Commentary – تفسير

5When Silas and Timothy had come from Macedonia, Paul was compelled by the Spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus is the Christ.6But when they opposed him and blasphemed, he shook his garments and said to them, “Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.”7And he departed from there and entered the house of a certain man named Justus, one who worshiped God, whose house was next door to the synagogue.8Then Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his household. And many of the Corinthians, hearing, believed and were baptized.

After Silas and Timothy came to Paul, the latter became more pressed than ever in his spirit. The fellowship of the brethren gave him added urgency in his preaching. Since one of the two brothers had brought a generous donation from the churches at Macedonia (2 Corinthians 11: 9) the apostle had plenty of time to preach. In the Jewish synagogue he showed from the law that the crucified Jesus of Nazareth was the true Christ, who had been rejected by the Jews. And then that which was customary to all times happened: he became more and more hated by the majority of the Jews, who rejected Paul, and blasphemed his gospel. It became necessary for Paul to separate himself from them, saying: “Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean, for I have told you all the words of salvation.” This statement indicates that those who reject the Crucified One will ultimately stand in the Last Judgment as those who committed suicide. By rejecting Christ they willingly rejected the blessing of salvation. There is no other atonement for them, and, therefore, they have condemned themselves to destruction.
From this event on we see Paul directing his attention to the Gentiles at Corinth. He did not, however, move far away from the synagogue of the Jews, but rented a room in a house next door, along with a godly man named Justus. Paul was not afraid of being a fisher of men for Christ. He snatched those frequenting the door to the synagogue of the Jews and brought them into the meetings he was holding in his room. His meetings continued during the week. He honored the ruler of the synagogue of the Jews with visits and talks, and enlightened him with truth and love until he became a believer. This was a miracle to the Corinthians. The most mature person of the Old Covenant members had became a Christian. He accepted baptism for himself, his wife, his children, and his servants at the hand of Paul. He entered into the expanses of Christ (1 Corinthians 1: 14). After his conversion to Christianity many followed him, and the church at Corinth flourished and grew vigorously.