After leaving Athens, Paul went on to Corinth.  Corinth was about 60 kilos (48 miles) Southwest of Athens. Under the Romans, it became the seat of government for Southern Greece or Achaia and was noted for its wealth.  If you look at the map you can see it was a city-state on the Isthmus of Corinth, the narrow stretch of land that joins the Pelponnesus to the mainland of Greece.  To the west of the isthmus lie the Gulf of Corinth, to the east lies the Saronic Gulf.  I was an important port city and the isthmus was traversed by hauling ships over the rock ridge on sledges so it was an important city for transportation on the land and sea. Therefore business and trade prospered immensely.  However, in places like this where business is developed and prospers almost always morals are lacking. Corinth to morals were lacking and especially sex was misused.  It was so bad that the phrase “Be like the Corinthians” meant “have free sex”.  Paul was in this city and evangelized there for one and a half years.  There aren’t very many examples of Paul being in one city that long.  Today let’s look at why Paul stayed in Corinth for so long.

I. Encouragement of love (vs. 1-5)
When Paul arrived in Corinth, he went to the home of Aquila and Priscilla.  Aquila and his wife had just recently arrived from Rome, having been expelled with all the Jews by Claudius. They were tent makers like Paul so Paul lived there because he though that they could work together while evangelizing. Actually it seems strange that such a top notch teacher of the law like Paul would have the same trade as Aquila and Priscilla, making tents.  Actually it was the custom at that time for the Jewish rabbis to be bivocational so that they would not have to charge for their teaching which they thought was not right to do.
II Thess. 2:9
Paul worked day and night as well as evangelizing.  That must have been very hard on him. However, he did this so that he wouldn’t be a burden on anyone.  He also may have wanted to show the new Christians the importance of working hard. And what a person who preaches the Gospel is really like.
I. Cor. 9:11
This seems like a conflict.   First he says that he works day and night.  Then he says that those that work for the Lord should receive their wages.  He is saying that those who serve in the church have a right to be supported by the church.  However, Paul didn’t use that right. It was because he didn’t want to do anything that might “hinder the gospel of Christ”. (I Cor. 9:12) In the Corinthian church there were some people that thought Paul was using evangelism as an excuse to take money from people and some thought that Paul was deceiving people and taking money.  Normally Christian workers have the right to be supported by the church, but Paul didn’t receive support because he didn’t want to be a stumbling block.  Therefore, Paul received no pay and while working himself, he evangelized. God intended for those who preach the Gospel to be paid.  They have that right.  However, Paul thought that if even 1 person stumbled because he used that right then he shouldn’t use the right.  Therefore, look at verse 5.  “When Silas and Timothy came from Macedonia, Paul devoted himself exclusively to preaching” Silas and Timothy brought offerings from the Church in Macedonia so even if Paul didn’t get any money from the Corinthians, he could still devote “himself exclusively to preaching”. (5) He tells us about this in II Cor. 11:8,9
Here Paul says, “I robbed other churches” Paul is being sarcastic.  In the church there were some people that complained about Paul that he was taking money.  That is why he made such a sarcastic remark.  He hadn’t taken any money from anyone.  He worked as well as evangelized so that he wouldn’t be a burden on anyone.  However, Silas and Timothy when they came from Macedonia, they brought an offering from the Macedonia churches sent from the believers in Philippi, Thessalonica, and Berea so he had the necessary money he needed to live on.  Therefore “Paul devoted himself exclusively to preaching.” (5)
Even so, it must have been so difficult to continue the Lord’s work in the midst of so many complaints and hurting words.  He must of wondered why people talked about him that way; or why only he had to have so many difficulties. He probably suffered unexplainable frustration. The presence of the couple, Aquila and Priscilla, who invited Paul to their house, lived with him, and worked together with him must have been a great strength of support to his ministry. Also even though they were separated, the Macedonian churches encouraged Paul through their faith and love and by their offering participated in the spread of the Gospel.
Here Aquila and Priscilla are introduced as Jew “who had recently come from Italy…because Claudius had ordered all the Jew to leave Rome.” (2)  Since no mention is made of a conversion and since a partnership is established in work, it is likely that they were already Christians.  Probably they saw Paul in the same town enthusiastically sharing the Gospel and wanted to do something to help.  Then when they found out that they both had the same job, they invited Paul to their home, and then lived together and worked together and supported his ministry.  For Paul who probably felt uncertain about his future lifestyle, their presence must have been a huge help.  If you look at verse 18 you can see that when Paul left for Syria he was “accompanied by Priscilla and Aquila.” (18)  Later they stayed in Ephesus and did a good work there.  In Romans 16:3,4 we are told that “they risked their lives for” Paul (3) and took care of Paul and helped him.  More than that they supported Paul’s disappointed heart
Also the offering that the Macedonian church sent through Silas and Timothy  was also a huge support.
Philippi 4:16
For Paul the offering showed their love and faith.  For an evangelist how great a joy that must have brought.  The offering from the Macedonia church was a great encouragement to Paul.  A family following the Lord, supporting the church,  and supporting the pastor is a precious thing. The presence of believers like this who do what they can do to participate in evangelism builds the church up strongly.

II. Many people are saved. (vs.6-7)
Silas and Timothy brought the offering from Macedonia and as a result “Paul devoted himself exclusively to preaching, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ.” (5) In other words, he was clearly preaching that Jesus was the Savior that was promised in the Old Testament.  Then “the Jews opposed Paul and became abusive”, so Paul “shook out his clothes in protest and said to them, ‘Your blood by on your own heads!  I am clear of my responsibility.  From now on I will go to the Gentiles.” (6) This is the same thing as when Jesus sent out disciples to evangelize, if the people didn’t accept it, they were to shake the dust off their feet and go on to the next town. (Matt. 10:14) In other words, those who have the responsibilty of preaching the Gospel need to  fulfill that responsibility.  However, whether the person accepts the word or not is the responsibility of the listeners, not the preacher.  Therefore, next Paul says, “I am clear of my responsibility.” (6) This is from the Old Testament in Ezekiel.  Israel’s fall, Israel herself made.  It was not God’s responsibility.  So then from now own Paul changes his emphasis from the Jews to the Gentiles. This was God’s plan to bring the Gospel to all the world.
However, even in the midst of the Jewish opposition, there were some people who believed in the Lord according to verses 7 and 8.  After Paul said, “I will go to the Gentiles,” (6) “Paul left the synagogue and went next door to the house of Titius Justus, a worshiper of God.”(7) Paul was so criticized and opposed that you would think Paul would leave and go to a different town, but he didn’t.  He just moved 1 house down the street.  Then “Crispus, the synagogue ruler, and his entire household believed in the Lord; and many of the Corinthians who heard him believed and were baptized.” (8)
For Paul who had suffered from criticism and opposition, to see so many fruits of salvation, must have been a huge encouragement.  It is said that for an evangelist to  continue the work he needs one of the two following things: to see a lot of fruit or a steady pay.  No matter how poor you are, you can overcome if you see many people being saved.  However, if you don’t have both, it is very difficult to continue.  There are many Japanese pastors who are continuing without both of them.  It’s wonderful that they are just continuing.  No matter how terrible a situation he was in, these kind of fruits of spiritual salvation gave him joy and hope I’m sure.

III. God’s encouragement (vs. 9-11)
However, the greatest encouragement was God’s encouragement.  Paul continued evangelizing in Corinth and an Angel appeared to “Paul　in a vision :”Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent.  For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you.” (8,9) First the angel said, “Do not be afraid”.  What do you suppose Paul was afraid of.  He had already received 2 people to co-operate with him in evangelism, Aquila and Priscilla. He had also received encouragement by the offerings from the Macedonian churches. Even in the midst of opposition, Crispus’ family believed and many Corinthians believed. It seems like there could be no greater encouragement than this.
One thing Paul was probably afraid of was the Jewish opposition. Therefore, God says in verse 10 “For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city.”
Secondly, the other thing Paul was possibly worried about was anxiety about when he was going to fall off the mountain top that he was climbing to. When Paul received the offering from the Macedonia churches, he was able to devote himself　exclusively to preaching”. (5) When a person is really struggling, he doesn’t worry about falling.  However, when things are going well, then he tends to have anxiety and fears. However, we can overcome such fears.  Let’s look at how God encouraged Paul.
1. First God promised to be with Paul in verse 10. That must have been a huge encouragement to Paul who was filled with fears.  No matter how strong the opposition or how much he is suffering, he is not alone.  God is with him. A Christian always has God with them no matter what they are suffering. You are never alone. Even if you are suffering from being single, God is always with you.  He is a friend of love.  He will never leave you.
Psalms 23:4
2. Next God promises Paul, “no one is going to attack and harm you” (10)For Paul who faced a lot of opposition, this was a great promise.  The Lord answers us with promises that are a clear answer to the anxieties that we have.
3. Then God says, “I have many people in this city.” (10)  Lot’s of Corinthians were saved, but still there are many of God’s people in the city.  Just because some people were saved doesn’t mean to be content.  God  still has a lot of people in the city.  There’s still a lot of people waiting to hear the Gospel.  Therefore, we need to continue sharing the Gospel.  To hear that there are still God’s people in the town is a great joy for evangelists and pastors to hear.  God’s people are still in the city so we need to continue preaching the Gospel. “Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent.” (9)
Sometimes we worry. Sometimes we’re sad. Sometimes we are depressed.  When we are in the midst of such times God sends good Christian friends to encourage us.  Also he encourages us through the word of God.  Therefore, we need to not fear, but continue to preach the Gospel. Our job is to preach the Gospel.  Salvation is the work of God.  Even though there was heated opposition, Paul stayed in this city for a year and a half and continued to preach the Gospel. This is because Paul heard the encouragement.  May we hear such encouragement and continue preaching the word of God