Main Point: The Lord Jesus sovereignly leads and guides his mission in every way.

1. The Lord Jesus Sends Partners (Acts 18:1–4)

    a. Leaving Athens, Landing in Corinth (Acts 18:1)

    b. Meeting Christian Co-Workers (Acts 18:2–3)

    c. Proving and Persuading (Acts 18:4)

2. The Lord Jesus Reveals His Plan (Acts 18:5–11)

    a. Occupation with the Word (Acts 18:5)

    b. Opposition to the Word (Acts 18:6; cf. Ezekiel 33:1–9)

    c. Openness to the Word (Acts 18:7–8)

    d. Oracle of the Word (Acts 18:9–11)

        i. Jesus' precept: I don't want you to be afraid.

       ii. Jesus' prod: I want you to keep preaching.

      iii. Jesus' peace: I am with you.

      iv. Jesus' promise: I will protect you.

       v. Jesus' plan: I will save many (cf. Acts 13:48; Ephesians 1:4; 2 Timothy 1:9)

So far from making evangelism pointless, the sovereignty of God in grace is the one thing that prevents evangelism from being pointless. For it creates the possibility—indeed, the certainty—that evangelism will be fruitful. Apart from it, there is not even a possibility of evangelism being fruitful. Were it not for the sovereign grace of God, evangelism would be the most futile and useless enterprise that the world has ever seen, and there would be no more complete waste of time under the sun than to preach the Christian gospel.

(J. I. Packer, Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 1991), 106.

3. The Lord Jesus Protects His Ambassador (Acts 18:12–17)

    a. Gallio's Gavel (Acts 18:12–16)

    b. Paul's Protection (Acts 18:12–16)

    c. Sosthenes' Suffering (and Salvation! Acts 18:17; cf. 1 Corinthians 1:1)

4. The Lord Jesus Propels His Mission (Acts 18:18–23)

    a. Paul's Departure and Travels (Acts 18:18a)

    b. Paul's Vow (Acts 18:18b)

    c. Paul's Ministry in Ephesus (Acts 18:19–21)

    d. Paul's Return to Antioch (2nd Missionary Journey Ends; Acts 18:22)

    e. Paul's Perseverance in Mission (Acts 18:23)

        i. "Strengthening the disciples" (cf. Acts 14:22; 15:32, 41)