And he continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.
Acts 18:11

Paul remained in Corinth for a year and a half. Why is this detail about the length of Paul’s sojourn in Corinth recorded in the biblical text? Because it was unusual for Paul to stay in one place for very long. The lengths of most of his stays in the cities in which he planted churches isn’t recorded, but it is clear while reading Acts, most were weeks, or at the most, a couple of months. Corinth was an exception, so it is noted.

Another exception that was much longer than Corinth, was Paul’s stay in Ephesus, where it appears he remained from two and a half to three years.

Why longer in those two places, and why so short in the others? We can only speculate, except that as we read Acts, we are reminded that the Holy Spirit was supernaturally guiding Paul when and where to serve God. Interestingly, sometimes, the Holy Spirit’s leading was contrary to Paul’s personal plans. What can we learn from all this?

Apostles were unique ministers of the gospel. They were divinely guided more supernaturally than we should expect to receive such guidance. Church planters today usually spend many years in a particular locale. We ought not to think church-planting missionaries can operate as effectively or as quickly as Paul did.

In the other hand, from the fact that Paul spend a great deal longer in Corinth and in Ephesus, it instructs us as to the level of pastoral care Paul gave in these two places. This example is much more a normative example for the majority of church-planting pastors (and pastors in general).

What did Paul do in these lengthy stays in Corinth and in Ephesus? We’ll consider that next time…