How many times have you said, or thought, you would have done things differently if only you had known what was going to happen? If you had known in advance about that sickness, or accident, or exam failure, or job loss!
Here we will find something very important that you can know in advance.
The Jewish community was becoming very abusive towards Paul in Corinth. (Acts 18:6.) “One night the Lord spoke 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, because I have many people in this city.” (verses 9-10.)
God was letting Paul know in advance that he was not to give up his work in Corinth. But this did not mean that his work was going to be easy! God’s true children (John 1:12-13. 1stJohn 3:1-4.), are often placed by God to live, and witness for Him, in difficult places. (John 17:14-21.) Jesus had made this plain to His followers when He let them know in advance to expect trouble from religious opponents. (John 8:31-47. 15:18-25. 16:33)
“Paul stayed for a year and a half, teaching them the Word of God.” (verse 11.) God was with him, yet there were still many people against him - but he did not need to fear. (Psalm 27:1. Hebrews 13:5-6.)
“The Jews made a united attack on Paul and brought him into court. ‘This man,’ they charged, ‘is persuading the people to worship God in ways contrary to the law.’” (verses 12-13.)
Gallio, the judge, decided the differences between the Jews and Paul’s teachings were just “questions about words and names and (their religious) law.” He refused to judge the matter, and they were all put out of court! A disturbance outside the court resulted in a Jewish leader being beaten, but "Gallio showed no concern!” (verses 15-17.)
Gallio showed no interest in Christian message. The fact that God had sent His Son as the Jewish Messiah, to be the Saviour of the world (John 4:25-26,42.), meant nothing to this Roman judge. (1stJohn 4:14. John 3:16-19.) To Gallio it was just a dispute about words and names! Nor was he concerned by the violence of the religious fanatics, who refused to tolerate the message that had the full support of their own Scriptures!
How will you judge the message of the Gospel? Will you dismiss it as just a religious dispute about words and names? Will you ignore the undeniable evidence God gave us through many prophets in the Bible, that let us know in advance the true identity of the Messiah He would send as Saviour? Will you ignore the consequences that God has clearly let you know in advance if you go on rejecting His Son as your Saviour? “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.” (John 3:36.)
Read Acts of the Apostles chapter 18, verses 9-17.
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