Introduction: 1.Before Jesus ascended to heaven, He gave the Great Commission to the apostles (Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 16:15-16; Luke 24:45-47). 2.The specific plan for carrying out this mission is revealed in Acts 1:8. 3.As Luke showed how this mission was fulfilled in Acts, he also wrote about a number of conversions that occurred. 4.Studying these conversions will help us understand how we become Christians today. 5.Previously, we have examined the conversions of: a.about 3,000 people in Jerusalem on Pentecost (Acts 2) b.people in Samaria (Acts 8:5-25) c.the eunuch of Ethiopia (Acts 8:26-39) d.Saul (Acts 9:1-18; 22:1-16; 26:1-18) e.Cornelius and his household (Acts 10; 11:1-18; 15:7-11) f.Lydia and the jailer, as well as their households, in Philippi (Acts 16:13-34). 6.Paul eventually traveled to Corinth where he preached for an extended time. Discussion: I.(Acts 18:1-11) LUKEWROTEABOUTTHECONVERSIONSOFMANYPEOPLE INCORINTH
A.(vs.1) Paul traveled to Corinth from Athens. B.(vs.2-3) In Corinth, Paul lived and worked with Aquila and Priscilla. 1.Aquila and Priscilla had recently moved to Corinth. 2.Because they also worked as tentmakers, Paul lived and worked with them. C.(vs.4) Paul worked as a tentmaker; however, he taught in the synagogue every Sabbath. D.(vs.5) Silas and Timothy joined Paul in Corinth. 1.Silas and Timothy had been in Macedonia. 2.Paul indicated in 2 Corinthians 11:9 that they brought a gift to him. 3.Consequently, Paul earnestly declared to the Jews that Jesus is Christ. E.(vs.6) After the Jews rejected his message, Paul turned to the Gentiles. F.(vs.7) Paul went to the home of Justus. G.(vs.8) Crispus, his household, and many people in Corinth were converted. H.(vs.9-11) The Lord encouraged Paul, and he taught in Corinth for a year and six months. I.Later, Paul wrote two letters to the Christians in Corinth that have been preserved for us. II.INFORMATIONFROM1&2CORINTHIANSRELATINGTOCONVERSION
A.(2 Corinthians 5:17) A Christian is a new creature. B.(1 Corinthians 6:9-11) This occurs when a person is "washed," "sanctified," and "justified in the name of the Lord." C.(1 Corinthians 12:13) It is through baptism that a person enters the Lord's one body (Romans 6:3-4; Galatians 3:27). D.In 1 Corinthians 12, Paul especially emphasized the fact that Christians are members of the one body (vs.12, 14, 20, 27). 1.It was necessary for him to do this because the Christians in Corinth possessed a diversity of spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 12:1-11). 2.These gifts were given when the apostles laid their hands on Christians (Acts 8:14-17). 3. Even though spiritual gifts played a vital role in the growth and edification of the early church, they would eventually cease to exist (1 Corinthians 13:8-10).