"And Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house; and many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized."
Acts 18:8
Part 3
Yesterday: Opposition to Jesus Christ and His Gospel
“And Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue.”
The Gospel message has been preached several times by Paul in the synagogue. But, the Jews “protested” when he said that “Jesus was the Christ.”
“Believed on the Lord.”
The other Jews rejected the message of “Jesus Christ,” but Crispus “believed on the Lord.”
Today: Households are Saved as they Learn of Jesus
Crispus trusted Jesus the Christ for salvation. But he was not alone.
“With all his house.”
“And Crispus…believed…” (Acts 18:8a).
This leader was not the only convert on that glorious day. What grace and faith were present there! His whole home was converted.
Crispus’ “household,” we presume, included his wife, children, perhaps even extended family living with him, and of course the domestic servants who cared for the family. Even as a lost man, Crispus must have been a good influence on his family. His children and servants willingly followed Jesus the Christ also. Saving faith came to Crispus’ home that day. Everyone under his roof believed and was saved. Beautiful words, “he believed on the Lord with all his house.”
Cornelius’ Household is Saved by Grace
Crispus’ family turning to Christ with him at the same time is not as unusual as it might seem at first. The New Testament also tells us of a Gentile, a Roman soldier and “God-fearer” named Cornelius and his family. He came to faith in Christ as he heard Peter share God’s Word about Jesus and the Gospel.
“There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band, A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God always” (Acts 10:1-2).
In preparation for Peter’s arrival and message, “…Cornelius waited for them and had called together his kinsmen and near friends” (Acts 10:24). To Cornelius’ household Peter said,
“To Him [Jesus] give all the prophets witness, that through His name whosoever believeth in Him shall receive remission of sins” (Acts 10:43).
As Peter preached the Gospel to this family, he did not even have time to offer an “invitation” for his listeners to come to Christ. For God gave His Holy Spirit to these new converts as they believed.
“While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the Word. And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost” (Acts 10:44-45).
At what point in Peter’s preaching Cornelius and his household truly turned to Christ we are not told. The evidence was apparent that they did believe. They each received the Holy Spirit, a sure indication of salvation present in each new believer. The Jews visiting the home with Peter could not believe what they are witnessing! To them, it was a new thought: God’s Holy Spirit is not a “Jewish possession,” but He is given to all who have been saved by grace, Jew, or Gentile.
In the New Testament, Cornelius’ is the first household that we read in Acts came to Christ during the preaching of the Word. Yes, Jesus can and will save each person in a family, if in childlike faith they each call upon His name!
Come back tomorrow as we conclude our thoughts on families that are saved by grace. See you then!
Quote: “Christ is a substitute for everything, but nothing is a substitute for Christ”[1] (Harry Ironside).
“Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17).
[1] Ironside’s quote Downloaded: Tuesday, February 9, 2021. From: https://www.christianquotes.info/top-quotes/20-awesome-quotes-salvation/.