Acts of the Apostles, Chapter 18, verses 9-18
9 The Lord encourageth him in a vision, 12 He is accused before Gallio the deputy, but is dismissed, 18 Afterwards passing from city to city, he strengtheneth the disciplesJohn, Chapter 16, verses 20-23
1 Christ comforteth his disciples against tribulation by the promise of the holy Ghost, and by his resurrection and ascension, 23 assureth their prayers made in his name to be acceptable to his Father16
16:20 Ye will weep and lament - When ye see me dead; but your sorrow will be turned into joy - When ye see me risen.
16:22 Ye now therefore have sorrow - This gives us no manner of authority to assert all believers must come into a state of darkness. They never need lose either their peace, or love, or the witness that they are the children of God. They never can lose these, but either through sin, or ignorance, or vehement temptation, or bodily disorder.
16:23 Ye shall not question me about any thing - Which you do not now understand. You will not need to inquire of me; for you will know all things clearly. Whatsoever ye shall ask - Knowledge, love, or any thing else, he will give it - Our Lord here gives us a charte blanche. Believer, write down what thou wilt. He had said, Joh 14:13, I will do it, where the discourse was ofglorifying the Father through the Son. Here, speaking of the love of the Father to believers, he saith, He will give it.
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18:10 I am with thee: therefore fear not all the learning, politeness, grandeur, or power of the inhabitants of this city. Speak and hold not thy peace - For thy labour shall not be in vain. For I have much people in this city - So he prophetically calls them that afterward believed.
18:11 He continued there a year and six months - A long time! But how few souls are now gained in a longer time than this? Who is in the fault? Generally both teachers and hearers.
18:12 When Gallio was proconsul of Achaia - Of which Corinth was the chief city. This Gallio, the brother of the famous Seneca, is much commended both by him and by other writers, for the sweetness and generosity of his temper, and easiness of his behaviour. Yet one thing he lacked! But he knew it not and had no concern about it.
18:15 But if it be - He speaks with the utmost coolness and contempt, a question of names - The names of the heathen gods were fables and shadows. But the question concerning the name of Jesus is of more importance than all things else under heaven. Yet there is this singularity (among a thousand others) in the Christian religion, that human reason, curious as it is in all other things, abhors to inquire into it.
18:17 Then they all took Sosthenes - The successor of Crispus, and probably Paul's chief accuser, and beat him - It seems because he had occasioned them so much trouble to no purpose, before the judgment seat - One can hardly think in the sight of Gallio, though at no great distance from him. And it seems to have had a happy effect. For Sosthenes himself was afterward a Christian, Co1 1:1.
18:18 Paul continued many days - After the year and six months, to confirm the brethren. Aquila having shaved his head - As was the custom in a vow, Act 21:24; Num 6:18. At Cenchrea - A seaport town, at a small distance from Corinth.