18:7
This is one of my favourite verses in the Bible. Paul was rejected by the synagogue, so he went next door! The Jews rejected Jesus, so the gospel went to the Gentiles. The Western world is busily rejecting all things to do with Christ, the gospel is growing “next door” in Africa, Asia and South America. One day it will return in a big way to Israel. When one rejects, there is someone else ready to accept. Titus Justus is a very Roman name. He was a worshipper of God. We have encountered several “worshippers of God” among the Gentiles. God had been preparing the way and working in people’s hearts for an awful long time.
18:8
The synagogue ruler, Crispus, also believed in the Lord. So although the synagogue had rjected the gospel, God still had people in there, even in prominent positions who believed. It then says that his whole household believed. This causes us some problems. For on the one hand we know that you cannot be saved by someone else’s faith. Just because you come from a Christian family does not mean that you are saved, you have to believe for yourself. Yet we can be too individual focused, or rather we think that the importance of the individual precludes corporate, or in this case familial, influence. The Bible does not say we have to choose, and we need to look at the complete picture. What I do influences those around me, especially those in my family. Then we are told that many Corinthians believed and were baptised.
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