Hello, my fellow pilgrims. As we continue with Paul on his second missionary journey, we leave Thessalonica and make a quick stop at a site Paul did not see when he sailed the seas. The Corinth Canal was 2500 years in the making! It is an artificial canal in Greece that connects the Gulf of Corinth to the Ionian Sea in the west and the Saronic Gulf to the Aegean Sea in the east. It separates the Peloponnese from the Greek mainland, making the peninsula an island. The first attempt at building the Corinth Canal was in 67 AD, when the Roman emperor Nero began the canal. The work ceased when he encountered a revolt, ran out of money, and died shortly thereafter. Work on the canal began again in 1882 and was completed in 1893, which brought economic benefits to the area. The Corinth Canal is about four miles long, has a water depth of about twenty-six feet, and the width ranges from a minimum of sixty-nine feet at the bottom to a maximum of eighty-two feet at the water’s surface, making it quite narrow. A highway crossing the canal connects Athens and the Peloponnese.
The Corinth Canal leading to the Saronic Gulf & Aegean Sea
The Corinth Canal leading to the Gulf of Corinth & Ionian Sea
We travel a bit westward with Paul to the ruins of ancient Corinth, which is about two hours south of Athens. The first site we see are a few columns from the remains of the Temple of Apollo, also known as the Archaic Temple. The columns are approximately twenty-four feet high and six feet in diameter. There were originally thirty-eight Doric columns that surrounded the two rooms of the shrine.
The remains of the Temple of Apollo at Corinth
Then Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. There he became acquainted with a Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, who had recently arrived from Italy with his wife, Priscilla. They had left Italy when Claudius Caesar deported all Jews from Rome. Paul lived and worked with them, for they were tentmakers just as he was. Each Sabbath found Paul at the synagogue, trying to convince the Jews and Greeks alike. And after Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia, Paul spent all his time preaching the word. He testified to the Jews that Jesus was the Messiah. But when they opposed and insulted him, Paul shook the dust from his clothes and said, “Your blood is upon your own heads—I am innocent. From now on I will go preach to the Gentiles.”
Then he left and went to the home of Titius Justus, a Gentile who worshiped God and lived next door to the synagogue. Crispus, the leader of the synagogue, and everyone in his household believed in the Lord. Many others in Corinth also heard Paul, became believers, and were baptized.
One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision and told him, “Don’t be afraid! Speak out! Don’t be silent! For I am with you, and no one will attack and harm you, for many people in this city belong to me.” So Paul stayed there for the next year and a half, teaching the word of God. –Acts 18:1-11 (NLT)
Just as in Paul’s life, God’s grace is always leading and guiding us. When he went to Corinth, God’s grace provided community for Paul through some strangers, Aquila and Priscilla, who arrived from Italy. They lived and worked together as tentmakers. Once again, we see Paul faithfully preaching in the Jewish synagogue, trying to convince both the Jews and Greeks to believe in Jesus, the Messiah. Like Jesus, when He preached and the people were not open to accepting His message, Paul knew it was time to move on, and he preached more to the Gentiles instead. Because of this, many more people converted to Christianity and were baptized. God’s grace came to Paul in a vision one night, letting him know that God was with him and he would not be harmed. This enabled Paul to confidently continue to preach faithfully in Corinth for a year and a half as more people came to believe in Jesus.
The West Shop area at the Corinth ruins
Commemorates Paul’s 1st century speech given here: For this slight momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison. –2 Corinthians 4:17
But when Gallio became governor of Achaia, some Jews rose up together against Paul and brought him before the governor for judgment. They accused Paul of “persuading people to worship God in ways that are contrary to our law.” But just as Paul started to make his defense, Gallio turned to Paul’s accusers and said, “Listen, you Jews, if this were a case involving some wrongdoing or a serious crime, I would have a reason to accept your case. But since it is merely a question of words and names and your Jewish law, take care of it yourselves. I refuse to judge such matters.” And he threw them out of the courtroom. The crowd then grabbed Sosthenes, the leader of the synagogue, and beat him right there in the courtroom. But Gallio paid no attention. –Acts 18:12-17 (NLT)
In retrospect, I realize I did not know the sacredness of this place where I was standing. Paul was brought to this spot, before the tribunal, accused of preaching the gospel but God’s grace was at work having Gallio dismiss the case against Paul. This gift led to the spread of Christianity allowing the rest of the New Testament to play out according to God’s plan.
The Bema (tribunal or judicial bench) at Corinth where Paul was brought before Gallio; Photo courtesy of michael kogan under Creative Commons License (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Paul stayed in Corinth for some time after that, then said good-bye to the brothers and sisters and went to nearby Cenchrea. There he shaved his head according to Jewish custom, marking the end of a vow. Then he set sail for Syria, taking Priscilla and Aquila with him. –Acts 18:18 (NLT)
When God’s grace led Paul to leave Corinth in order to spread the good news to more areas, he went to Cenchrea, a port located about six miles east of Corinth on the Saronic Gulf. We learn that prior to this time Paul had made a Nazirite vow, though Scripture does not tell us what it was or the timeframe, when it was forbidden to cut their hair. Whatever the vow was, it ended when he went to Cenchrea.
There is one other Scripture passage that mentions Cenchrea.
I commend to you our sister Phoebe, who is a deacon in the church in Cenchrea. Welcome her in the Lord as one who is worthy of honor among God’s people. Help her in whatever she needs, for she has been helpful to many, and especially to me. –Romans 16:1-2 (NLT)
Paul had great respect for Phoebe, a woman who served in ministry for the Christian church in Cenchrea. Paul entrusted Phoebe to travel to, deliver, and share a letter he wrote for the benefit of the early Christians in Rome. God’s grace accompanied Phoebe, and Paul wanted to make sure the Roman community treated her with grace too.
The Cenchrea Port where Paul shaved his head
Be encouraged this week to…
…be a bridge that brings light into the darkness.
…extend gratitude for the community in your life.
…keep sharing the Lord with others and know He is protecting you.
…be trustworthy in your ministries.
REFLECTION:
Have you had to shake the dust from your clothes and share the gospel elsewhere?
Is there a ‘Phoebe’ in your life that you can thank?
Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. As it is written, “He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.” –2 Corinthians 9:7-9 (ESV)
