Acts 18:1–4 (ESV)
Paul in Corinth
18 After this Paul left Athens
and went to Corinth. 2 And he found a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to leave Rome. And he went to see them, 3 and because he was of the same trade he stayed
with them and worked, for they were tentmakers by trade. 4 And he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and tried to persuade Jews and Greeks.
Today’s is short, but with an interesting side note.
The main point I wanted to hit on is that we see today that Paul was a tentmaker by trade. The Lutheran Study Bible states: “Tent making” or “leather making.” This could refer to material for tents or canvas for sails. Paul probably
learned his trade as a youth; Pharisees regularly had an occupation, and Paul often worked to provide for himself. Maybe this is useless information, but I think it is interesting. Paul was not lazy, but a worker whether making tents or sharing
the gospel.
I pray: O Lord, I don’t know why you give us in information about Paul being a tentmaker, but I thank you for it because it makes
Paul real. If he were not in the ministry, he did have a trade. It is important for us to have skills, trades, and hobbies. Paul was not lazy, but a worker whether making tents or sharing the gospel. Help us to use our occupations,
trades, hobbies, education,... to further the Gospel of the Lord. Amen.