# Acts Chapter 18
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## Summarrium
Paul leaves Athens and travels to Corinth reasoning in the synagogue every Sabbath to persuade Jews and Greeks alike to accept Christ. Silas and Timothy arrive from Macedonia and is opposed by the Jews and so goes to the Gentiles. Paul has a vision that encourages him to go on speaking and he remains in Corinth for a year and six months teaching the words of God.

With the arrival of Gallio proconsul of Achaia the Jews bring Paul to tribunal pointing out that he persuades people to worship unlawfully. Gallio isn't interested and says this is for them to judge and has them driven from the tribunal, having the ruler of the Synagogue beaten before the tribunal. 

Paul travels to Syria, has his hair cut at Cenchreae and comes to Ephesus to reason with the Jews. They ask him to stay and leave Ephasus travelling for Caesarea, then to Antioch, throughout the region of Galatia and Phrygia to encourage the disciples. Apollos of Alexandria comes to Ephesus where he proclaims the word of the Lord boldly and (after receiving instruction) powerfully refutes the Jews in public.

## Meditatio
This passage demonstrates the pattern by which Paul operated. Typically arriving in a new location and immediately travelling to the Synagogue to attempt to persuade the Jews to accept Christ. This has typically one of two response which can be largely summarised as being (a) kicked out, or (b) invited to come back and speak. It's interesting that both response are fairly universal. It is not *always* the case that Paul is rejected; indeed in some cases individuals attempt to persuade him to remain far longer than he plans to stay.

There is a single mindedness to this.

It is important to distinguish between Paul and the average Christian. Paul is an apostle. He is *sent* and has a clear calling on his life to travel where the spirit of the lord allows him to go. The average believer has a responsibility to both make disciples ([Matthew 28](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+28%3A19-20&version=ESV)) and be my witnesses ([Acts 1](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+1%3A8&version=ESV)). This I believe firmly is a charge on all who believe in Jesus. However clearly some are sent to equip and serve local churches as we read throughout acts. Indeed it was not the case that the *entire* church in Jerusalem came, just those whom the Holy spirit selected.

As such it is a mistake in my view to consider that our lives should reflect that of Paul.

Another interesting aspect to this is how, in almost every case in Acts, it is the Lord and not people who deal with conflict. For example in this passage when a strong legal case is brought before the magistrate essentially he throws the case out because he wants nothing to do with religious matters. Again this attitude was entirely contingent upon the providence of the Lord. It might have easily have just been Paul's undoing.

For me then this passage reflects something of the union of mans determination and the Lords providence, through which the Church grows and Godly men rise up to take a stand for the sake of the Gospel. I am really enjoying my time in this book.