Acts 18:1-11 ASV, Acts 18:12 ASV and Acts 18:13-17 ASV

S: And when they oppposed themselves and blasphemed, he shook his raiment, and said unto them, your blood be upon your own heads: I am clean: from henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles. (v. 6)

O: This marks the first time Gentiles are targeted by an evangelist. Peter was sought out by Cornelieus. Paul's pattern was to go into a city and find a synagogue, or, failing that, to find a prayer group of Jews, as in Macedonia. Athens and the Aeropagas was a turning point, but it was his being stirred in the Spirit which led to his attempting to address them. As an aside, I note that in 18:8 "Crispus" is called the chief ruler of the synagogue, but then he believes on Christ, so apparently Sosthenes is made the ruler and is then part of bringing the accusation to Gallio against Paul. (v. 17) It's interesting then, that Sosthenes is named with Paul as a brother in the greeting of 1 Corinthians (1:1). It's also possible that the "Justus" in v. 7 is Titus.

A: Matthew 28:18-20's command to "teach all nations" anticipated this. Mark 16:15 says to "preach the gospel to every creature." Luke 24:46-49 lays out the order a bit more: "beginning at Jerusalem" and Acts 1:8 clarifies the pattern: Jerusalem, "in all Judea and Samaria and unto the uttermost part of the earth." Evangelism must be done in His way and according to His pattern.

P: Lord, thank you for giving us such clear direction. Thank you for the example of Peter and Paul. Please help me to be a faithful witness for you and to make genuine disciples--and to be one myself.