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Acts 18

Paul visits Corinth

18 After Paul had spoken to the important officers of Athens, he left the city. He went from there to the city of Corinth. ^{[ a ]}

² In Corinth, he met a man called Aquila. Aquila was a Jew. He had been born in the region of Pontus. At that time, Caesar Claudius had said that all Jews must leave Rome. So Aquila had left Italy and he had just arrived in Corinth with his wife Priscilla. Paul went to visit them. ³ They knew how to make tents which they could sell to people. Paul also made tents, so he stayed with them and he worked with them.

⁴ Every Jewish day of rest, Paul taught both Jews and Greek people in the Jewish meeting place. He wanted them all to believe the good news about Jesus.

⁵ Then Silas and Timothy arrived there from the country called Macedonia. After that, the only work that Paul did was to teach people God's message. He told the Jews clearly that Jesus is God's Messiah. ⁶ The Jews did not agree with Paul and they insulted him. So he shook the dirt off his clothes at them. ^{[ b ]} He said to them, ‘If God punishes you, then you have caused it to happen. It will not be because of me. Now I will go to the Gentiles and I will teach them God's message.’

⁷ So Paul did not speak in the Jewish meeting place any more. ^{[ c ]} Instead, he went to the house of Titius Justus, which was next to the meeting place. Justus was a Gentile who now worshipped God. ⁸ A man called Crispus was the leader of the Jewish meeting place there. He, and everyone else who lived in his house, believed in the Lord Jesus. Many other people in Corinth heard Paul's message and they believed in Jesus. When they became believers, someone baptized them.

⁹ But one night, the Lord appeared to Paul in a vision. He said, ‘Do not be afraid of those people who are against you. Continue to speak my message to the people here. Do not stop speaking to them. ¹⁰ I am here with you. Nobody will hurt you. There are many people in this city who will believe in me.’

¹¹ So Paul stayed in Corinth for 18 months and he taught the people God's message about Jesus.

¹² Gallio then became the Roman ruler of the region called Achaia. ^{[ d ]} At this time the Jewish leaders in Corinth decided together to speak against Paul. So they took hold of him and they brought him to Gallio. They wanted Gallio to judge Paul.

¹³ The Jewish leaders said to Gallio, ‘This man is teaching people to worship God in a wrong way. The things that he teaches are against our Jewish law.’

¹⁴ Paul was ready to speak, but Gallio spoke first to the Jews. He said, ‘If this man had done a very bad thing, then I would judge him. It would be right for me to listen to you. ¹⁵ But you are arguing about words and names and your own Jewish law. So you yourselves must decide what to do about it. I will not be a judge to decide about these things.’ ¹⁶ Then Gallio told his soldiers to take the Jewish leaders away. ¹⁷ Then the whole crowd of people took hold of a man called Sosthenes. He was the leader of the Jewish meeting place there. The crowd hit him with sticks in front of Gallio. But Gallio did nothing to stop them. He did not think it was important.

Paul travels from Corinth to Antioch

¹⁸ Paul remained in Corinth with the believers for many days. Then he left them. Priscilla and Aquila also went with him. They went to the port called Cenchrea. They got on a ship there to sail to Syria. Before they left, someone cut off all the hair on Paul's head. This showed that he had made a promise to God. ^{[ e ]}

¹⁹ They all arrived in the city of Ephesus. Paul left Priscilla and Aquila, and he went into the Jewish meeting room. There he talked about God's message with the Jews. ²⁰ Some of them asked Paul to remain in Ephesus with them for a longer time. But he did not agree to stay. ²¹ Before he left, he said to them, ‘If God wants me to come back, I will return to you.’ Then Paul got in a ship and he sailed from Ephesus to Caesarea. ²² After Paul arrived in Caesarea, he went to Jerusalem. He said, ‘hello’ to the group of believers there. Then he travelled to Antioch in Syria.

²³ He stayed in Antioch for some time. Then he left there and he travelled through the regions called Galatia and Phrygia. He spoke to all the believers in these places. He helped them to trust God and to be strong.

These are some of the things that Apollos did

²⁴ A certain Jewish man called Apollos arrived in Ephesus. He had been born in Alexandria, and he could teach people very well. ^{[ f ]} He knew a lot about God's message in the Bible. ²⁵ Someone had taught him the good news about the Lord Jesus. He liked to speak a lot to people about Jesus. The things that he taught were true. But he only knew part of God's message. He only knew the things that John taught about baptism. ²⁶ Apollos went to the Jewish meeting place and he taught the people there. He was not afraid to speak God's message to them. Priscilla and Aquila heard what Apollos was teaching the people. So they said to him, ‘Please come with us to our home.’ Then they explained to Apollos the whole of God's message about Jesus. Then he could understand better.

²⁷ Later, Apollos decided to go to the region called Achaia. The believers in Ephesus agreed that he should do that. They wrote a letter for him to give to the believers in Achaia. They wrote, ‘When Apollos arrives, please accept him.’ God had been very kind to the believers in Achaia, so that they believed in Jesus. When Apollos came to them, he helped them very much. ²⁸ Some of the Jews there spoke against Apollos's message. But he argued strongly against them so that everyone could hear. He explained to them what God had said in the Bible. He showed them clearly that Jesus is God's Messiah.

Footnotes

18:1 Corinth is a city in Greece, about 75 kilometres from Athens.
18:6 Paul cleaned the dirt off his clothes. This meant that Paul did not want to speak to those Jews again.
18:7 Paul continued to teach in Corinth. But now he usually taught those who were not Jews. Most people who lived in Corinth were Greek.
18:12 The men with authority in Rome caused Gallio to rule Achaia in AD 51.
18:18 God had helped Paul to do many things in Corinth. Maybe he was saying thank you because God had helped him.
18:24 Alexandria was an important city in Egypt and in the world. And people went there to learn many different things.

Paul in Corinth

18 Later, Paul left Athens and went to the city of Corinth. ² There he met a Jewish man named Aquila, who was born in the country of Pontus. But he and his wife, Priscilla, had recently moved to Corinth from Italy. They left Italy because Claudius had given an order for all Jews to leave Rome. Paul went to visit Aquila and Priscilla. ³ They were tentmakers, the same as Paul, so he stayed with them and worked with them.

⁴ Every Sabbath day Paul went to the synagogue and talked with both Jews and Greeks, trying to persuade them to believe in Jesus. ⁵ But after Silas and Timothy came from Macedonia, Paul spent all his time telling God’s message to the Jews, trying to convince them that Jesus is the Messiah. ⁶ But they disagreed with what Paul was teaching and started insulting him. So Paul shook the dust from his clothes. ^{[ a ]} He said to them, “If you are not saved, it will be your own fault! I have done all I can do. After this I will go only to the non-Jewish people.”

⁷ Paul left the synagogue and moved into the home of Titius Justus, a man who was a worshiper of the true God. His house was next to the synagogue. ⁸ Crispus was the leader of that synagogue. He and all the people living in his house believed in the Lord Jesus. Many other people in Corinth also listened to Paul. They, too, believed and were baptized.

⁹ During the night, Paul had a vision. The Lord said to him, “Don’t be afraid, and don’t stop talking to people. ¹⁰ I am with you, and no one will be able to hurt you. Many of my people are in this city.” ¹¹ Paul stayed there for a year and a half teaching God’s message to the people.

Paul Is Brought Before Gallio

¹² During the time that Gallio was the governor of Achaia, some of the Jews came together against Paul. They took him to court. ¹³ They said to Gallio, “This man is teaching people to worship God in a way that is against our law!”

¹⁴ Paul was ready to say something, but Gallio spoke to the Jews. He said, “I would listen to you if your complaint was about a crime or other wrong. ¹⁵ But it is only about words and names—arguments about your own law. So you must solve this problem yourselves. I don’t want to be a judge of these matters.” ¹⁶ So Gallio made them leave the court.

¹⁷ Then they all grabbed Sosthenes, the leader of the synagogue. They beat him before the court. But this did not bother Gallio.

Paul Returns to Antioch

¹⁸ Paul stayed with the believers for many days. Then he left and sailed for Syria. Priscilla and Aquila were also with him. At Cenchrea Paul cut off his hair, ^{[ b ]} because he had made a promise to God. ¹⁹ Then they went to the city of Ephesus, where Paul left Priscilla and Aquila. While Paul was in Ephesus, he went into the synagogue and talked with the Jews. ²⁰ They asked him to stay longer, but he refused. ²¹ He left them and said, “I will come back to you again if God wants me to.” And so he sailed away from Ephesus.

²² When Paul arrived at Caesarea, he went to Jerusalem and visited the church there. After that he went to Antioch. ²³ Paul stayed in Antioch for a while. Then he left there and went through the countries of Galatia and Phrygia. He traveled from town to town in these countries, helping all the followers of Jesus grow stronger in their faith.

Apollos in Ephesus and Corinth

²⁴ A Jew named Apollos came to Ephesus. Born in the city of Alexandria, he was an educated man who knew the Scriptures well. ²⁵ He had been taught about the Lord and was always excited ^{[ c ]} to talk to people about Jesus. What he taught was right, but the only baptism he knew about was the baptism that John taught. ²⁶ Apollos began to speak very boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him speak, they took him to their home and helped him understand the way of God better.

²⁷ Apollos wanted to go to Achaia. So the believers in Ephesus helped him. They wrote a letter to the Lord’s followers in Achaia and asked them to accept Apollos. When he arrived there, he was a great help to those who had believed in Jesus because of God’s grace. ²⁸ He argued very strongly against the Jews before all the people. He clearly proved that the Jews were wrong. He used the Scriptures and showed that Jesus is the Messiah.

Footnotes

Acts 18:6 shook the dust from his clothes A warning. It showed Paul was finished talking to these Jews.
Acts 18:18 cut off his hair This may show that Paul was ending a Nazirite vow, a time of special dedication and service promised to God. See “ Nazirite ” in the Word List.
Acts 18:25 excited Or “on fire with the Spirit.”

18 After these things Paul departed from Athens, and came to Corinth;

² And found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, lately come from Italy, with his wife Priscilla; (because that Claudius had commanded all Jews to depart from Rome:) and came unto them.

³ And because he was of the same craft, he abode with them, and wrought: for by their occupation they were tentmakers.

⁴ And he reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks.

⁵ And when Silas and Timotheus were come from Macedonia, Paul was pressed in the spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus was Christ.

⁶ And when they opposed themselves, and blasphemed, he shook his raiment, and said unto them, Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean; from henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles.

⁷ And he departed thence, and entered into a certain man's house, named Justus, one that worshipped God, whose house joined hard to the synagogue.

⁸ 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.

⁹ Then spake the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision, Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace:

¹⁰ For I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city.

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

¹² And when Gallio was the deputy of Achaia, the Jews made insurrection with one accord against Paul, and brought him to the judgment seat,

¹³ Saying, This fellow persuadeth men to worship God contrary to the law.

¹⁴ And when Paul was now about to open his mouth, Gallio said unto the Jews, If it were a matter of wrong or wicked lewdness, O ye Jews, reason would that I should bear with you:

¹⁵ But if it be a question of words and names, and of your law, look ye to it; for I will be no judge of such matters.

¹⁶ And he drave them from the judgment seat.

¹⁷ Then all the Greeks took Sosthenes, the chief ruler of the synagogue, and beat him before the judgment seat. And Gallio cared for none of those things.

¹⁸ And Paul after this tarried there yet a good while, and then took his leave of the brethren, and sailed thence into Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila; having shorn his head in Cenchrea: for he had a vow.

¹⁹ And he came to Ephesus, and left them there: but he himself entered into the synagogue, and reasoned with the Jews.

²⁰ When they desired him to tarry longer time with them, he consented not;

²¹ But bade them farewell, saying, I must by all means keep this feast that cometh in Jerusalem: but I will return again unto you, if God will. And he sailed from Ephesus.

²² And when he had landed at Caesarea, and gone up, and saluted the church, he went down to Antioch.

²³ And after he had spent some time there, he departed, and went over all the country of Galatia and Phrygia in order, strengthening all the disciples.

²⁴ And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures, came to Ephesus.

²⁵ This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John.

²⁶ And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly.

²⁷ And when he was disposed to pass into Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him: who, when he was come, helped them much which had believed through grace:

²⁸ For he mightily convinced the Jews, and that publicly, shewing by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ.

In Corinth

18 After this, Paul left Athens ^{( A )} and went to Corinth. ^{( B )} ² There he met a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, ^{( C )} because Claudius ^{( D )} had ordered all Jews to leave Rome. Paul went to see them, ³ and because he was a tentmaker as they were, he stayed and worked with them. ^{( E )} ⁴ Every Sabbath ^{( F )} he reasoned in the synagogue, ^{( G )} trying to persuade Jews and Greeks.

⁵ When Silas ^{( H )} and Timothy ^{( I )} came from Macedonia, ^{( J )} Paul devoted himself exclusively to preaching, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Messiah. ^{( K )} ⁶ But when they opposed Paul and became abusive, ^{( L )} he shook out his clothes in protest ^{( M )} and said to them, “Your blood be on your own heads! ^{( N )} I am innocent of it. ^{( O )} From now on I will go to the Gentiles.” ^{( P )}

⁷ Then Paul left the synagogue and went next door to the house of Titius Justus, a worshiper of God. ^{( Q )} ⁸ Crispus, ^{( R )} the synagogue leader, ^{( S )} and his entire household ^{( T )} believed in the Lord; and many of the Corinthians who heard Paul believed and were baptized.

⁹ One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: ^{( U )} “Do not be afraid; ^{( V )} keep on speaking, do not be silent. ¹⁰ For I am with you, ^{( W )} and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city.” ¹¹ So Paul stayed in Corinth for a year and a half, teaching them the word of God. ^{( X )}

¹² While Gallio was proconsul ^{( Y )} of Achaia, ^{( Z )} the Jews of Corinth made a united attack on Paul and brought him to the place of judgment. ¹³ “This man,” they charged, “is persuading the people to worship God in ways contrary to the law.”

¹⁴ Just as Paul was about to speak, Gallio said to them, “If you Jews were making a complaint about some misdemeanor or serious crime, it would be reasonable for me to listen to you. ¹⁵ But since it involves questions about words and names and your own law ^{( AA )} —settle the matter yourselves. I will not be a judge of such things.” ¹⁶ So he drove them off. ¹⁷ Then the crowd there turned on Sosthenes ^{( AB )} the synagogue leader ^{( AC )} and beat him in front of the proconsul; and Gallio showed no concern whatever.

Priscilla, Aquila and Apollos

¹⁸ Paul stayed on in Corinth for some time. Then he left the brothers and sisters ^{( AD )} and sailed for Syria, ^{( AE )} accompanied by Priscilla and Aquila. ^{( AF )} Before he sailed, he had his hair cut off at Cenchreae ^{( AG )} because of a vow he had taken. ^{( AH )} ¹⁹ They arrived at Ephesus, ^{( AI )} where Paul left Priscilla and Aquila. He himself went into the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews. ²⁰ When they asked him to spend more time with them, he declined. ²¹ But as he left, he promised, “I will come back if it is God’s will.” ^{( AJ )} Then he set sail from Ephesus. ²² When he landed at Caesarea, ^{( AK )} he went up to Jerusalem and greeted the church and then went down to Antioch. ^{( AL )}

²³ After spending some time in Antioch, Paul set out from there and traveled from place to place throughout the region of Galatia ^{( AM )} and Phrygia, ^{( AN )} strengthening all the disciples. ^{( AO )}

²⁴ Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos, ^{( AP )} a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. ^{( AQ )} He was a learned man, with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures. ²⁵ He had been instructed in the way of the Lord, and he spoke with great fervor ^{[ a ]} ^{( AR )} and taught about Jesus accurately, though he knew only the baptism of John. ^{( AS )} ²⁶ He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila ^{( AT )} heard him, they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately.

²⁷ When Apollos wanted to go to Achaia, ^{( AU )} the brothers and sisters ^{( AV )} encouraged him and wrote to the disciples there to welcome him. When he arrived, he was a great help to those who by grace had believed. ²⁸ For he vigorously refuted his Jewish opponents in public debate, proving from the Scriptures ^{( AW )} that Jesus was the Messiah. ^{( AX )}

Footnotes

Acts 18:25 Or with fervor in the Spirit

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Table of Contents

Acts 18

Paul visits Corinth

Paul travels from Corinth to Antioch

These are some of the things that Apollos did

Footnotes

Paul in Corinth

Paul Is Brought Before Gallio

Paul Returns to Antioch

Apollos in Ephesus and Corinth

Footnotes

Paul in Corinth

Third Missionary Journey

Footnotes

Cross references

In Corinth

Priscilla, Aquila and Apollos

Footnotes

Cross references

BibleStudyIt Acts 18

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Acts 18

Paul visits Corinth

Paul travels from Corinth to Antioch

These are some of the things that Apollos did

Footnotes

Paul in Corinth

Paul Is Brought Before Gallio

Paul Returns to Antioch

Apollos in Ephesus and Corinth

Footnotes

Paul in Corinth

Third Missionary Journey

Footnotes

Cross references

In Corinth

Priscilla, Aquila and Apollos

Footnotes

Cross references

Acts 18's Chapter Tabs
Scroll past these tabs to continue or click on one of them to navigate out of this webpage.