ACC ~ Acts 18 v5 - 11

OVERVIEW:

Paul continues to try to spread the gospel among his fellow Jews, and he thus gives an example that, even where the gospel is not welcome, we cannot neglect to pass it on to those for whom we bear responsibility. Declaring his innocence, he tries to bring home to them the frightening nature of their choice (CHRYSOSTOM), something akin to taking their own lives (AMMONIUS). Didymus finds in Paul’s subsequent actions some evidence of his fear of the pagan city, a fear perhaps of suffering or of an incredulous audience. God upbraids him for this fear (CHRYSOSTOM) and encourages him, since God knew of the many there who would believe (DIDYMUS, CHRYSOSTOM).

18:6 | Your Blood Is on Your Heads

ACCOUNTABLE FOR THOSE ENTRUSTED TO US. CHRYSOSTOM: “He argued in the synagogue every sabbath and persuaded Jews and Greeks.” But “when they opposed and reviled him,” he withdrew. By this [Paul] expected to draw them all the more. For why did he leave that house and go to one near the synagogue? Was it not for this? For it was not danger that he saw there. “Testifying to them,” it says. He did not yet teach, but he testified. “When they opposed,” it says, “and reviled him, he shook out his garments and said, ‘Your blood be upon your heads!’” He does this to frighten them not only with words but also with action. And he argues rather vehemently inasmuch as he has already persuaded many of them. “I am innocent,” he says, “from now on I will go to the Gentiles.” So we too are accountable for the blood of those entrusted to us, if we neglect them. HOMILIES ON THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 39.

REJECTION OF THE GOSPEL AS SUICIDE. AMMONIUS: “Your blood be on your own heads.” These words are obscure, but I think they mean this: Whoever does not believe in Christ, who is life, seems to kill himself by passing from life to death and shedding, as it were, his own blood through his self-inflicted death. Therefore he means that when you kill yourselves through disbelief, you receive the punishment of murder, so I am innocent. Following this train of thought it may be also said that he who kills himself is punished by God as a murderer. Similarly if a person is the reason why someone kills himself, he will be guilty in the same way. CATENA ON THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 18.6.

18:9 | Do Not Be Afraid

STRENGTHENING FOR WITNESS. DIDYMUS THE BLIND: In Corinth, God appeared in a vision to the apostle and urged him not to be afraid to teach, and he made clear to him the reason why he should speak and not be silent, namely that, in that town, there were many that God knew would receive the proclamation of the gospel. For since it was natural that Paul, being human, was afraid of some attack against himself, seeing that then nearly everyone there was still pagan, God encourages and rouses the teacher to be brave by saying, “I am with you and will prevent anybody from attempting to harm you, so that nobody lays a hand on you.” CATENA ON THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 18.9-11.

18:10 | I Am with You

ALLAYING APPREHENSION. CHRYSOSTOM: “Do not be afraid,” he says. This was enough to rouse him, either because he was reproved as being afraid or because he was not reproved but encouraged that he would not suffer this. (For he did not always allow them to suffer terribly, so that they might not become too weak.) For nothing pained Paul so much as those who disbelieved and gave opposition. This was more difficult for him to bear than dangers. “And do not be silent,” he says, “for I have many people in this city.” It was probably for this reason that Christ appeared to him. HOMILIES ON THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 39.