New Team

Acts 18:2-4 In Corinth, Paul met a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had ordered all the Jews to leave Rome. Paul went to see them, 3 and because he was a tentmaker as they were, he stayed and worked with them. 4 Every Sabbath he reasoned in the synagogue, trying to persuade Jews and Greeks.
 
WE are reminded Jews were welcome in some Roman provinces and banned in others. Emperor Claudius had commanded Jews to leave Rome about 41-54 AD. Some historians say it is because Jews were often having public gatherings in response to Chrestus, which could mean they were demonstrating for Christ. Aquila and Priscilla, tentmakers, went to Corinth, a very busy, wealthy trading city, to find work. They may not have been Christians yet. At some point, perhaps through their relationship with Paul, God called them and used them mightily to help Paul advance the gospel.
   Paul needed help. We must remember that Paul had been through some very difficult stresses. And it seemed he was functioning with little rest. As we have done before, we’ll go to one of his letters to understand the emotions and challenges Paul faced as he entered Corinth.
 
1 Corinthians 2:1 When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God.  2 For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. 3 I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling. 4 My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, 5 so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God’s power.
 
Paul went to Corinth alone. Being and traveling alone can take much from a man whose passions poured into his preaching. He needed someone to talk to and walk with. We all do.
   Paul may have also been apprehensive about what would happen in Corinth. If you have been jailed, beaten or assaulted, you know the fear you face, entering a new community. While Paul knew he was anointed to the Lord’s work, he also knew that anointing included suffering. As God spoke about Paul’s ministry to Ananias, “I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.” (Acts 9:16).
   Paul knew the obstacles before him. Sin was very deep in Corinth. Even in a world hardened to decadence, Corinth was seen as worse than many cities. To enter Corinth was to enter into the depth of Satan’s stronghold. When one is weary of the battle, it is easy to feel weak, be fearful and to tremble. Paul would have been very glad to meet Aquila and Priscilla to have companionship in their tentmaking business. God is very good to give us who and what we need to do his work.
   We may be surprised Paul knew tentmaking and working with leather. It was common then for even the most educated men to know a particular skill, so they could work to support themselves. This is a good lesson for all who think being a pastor eliminates them from working at another job.