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The year was approximately 52 A.D., 22

years after the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.Under the dynamic and inspired leadership

of the Apostle Paul, Christianity was

spreading throughout the Roman empire. But

preaching the gospel was a hazardous and

a dangerous mission that required a great

deal of courage and faith in God!

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One time, fleeing from his enemies in

Turkey, Paul sailed across the Aegean Sea to

Athens, Greece. From there he journeyed

down the Grecian

peninsula to the city ofCorinth.

After only a short

time there, Paul met a

Jewish couple named

Aquila and Priscilla, who

were tent-makers byprofession. They readily

received Jesus into their

hearts and invited Paul to

stay in their home. Paul

helped them make tents,

and every Sabbath daywent with them to the local Jewish synagogue

where he preached and tried to persuade the

Jews that Jesus was the Messiah, the Son of God.

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The chief ruler of the synagogue was a

Jew by the name of Crispus, and as he listened

to Paul, he became convinced that what he was

saying was the truth, so he and all of his

household joyfully received Jesus into theirhearts! But there were other Jewish leaders

who did not receive the

Truth, and chief among

them was a man named

Sosthenes. In his hatred

for Paul, Sosthenesbegan spreading vicious

lies and rumors and soon

had Paul and Crispus

expelled from the

Synagogue!

Paul then went nextdoor to the house of

Justus, a Christian whose house was built right

beside the synagogue. From there, he began

preaching the Gospel to the Greeks of Corinth,

and soon a large number of them were

converted to Christianity!

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Sosthenes flew into a fury ! Weve got

to stop Paul before he wins any more people to

Jesus! Sosthenes declared, burning with hate

and jealousy. And heres what well do.

Paul was in Justus home when suddenly

a mob, led by Sosthenes,

burst into the house!

There he is! Seize

him! Sosthenes

shouted. Paul rose to his

feet, and instantly a

dozen men were upon

him and had pinned him

to the wall!

If I could judge you

according to our religious laws, Sosthenessnarled, I would have you stoned to death

right here on the spot!But Roman law

requires that you get a civil trial, and we dont

want to get ourselves in trouble by killing you,

so well have to let the Romans condemn

you!

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But Ive broken no laws or done

anything legally wrong. Paul answered his

accuser, You have no case against me.

Sosthenes stuck his face right up to Pauls,

his evil eyes gleaming inches away, and said,Shut up, you dog, and look outside! There is

a mob of several hundred Greeks with us who

are now persuaded that you have broken

Roman laws!And by the time we get

finished accusing you, the Romans will crucify

you just like they did yourJesus! With that,he spat in Pauls face, and led the mob down

the streets of the city to the great marble

palace where the Roman Governors judgment

seat was.

Now the proconsular Governor of Greece

was Junius Annoeus Gallio, the younger

brother of the famous Roman senator Seneca.

Upon hearing that aserious legal crime had

been committed, he admitted the mob of Jews

and enraged Greek citizens into his court.

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When they had assembled before the

Governor, Sosthenes stepped forward and

began to accuse Paul. This man, he charged,

is persuading the people to worship God in

ways contrary to the law! Sosthenes beganbringing one accusation after another against

Paul, and the Governor became concerned at

the multitude of serious criminal accusations

that were being leveled against Paul!

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Suddenly Governor Gallio smiled as he

realized what was happening. This is ridiculous!

he thought, this is nothing more than religious

jealousy and arguments over tradition anddoctrinal differences!And yet theyre trying to

get me to pass judgment on him by accusing him

of having broken some legal law!

Finally Sosthenes and the other Jews finished

their accusations, and just as Paul was about to

speak in his defense, Gallio rose to his feet andsaid, If you Jews were making a complaint about

some actual wrong-doing or serious crime, it

would be reasonable for me to listen to you. But

since it involves questions about things having to

do with your own religious laws, settle the matter

yourselves! I will not be a judge of such matters!Motioning to the guards, Gallio had the mob

driven out of the Court. Seeing Paul still standing

there, he said to him quietly, You are free togo.

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As Paul emerged from the court building

and descended its great steps, he noticed that an

angry quarrel had broken out between the Jews

and the angry mob of Greeks who had been

tricked and misled bySosthenes lies about

Paul. Furious that

Sosthenes had gotten

them all stirred up

over nothing, the

angry crowd nowturned on him and

began beating him

for having deceived

and used them!

Paul stayed on

in Corinth for quite some time after this, teachingand preaching the Word of God and winning

thousands of souls to faith in Jesus! By the time

he left, one of the strongest groups of Christians

in all Europe had been established, and an untold

multitude of people had found true happiness and

meaning in life!

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18

Dramatized Bible story from Acts 18

Story and art The Family International - www.freekidstories.org

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