The road to Jerusalem continues...

Civil religion, according to New Testament scholar Michael Gorman, is what happens when the sacred becomes political and the political becomes sacred. Civil religion is also the result of the few and power wrapping up the culture they want to impose or maintain in the religious language of the many.

Preaching, conversion, opposition, confrontation...this pattern has emerged in Acts, so the events of chapter 18 are not surprising. However, Luke's account of Paul in Corinth gives us some insight into how Paul was able to endure, to continue, to overcome. He experiences a vision that tells him, not to go, but to stay, and this vision tells us how Paul was enabled and empowered for faithfulness. The Lord was with him...but not with him only.