Hard Work
Opening Prayer
Mighty God, renew my strength today as I trust in You.
Read Acts 18:1–17
For additional translations of the passage, use this link to Bible Gateway.
After this, Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. 2 There he met a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had ordered all Jews to leave Rome. Paul went to see them, 3 and because he was a tentmaker as they were, he stayed and worked with them. 4 Every Sabbath he reasoned in the synagogue, trying to persuade Jews and Greeks.
5 When Silas and Timothy came from Macedonia, Paul devoted himself exclusively to preaching, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Messiah. 6 But when they opposed Paul and became abusive, he shook out his clothes in protest and said to them, “Your blood be on your own heads! I am innocent of it. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.”
7 Then Paul left the synagogue and went next door to the house of Titius Justus, a worshiper of God. 8 Crispus, the synagogue leader, and his entire household believed in the Lord; and many of the Corinthians who heard Paul believed and were baptized.
9 One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: “Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. 10 For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city.” 11 So Paul stayed in Corinth for a year and a half, teaching them the word of God.
12 While Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews of Corinth made a united attack on Paul and brought him to the place of judgment. 13 “This man,” they charged, “is persuading the people to worship God in ways contrary to the law.”
14 Just as Paul was about to speak, Gallio said to them, “If you Jews were making a complaint about some misdemeanor or serious crime, it would be reasonable for me to listen to you. 15 But since it involves questions about words and names and your own law—settle the matter yourselves. I will not be a judge of such things.” 16 So he drove them off. 17 Then the crowd there turned on Sosthenes the synagogue leader and beat him in front of the proconsul; and Gallio showed no concern whatever.
New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
“Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles… (Isa. 40:31).You’ve prayed for your child from birth and now he won’t even come to church on Christmas Day. You show sacrificial love to your husband at every opportunity, longing for him to see Jesus in you, and he avoids talking about God at all costs. You’ve taken your best friend to many outreach events, and while she seems to enjoy them at the time, there’s no sign of spiritual life in her. It can be hard, lonely, costly and discouraging to try to reach the lost when they don’t seem to want to be found.
Paul would be able to relate. Here, in Corinth, he’s reached the end of his tether with the chosen people of Israel—his own people (6). If you are becoming impatient and fed up with a lack of perceptible spiritual progress in the lives of those you care about, maybe it would be a good idea to back off and spend some time resting in God’s presence. Maybe, like Paul, it won’t be long before you’re ready to get back to it (19)!
Apply
Be honest with God about how you are feeling about sharing the Gospel. Search for some Scriptures about not giving up.
Closing prayer
God, sometimes I am weary and discouraged. Lift me up and fill me with Your peace, joy and hope.
Click here to sign up to receive the EXTRAs via email each quarter.
© 2025 Scripture Union U.S.A. All rights reserved. Reproduction of the whole or any part of the contents without written permission is prohibited.
Discovery is published in the USA under license from Scripture Union England and Wales, Trinity House, Opal Court, Opal Drive, Fox Milne, Milton Keynes, MK15 0DF.