstances is a truth we must never forget. When we fear, we are denying who is really in control of our lives. This is at the heart of what 1 John 4:18-19 tells us.
Keep on speaking, do not be silent
This can be summarized for each of us by the reminder that we must all be faithful to our calling. Where has God placed us? What is our vocation? If what we do is within the bounds of God’s declared will, if our vocation is God-honoring – then continue in that. This is at the heart of the letter to those in exile in Jeremiah 29 we read earlier – live a life which honors God.
A man stopped to watch a Little League baseball game. He asked one of the youngsters what the score was. "We're losing 18-0," was the answer.
"Well," said the man. "I must say you don't look discouraged."
"Discouraged?" the boy said, puzzled. "Why should we be discouraged? We haven't come to bat yet." (Stan Toler, God Has Never Failed Me, but He's Sure Scared Me to Death a Few Times, 1995)
For I am with you
Here is the reason that these commands can and must be obeyed – God is with you. Fix your eyes on Christ, remember what he said before he ascended – I am with you always, to the end of the age. That promise presence is what we must remind ourselves whenever we find ourselves discouraged. Again Jeremiah 29 – I know the plans I have for you…
This was the important lesson which Paul taught the Corinthians years later when he wrote in 2 Corinthians 12:7, that God used distressing events in Paul’s life to keep him focused not on his own abilities, but on God’s grace. Those who experience the strengthening and enabling grace of God are more, not less, sensitive to their own frailties, and more, not less, humbled in their dependence upon the Lord.
No one is going to harm you
The Lord assured Paul that on this occasion he would be kept in complete safety. This is not to be taken as a universal promise for every situation Paul or any other Christian might face. Martyrs have been suffering and dying in every generation. Paul was not spared martyrdom.
We are reminded that even the forfeiture of our lives cannot negate the ultimate reality of God’s promise to keep his own from harm. John 10:29 – No one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand
Because I have many people in this city
The Lord had a future for the church in Corinth. As yet unsaved people were marked out for conversion to Christ. Paul was certainly discouraged by the rejection he experienced of the gospel. But that rejection was not immutable. Even the lost are under God’s sovereign care.
God is at work in the world 12-17
What happens next only serves to illustrate what God has promised. God is at work even through a frightening situation as Paul is once again accused of undermining society with the gospel. Having been brought before the governor of the region, his case is thrown out before it is heard.
What is more, Sosthenes, who apparently brought the charges against Paul, gets a taste of his own medicine as the crowd attacks him instead.
Time will not permit unpacking this further, but our encouragement comes not from our success in those areas we deem so important to us. Encouragement comes not in having the impeccable home, the adoring spouse and well behaved kids. It comes not from finding the precise job that fits you to a tee. God’s encouragement for us comes in the form of those around us who will remind us to remember God’s promised presence. That no matter what falls our way, God has not left us as orphans, but is caring for us especially when discouragement seems to reign supreme.
For years William Wilberforce pushed Britain's Parliament to abolish slavery.
Discouraged, he was about to give up. His elderly friend, John Wesley, heard of it and from his deathbed called for pen and paper. With trembling hand, Wesley wrote: "Unless God has raised you up for this very thing, you will be worn out by the opposition of men and devils. But if God be for you, who can be against you? Are all of them stronger than God? "Oh be not weary of well-doing! Go on, in the name of God and in the power of his might, till even American slavery shall vanish away before it."
Wesley died six days later. But Wilberforce fought for forty-five more years and in 1833, three days before his own death, he saw slavery abolished in Britain.
What discourages you? The events of our age, the struggles within? The answer for both remains the same: God is at work, through those around you, through his Word. The key to encouragement is that you not forget his promises, that fear is vanquished, that your task remains unchanged, that his presence will not fade with time – for God will hold you fast to accomplish whatever task he has for you.
This outline and some of this material is taken from Gordon Keddie’s book You Are My Witnesses: The message of the Acts of the Apostles, Evangelical Press, 1993
At some point during these eighteen months Jewish opposition to the gospel, which had earlier led Paul to turn to the Gentiles (6), erupted again: *The Jews made a united attack on Paul and brought him into court* (12b), or `before the tribunal' (RSV, JB), the *bema*, which was `a large, raised platform that stood in the *agora*... in front of the residence of the proconsul and served as a forum where he tried cases'. It was in keeping with Christ's promise that no-one would harm Paul (10) that the Jews took him to court *while Gallio was proconsul of Achaia* (12a, almost certainly AD 51-52), for Gallio proved to a friend of justice and truth. He was the younger brother of Seneca, the Stoic philosopher and tutor of the youthful Nero, and Seneca spoke appreciatively of his brother's tolerant kindness
The synagogue leaders undoubtedly meant to convey to Gallio that Paul was teaching vs. the law of Moses. The background to this is that under Roman law there were legal and illegal religions. The old religions of conquered territories were recognized as legal so to keep the populace relatively happy under a foreign yoke. New religions, however, had no legal sanction, also for political reasons – they threatened the status quo! Thus, if Gallio could be convinced that Paul was preaching a new religion, then the apostle could be convicted of illegal activity and banned form Corinth.
Gallio saw through this stratagem immediately and, before Paul could offer a defense, he threw the plaintiffs and their case out of court. He refused to sit in judgment on what was, to him, an exclusively Jewish theological problem. And so Paul came to no harm, just as the Lord had told him. Ironically, the Jewish leader Sostenes received the some of the medicine he had earmarked for Paul, for he was set upon and beaten outside the court, probably by an anti-Jewish crowd.
