7. . The "word" urges proclamation
. . Paul was urged by the word to solemnly witness to.... Jesus being the Christ	18:5	18:1-6

18:1-6 After this he (Paul) left Athens and came to Corinth. He found a certain Jew called Aquila, a native of Pontus. (Aquila) had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla because Claudius had commanded that all the Jews were to leave Rome. He (Paul) went to see them because he was of the same trade as himself that is, they were tent-makers. And so he remained with them. On every Sabbath day he lectured in

the synagogue and persuaded both Jew and Greeks (towards his position). (Then), when both Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia. Paul was urged by the word to give solemn witness to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ. But when they resisted and blasphemed he shook off his garments and said to them. "Your blood be upon your own head. I am clean of it and from now on I will go to the nations (non-Jews).

Paul was a brilliant scholar in the Scriptures and had trained 'at the feet' of Gamaliel, the greatest Scripture scholar of the day. It seems Paul could go so far in his explanation of the Scriptures. But when he proclaimed Jesus as the Christ it was too much for some of the Jews. So he would move on to another place. In this whole Section 'the word' takes on a 'life' of its own more and more. Here it appears to be reinforced enough by the arrival of Silas and Timothy to push Paul forward into a solemn proclamation about Jesus.

8. . Teaching the "word" is commanded by the Final "I AM"
. . said . Lord . speak and not keep silence . . .teaching . . word of God	18:11	18:7-23

18:7-23 And so on leaving from there (the synagogue in Corinth) he went into the house of a person named Titus Justus who worshipped God. His house was actually next door to the synagogue. Now Crispus the synagogue ruler believed in the Lord (Jesus) as well as all his household. (In fact) many of the Corinthians on hearing (Paul) believed and were baptized. (Then) one night the Lord spoke to Paul through a vision. "Do not be afraid but speak out and do not keep silent. I am with you. Nobody will set upon you to ill treat you because people in this city mean much to me. So (Paul) sat a year and six months teaching the word of God amongst them. When Gallio was proconsul of Achaia the Jews set upon Paul with one mind and brought him to the tribunal saying. This man urges men to worship God differently from the law. When Paul was about to open his mouth Gallio said to the Jews. "If indeed this was a crime or some villainous evil Jews (who were brought by you), I would rightly heed you. But if this is a matter

concerning a word and names and the law according to yourselves you will need to see to it yourselves. I do not intend to be a judge over it. And so he drove them away from the tribunal. But they all seized Sosthenes the synagogue ruler and they struck him in front of the tribunal. But none of this mattered to Gallio. Paul stayed on for many days but then he bade farewell to the brothers and sailed away to Syria. With him were Priscilla and Aquila. (Paul) had taken on a vow at Cenchrea and so shore his head. They came down to Ephesus. He left them (Priscilla and Aquila) there But he himself went into the synagogue and lectured to the Jews. They asked him to remain for a longer time but he did not consent to this. Rather he bade them farewell saying "God willing I will return to you." He then set sail from Ephesus and coming down to Caesarea he went and greeted the church. Then he went down to Antioch. Having spent some time there he departed in order to go through the district of Galatia and Phrygia and confirm all the disciples.