Acts 18
Ordinary People, Extraordinary Mission – Lessons from Acts 18
Welcome to Corinth: Ministry in the Mess
When we open Acts 18, we find Paul stepping into a city not unlike modern-day Las Vegas—Corinth. This was a city teeming with travelers, traders, and temptation. It was a port city, pulsing with movement and indulgence, a place where pleasure reigned and sexual immorality was woven into the fabric of everyday life. They even had a temple to Aphrodite that symbolized the city’s acceptance of what should’ve been off-limits.
And yet, that’s where Paul chose to plant ministry.
What strikes us is how God doesn’t shy away from the mess. Instead, He moves right into it. And He uses regular, hardworking people to build something sacred there.
Aquila, Priscilla, and the Power of Friendship
Early in the chapter, we’re introduced to Aquila and Priscilla—a Jewish couple who had recently been forced out of Rome and landed in Corinth. Tentmakers by trade, they weren’t high-profile leaders or famous theologians. They were everyday believers who loved the Lord, worked hard, and opened their lives to Paul.
And it’s in that friendship, that partnership, that we see the heartbeat of early church community. They not only provided Paul with a way to support himself financially, but they also became his spiritual support system. Later, Paul even honors them in his letter to the Romans, recognizing their sacrifices and faithfulness. They had risked everything for the gospel.
It’s a reminder for us: we all need people like that. People who will be in our corner when the spiritual battle feels heavy. People we can confess to, learn from, teach, and grow with. Outside of Sunday services, who are those voices in your life helping you walk with Jesus? If you don’t have them yet, we encourage you—pray, reach out, get connected. Faith was never meant to be a solo mission.
God Is With Us—Even When It Doesn’t Feel Like It
Paul wasn’t immune to discouragement. Ministry in Corinth wasn’t easy. The opposition from the Jewish community left him weary. There’s a moment in verse 6 where he essentially throws up his hands and says, “I’m done.” And haven’t we all been there?
But in verse 9, something beautiful happens: God meets Paul in a vision and reminds him, “Do not be afraid. Keep on speaking. Do not be silent. For I am with you.”
This wasn’t just reassurance—it was restoration. God reminded Paul (and reminds us) that He’s near. And then He adds this little line that gives us chills: “I have many people in this city.”
Paul may have felt alone, but he wasn’t actually alone. God was already stirring hearts, preparing friendships, building a church.
Discipleship: Ordinary People Doing Eternal Work
Toward the end of Acts 18, we’re introduced to Apollos—a gifted speaker, passionate about the Scriptures, but missing a few key pieces about Jesus. And who steps in to help him? Aquila and Priscilla.
They don’t publicly correct him or write him off—they invite him into their home. They disciple him gently and truthfully. And as a result, Apollos becomes a powerful voice for the gospel.
That’s discipleship in action. It’s not flashy. It’s not reserved for pastors. It’s regular people—tentmakers—opening their homes, speaking truth in love, and pointing others toward Jesus.
We need that model today. Each of us needs a Paul to learn from and a Timothy to pour into. Just like Apollos had Aquila and Priscilla, we need mentors and friends who sharpen us, encourage us, and remind us of what God is doing.
Final Thoughts: We Are Not Alone
The enemy loves to whisper the lie that we’re alone—that it’s all up to us. But Acts 18 tells a different story. God is at work in ways we can’t always see. He’s got people in the city, people in your life, and He’s inviting us to be part of what He’s doing.
So let’s not do this alone. Let’s be tentmakers, teachers, learners, encouragers. Let’s keep speaking, keep building, and keep trusting that God is already at work—through ordinary people like us.
