When Silas and Timothy arrived from Macedo'nia, Paul was occupied with preaching, testifying to the Jews that the Christ was Jesus. And when they opposed and reviled him, he shook out his garments and said to them, "Your blood be upon your heads! I am innocent. From now on I will go to the Gentiles." And he left there and went to the house of a man named Titius Justus, a worshiper of God; his house was next door to the synagogue. Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed in the Lord, together with all his household; and many of the Corinthians hearing Paul believed and were baptized. And the Lord said to Paul one night in a vision, "Do not be afraid, but speak and do not be silent; for I am with you, and no man's attack shall harm you; for I have many people in this city." And he stayed a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.
In a Nutshell
Silas and Timothy finally arrived having completed their work. But it was hard work with many disappointments. When Jesus Himself encouraged Paul it encouraged the others as well.
Questions
What were the difficulties Paul faced in Corinth?
Somehow this section in Luke's account - of Corinth and Ephesus, Paul, Apollos, Priscilla and Aquila - seems jumbled. The sequence of events is not too clear. We're not sure what Luke is trying to say to us. All I can suggest is that Luke was also not too sure of the sequence of the events he describes. But he had some knowledge of what had happened, and tells what he knew as best he could.
All week and every Sabbath Paul was busy commending his message to the Jews of Corinth, reminding them that their promised Messiah was for all peoples. No amount of opposition would stop God fulfilling His promises. Paul would do what the law and prophets required. To give up on any one group would be to fail in his calling, to embrace unkindness in the face of God's kindness to all people despite their failings. When Jewish opposition blocked his contribution to the Synagogue he went and stayed with a Gentile right next door! He kept himself accessible. Crispus, the synagogue ruler was also a believer. His other name was Sosthenes, the co-author of Paul's 1st letter to the Corinthians. But Paul was worn down by the opposition. The reactions of his fellow Jews had affected his nerves. He missed Silas and Timothy. He needed their support and companionship. Priscilla and Aquila were good friends too, but their trade required them to travel. Paul may therefore have had long periods working on his own and since he was distressed by the Jewish opposition that may have been difficult. He longed for his fellow countrymen and women to receive the blessings, mercy, grace and love of Jesus. But instead, they jealously attacked him. He was wounded as he "shook out his garments" and "brushed the sand from his shoes." His judgment, "From now on you'll find me if you want me taking the Gospel to Gentiles" was said with a great heartache. This came to a head a short time after Silas and Timothy turned up. Maybe they had been busy encouraging the believers in Athens.
At this time Jesus saw that Paul was "down" and made sure His encouragement got through. This way Paul had strength enough to stay for another 18 months. This was just one more of the many things Jesus did after ascending to His Father's right hand side.