Godbey's Commentary - Acts - Romans - Enter His Rest

9, 10. About this time the Lord greatly encourages Paul in a night vision. “Fear not, but speak
and be not silent, because I am with thee, and no one shall attack thee to hurt thee, for I have much
people in this city.” Those people were yet in sin, but God saw them and knew they would be saved,
and hence claimed them. When I was a poor little ignorant sinner, a very bad boy pointed a loaded
gun directly at my head and tried to fire it; but it only snapped, though it had fired all right a few
moments previously. God’s hand was on the gun, and the devil’s man could not make it shoot. He
knew what I was going to be. Paul, thus encouraged by the voice of God, moved out with fresh vigor,
preached eighteen months right there at Corinth, building up the largest and most wonderfully gifted
church of his ministry. The church contained very many Jews and still more Gentiles, all poor people
except Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue; Erastus, the chamberlain of the city, and Gaius, the
host of Paul and the whole church.
PAUL’S TRIAL BEFORE GALLIO.
12-17. This case is really notable. When Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue is converted,
Sosthenes succeeds him and is enthusiastic to exterminate the Pauline heresy out of the church.
Consequently, he resolves to prosecute Paul before the civil tribunal and drive him out of the
country. He has him arrested and arraigned at the tribunal of Gallio, the Roman proconsul, under
charge of teaching people to worship God contrary to the authority of the fallen Jewish church. Of
course, Gallio, a heathen Roman, cares nothing about the Jewish religion, looking upon it as mere
superstition, and allowing them to battle it among themselves. Therefore he simply dismissed the
case out of court, like modern mayors frequently do the Salvation Army. The animosity of the
Gentile multitude is thus aroused against the Jews, who have thus failed in their efforts to get Paul
flogged, so they seize Sosthenes, his disappointed prosecutor, and give him a thrashing. It seems to
have done him good, as we find him (1 Corinthians 1:1) associated with Paul in the evangelistic
work in Asia, and even honored along with the authorship of the Epistle. It actually looks as if, after
the manner of Peter Cartwright, they beat religion into him.
PAUL RETURNS TO ASIA.
18. After an absence of two years, it is important that he go round among the churches in the
Gentile world. His vow at Cenchrea was Jewish and Nazaritish, signifying its expiration by clipping
his hair (Numbers 6:1-14).
19. The Jewish synagogue was outside the city, as frequently.
20. He must expedite and see the churches in different countries again,
21, 22. Going down to Cæsarea, and up to Jerusalem,
23. Down to Antioch and into Syria, Phrygia and Galatia, where I trow he had established
churches, i.e., little holiness bands in private houses, while at home, in Tarsus, A.D. 35-38,
“establishing all the disciples.” Here, we see Paul take a great tour over sea and land, through many
countries, and never mentions a single conversion. What is he doing? “Establishing the disciples.”
Is not sanctification the establishing grace? God help us to walk in the footprints of Paul, going