The Signs of an Apostle (II Corinthians 12:12)

(Class Notes)

• Signs and Wonders among the Gentiles (Acts 15:12)
  • Paul's ministry to the Gentiles was confirmed by signs to the apostles (Acts 15:1,7-8,12-14,18 cf. Mark 16:14-15,17-18,20)
  • The Gentiles acknowledged God through signs done by Paul:
    • Sign of healing the sick
      • Lystra of Lycaonia (Acts 14:6-11)
      • Ephesus of Asia (Acts 19:1,10-12)
    • Sign of casting out of demons
      • Philippi of Macedonia (Acts 16:12,16-18)
      • Ephesus of Asia (Acts 19:1,10-12)
    • Sign of speaking in tongues
      • Ephesus of Asia (Acts 19:1-6 cf. Acts 10:44-46)
    • Sign of raising the dead
      • Troas of Asia (Acts 20:4-12)
    • Sign of handling deadly serpents
      • Island of Melita (Acts 28:1-6)

• Corinth: The Sign Church (I Corinthians 14:22)
  • Paul's apostleship to the Gentiles should have provoked the Jews to jealousy over the Gentiles receiving Jewish spiritual blessings (Romans 11:11-14; Romans 15:26-27 cf. I Corinthians 1:21-22; I Corinthians 14:21-22)
  • God arranged signless provision for Paul at Corinth through the expulsion of Priscilla and Aquila from Rome (Acts 18:1-3), as He also did for Paul at Philippi through the salvation of Lydia (Acts 16:12-15)
  • Paul's message in Corinth was rejected by the Jews and received by the Gentiles (Acts 18:4-6); the same held true at Antioch (Acts 13:42-46) and at Rome (Acts 28:25-28)
  • The Gentile church is set up right next door to the Jewish synagogue (Acts 18:7)
  • The chief Jewish ruler of the synagogue gets saved (Acts 18:8)
  • A multitude of the Gentile metropolis gets saved (Acts 18:9-11)
  • Another chief Jewish ruler of the synagogue who persecuted Paul during his stay at Corinth gets saved (Acts 18:12-18 cf. I Corinthians 1:1-2)
  • A learned Greek Jew and mighty in the Scriptures is further instructed and dispatched to Corinth as a teacher (Acts 18:19-28 cf. I Corinthians 3:4-6)

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