1 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 publickly, shewing by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ.
1 G1161 After G3326 these things G5023 Paul G3972 departed G5563 from G1537 Athens, G116 and came G2064 to G1519 Corinth; G2882
2 And G2532 found G2147 a certain G5100 Jew G2453 named G3686 Aquila, G207 born G1085 in Pontus, G4193 lately G4373 come G2064 from G575 Italy, G2482 with G2532 his G846 wife G1135 Priscilla; G4252 (because that G1223 Claudius G2804 had commanded G1299 all G3956 Jews G2453 to depart G5563 from G1537 Rome:) G4516 and came G4334 unto them. G846
3 And G2532 because G1223 he was G1511 of the same craft, G3673 he abode G3306 with G3844 them, G846 and G2532 wrought: G2038 for G1063 by their occupation G5078 they were G2258 tentmakers. G4635
4 And G1161 he reasoned G1256 in G1722 the synagogue G4864 G2596 every G3956 sabbath, G4521 and G5037 persuaded G3982 the Jews G2453 and G2532 the Greeks. G1672
5 And G1161 when G5613 G5037 Silas G4609 and G2532 Timotheus G5095 were come G2718 from G575 Macedonia, G3109 Paul G3972 was pressed G4912 in the spirit, G4151 and testified G1263 to the Jews G2453 that Jesus G2424 was Christ. G5547
6 And G1161 when they opposed G498 themselves, G846 and G2532 blasphemed, G987 he shook G1621 his raiment, G2440 and said G2036 unto G4314 them, G846 Your G5216 blood G129 be upon G1909 your G5216 own heads; G2776 I G1473 am clean: G2513 from G575 henceforth G3568 I will go G4198 unto G1519 the Gentiles. G1484
7 And G2532 he departed G3327 thence, G1564 and entered G2064 into G1519 a certain G5100 man's house, G3614 named G3686 Justus, G2459 one that worshipped G4576 God, G2316 whose G3739 house G3614 joined hard G4927 G2258 to the synagogue. G4864
8 And G1161 Crispus, G2921 the chief ruler of the synagogue, G752 believed G4100 on the Lord G2962 with G4862 all G3650 his G846 house; G3624 and G2532 many G4183 of the Corinthians G2881 hearing G191 believed, G4100 and G2532 were baptized. G907
9 Then G1161 spake G2036 the Lord G2962 to Paul G3972 in G1223 the night G3571 by G1722 a vision, G3705 Be G5399 not G3361 afraid, G5399 but G235 speak, G2980 and G2532 hold G4623 not G3361 thy peace: G4623
10 For G1360 I G1473 am G1510 with G3326 thee, G4675 and G2532 no man G3762 shall set on G2007 thee G4671 to hurt G2559 thee: G4571 for G1360 I G3427 have G2076 much G4183 people G2992 in G1722 this G5026 city. G4172
11 And G5037 he continued G2523 there a year G1763 and G2532 six G1803 months, G3376 teaching G1321 the word G3056 of God G2316 among G1722 them. G846
12 And G1161 when Gallio G1058 was the deputy G445 of Achaia, G882 the Jews G2453 made insurrection G2721 with one accord against G3661 Paul, G3972 and G2532 brought G71 him G846 to G1909 the judgment seat, G968
13 Saying, G3004 G3754 This G3778 fellow persuadeth G374 men G444 to worship G4576 God G2316 contrary G3844 to the law. G3551
14 And G1161 when Paul G3972 was now about G3195 to open G455 his mouth, G4750 Gallio G1058 said G2036 unto G4314 the Jews, G2453 If G1487 G3303 G3767 it were G2258 a G5100 matter of wrong G92 or G2228 wicked G4190 lewdness, G4467 O G5599 ye Jews, G2453 reason G2596 G3056 would G302 that I should bear G430 with you: G5216
15 But G1161 if G1487 it be G2076 a question G2213 of G4012 words G3056 and G2532 names, G3686 and G2532 of G2596 your G5209 law, G3551 look ye G3700 G846 to it; for G1063 I G1473 will be G1014 G1511 no G3756 judge G2923 of such G5130 matters.
16 And G2532 he drave G556 them G846 from G575 the judgment seat. G968
17 Then G1161 all G3956 the Greeks G1672 took G1949 Sosthenes, G4988 the chief ruler of the synagogue, G752 and beat G5180 him before G1715 the judgment seat. G968 And G2532 Gallio G1058 cared G3199 for none G3762 of those things. G5130
18 And G1161 Paul G3972 after this tarried G4357 there yet G2089 a good G2425 while, G2250 and then took his leave G657 of the brethren, G80 and sailed thence G1602 into G1519 Syria, G4947 and G2532 with G4862 him G846 Priscilla G4252 and G2532 Aquila; G207 having shorn G2751 his head G2776 in G1722 Cenchrea: G2747 for G1063 he had G2192 a vow. G2171
19 And G1161 he came G2658 to G1519 Ephesus, G2181 and G2548 left G2641 them there: G847 but G1161 he himself G846 entered G1525 into G1519 the synagogue, G4864 and reasoned with G1256 the Jews. G2453
20 When G1161 they G846 desired G2065 him to tarry G3306 longer G1909 G4119 time G5550 with G3844 them, G846 he consented G1962 not; G3756
21 But G235 bade G657 them G846 farewell, G657 saying, G2036 I G3165 must G1163 by all means G3843 keep G4160 this feast G1859 that cometh G2064 in G1519 Jerusalem: G2414 but G1161 I will return G344 again G3825 unto G4314 you, G5209 if God G2316 will. G2309 And G2532 he sailed G321 from G575 Ephesus. G2181
22 And G2532 when he had landed G2718 at G1519 Caesarea, G2542 and gone up, G305 and G2532 saluted G782 the church, G1577 he went down G2597 to G1519 Antioch. G490
23 And G2532 after he had spent G4160 some G5100 time G5550 there, he departed, G1831 and went over G1330 all the country G5561 of Galatia G1054 and G2532 Phrygia G5435 in order, G2517 strengthening G1991 all G3956 the disciples. G3101
24 And G1161 a certain G5100 Jew G2453 named G3686 Apollos, G625 born G1085 at Alexandria, G221 an eloquent G3052 man, G435 and mighty G5607 G1415 in G1722 the scriptures, G1124 came G2658 to G1519 Ephesus. G2181
25 This man G3778 was G2258 instructed in G2727 the way G3598 of the Lord; G2962 and G2532 being fervent G2204 in the spirit, G4151 he spake G2980 and G2532 taught G1321 diligently G199 the things of G4012 the Lord, G2962 knowing G1987 only G3440 the baptism G908 of John. G2491
26 And G5037 he G3778 began G756 to speak boldly G3955 in G1722 the synagogue: G4864 whom G846 when G1161 Aquila G207 and G2532 Priscilla G4252 had heard, G191 they took G4355 him G846 unto them, and G2532 expounded G1620 unto him G846 the way G3598 of God G2316 more perfectly. G197
27 And G1161 when he G846 was disposed G1014 to pass G1330 into G1519 Achaia, G882 the brethren G80 wrote, G1125 exhorting G4389 the disciples G3101 to receive G588 him: G846 who, G3739 when he was come, G3854 helped them G4820 much G4183 which had believed G4100 through G1223 grace: G5485
28 For G1063 he mightily G2159 convinced G1246 the Jews, G2453 and that publickly, G1219 shewing G1925 by G1223 the scriptures G1124 that Jesus G2424 was G1511 Christ. G5547
1 After these things he departed from Athens, and came to Corinth.
2 And he found a certain Jew named Aquila, a man of Pontus by race, lately come from Italy, with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to depart from Rome: and he came unto them;
3 and because he was of the same trade, he abode with them, and they wrought, for by their trade they were tentmakers.
4 And he reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath, and persuaded Jews and Greeks.
5 But when Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia, Paul was constrained by the word, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ.
6 And when they opposed themselves and blasphemed, he shook out 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 went into the house of a certain man named Titus Justus, one that worshipped God, whose house joined hard to the synagogue.
8 And Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed in the Lord with all his house; and many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized.
9 And the Lord said unto 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 harm thee: for I have much people in this city.
11 And he dwelt `there' a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.
12 But when Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews with one accord rose up against Paul and brought him before the judgment-seat,
13 saying, This man persuadeth men to worship God contrary to the law.
14 But when Paul was about to open his mouth, Gallio said unto the Jews, If indeed it were a matter of wrong or of wicked villany, O ye Jews, reason would that I should bear with you:
15 but if they are questions about words and names and your own law, look to it yourselves; I am not minded to be a judge of these matters.
16 And he drove them from the judgment-seat.
17 And they all laid hold on Sosthenes, the ruler of the synagogue, and beat him before the judgment-seat. And Gallio cared for none of these things.
18 And Paul, having tarried after this yet many days, took his leave of the brethren, and sailed thence for Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila: having shorn his head in Cenchreae; for he had a vow.
19 And they came to Ephesus, and he left them there: but he himself entered into the synagogue, and reasoned with the Jews.
20 And when they asked him to abide a longer time, he consented not;
21 but taking his leave of them, and saying, I will return again unto you if God will, he set sail from Ephesus.
22 And when he had landed at Caesarea, he went up and saluted the church, and went down to Antioch.
23 And having spent some time `there', he departed, and went through the region of Galatia, and Phrygia, in order, establishing all the disciples.
24 Now a certain Jew named Apollos, an Alexandrian by race, an eloquent man, came to Ephesus; and he was mighty in the scriptures.
25 This man had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit, he spake and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus, knowing only the baptism of John:
26 and he began to speak boldly in the synagogue. But when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more accurately.
27 And when he was minded to pass over into Achaia, the brethren encouraged him, and wrote to the disciples to receive him: and when he was come, he helped them much that had believed through grace;
28 for he powerfully confuted the Jews, `and that' publicly, showing by the scriptures that Jesus was the Christ.
1 And after these things, Paul having departed out of Athens, came to Corinth,
2 and having found a certain Jew, by name Aquilas, of Pontus by birth, lately come from Italy, and Priscilla his wife -- because of Claudius having directed all the Jews to depart out of Rome -- he came to them,
3 and because of being of the same craft, he did remain with them, and was working, for they were tent-makers as to craft;
4 and he was reasoning in the synagogue every sabbath, persuading both Jews and Greeks.
5 And when both Silas and Timotheus came down from Macedonia, Paul was pressed in the Spirit, testifying fully to the Jews Jesus the Christ;
6 and on their resisting and speaking evil, having shaken `his' garments, he said unto them, `Your blood `is' upon your head -- I am clean; henceforth to the nations I will go on.'
7 And having departed thence, he went to the house of a certain one, by name Justus, a worshipper of God, whose house was adjoining the synagogue,
8 and Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue did believe in the Lord with all his house, and many of the Corinthians hearing were believing, and they were being baptized.
9 And the Lord said through a vision in the night to Paul, `Be not afraid, but be speaking and thou mayest be not silent;
10 because I am with thee, and no one shall set on thee to do thee evil; because I have much people in this city;'
11 and he continued a year and six months, teaching among them the word of God.
12 And Gallio being proconsul of Achaia, the Jews made a rush with one accord upon Paul, and brought him unto the tribunal,
13 saying -- `Against the law this one doth persuade men to worship God;'
14 and Paul being about to open `his' mouth, Gallio said unto the Jews, `If, indeed, then, it was anything unrighteous, or an act of wicked profligacy, O Jews, according to reason I had borne with you,
15 but if it is a question concerning words and names, and of your law, look ye yourselves `to it', for a judge of these things I do not wish to be,'
16 and he drave them from the tribunal;
17 and all the Greeks having taken Sosthenes, the chief man of the synagogue, were beating `him' before the tribunal, and not even for these things was Gallio caring.
18 And Paul having remained yet a good many days, having taken leave of the brethren, was sailing to Syria -- and with him `are' Priscilla and Aquilas -- having shorn `his' head in Cenchera, for he had a vow;
19 and he came down to Ephesus, and did leave them there, and he himself having entered into the synagogue did reason with the Jews:
20 and they having requested `him' to remain a longer time with them, he did not consent,
21 but took leave of them, saying, `It behoveth me by all means the coming feast to keep at Jerusalem, and again I will return unto you -- God willing.' And he sailed from Ephesus,
22 and having come down to Cesarea, having gone up, and having saluted the assembly, he went down to Antioch.
23 And having made some stay he went forth, going through in order the region of Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples.
24 And a certain Jew, Apollos by name, an Alexandrian by birth, a man of eloquence, being mighty in the Writings, came to Ephesus,
25 this one was instructed in the way of the Lord, and being fervent in the Spirit, was speaking and teaching exactly the things about the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John;
26 this one also began to speak boldly in the synagogue, and Aquilas and Priscilla having heard of him, took him to `them', and did more exactly expound to him the way of God,
27 and he being minded to go through into Achaia, the brethren wrote to the disciples, having exhorted them to receive him, who having come, did help them much who have believed through the grace,
28 for powerfully the Jews he was refuting publicly, shewing through the Writings Jesus to be the Christ.
1 And after these things, having left Athens, he came to Corinth;
2 and finding a certain Jew by name Aquila, of Pontus by race, just come from Italy, and Priscilla his wife, (because Claudius had ordered all the Jews to leave Rome,) came to them,
3 and because they were of the same trade abode with them, and wrought. For they were tent-makers by trade.
4 And he reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath, and persuaded Jews and Greeks.
5 And when both Silas and Timotheus came down from Macedonia, Paul was pressed in respect of the word, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ.
6 But as they opposed and spoke injuriously, he shook his clothes, and said to them, Your blood be upon your own head: *I* [am] pure; from henceforth I will go to the nations.
7 And departing thence he came to the house of a certain [man], by name Justus, who worshipped God, whose house adjoined the synagogue.
8 But Crispus the ruler of the synagogue believed in the Lord with all his house; and many of the Corinthians hearing, believed, and were baptised.
9 And the Lord said by vision in [the] night to Paul, Fear not, but speak and be not silent;
10 because *I* am with thee, and no one shall set upon thee to injure thee; because I have much people in this city.
11 And he remained [there] a year and six months, teaching among them the word of God.
12 But when Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews with one consent rose against Paul and led him to the judgment-seat,
13 saying, This [man] persuades men to worship God contrary to the law.
14 But as Paul was going to open his mouth, Gallio said to the Jews, If indeed it was some wrong or wicked criminality, O Jews, of reason I should have borne with you;
15 but if it be questions about words, and names, and the law that ye have, see to it yourselves; [for] *I* do not intend to be judge of these things.
16 And he drove them from the judgment-seat.
17 And having all laid hold on Sosthenes the ruler of the synagogue, they beat him before the judgment-seat. And Gallio troubled himself about none of these things.
18 And Paul, having yet stayed [there] many days, took leave of the brethren and sailed thence to Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila, having shorn his head in Cenchrea, for he had a vow;
19 and he arrived at Ephesus, and left them there. But entering himself into the synagogue he reasoned with the Jews.
20 And when they asked him that he would remain for a longer time [with them] he did not accede,
21 but bade them farewell, saying, [I must by all means keep the coming feast at Jerusalem]; I will return to you again, if God will: and he sailed away from Ephesus.
22 And landing at Caesarea, and having gone up and saluted the assembly, he went down to Antioch.
23 And having stayed [there] some time, he went forth, passing in order through the country of Galatia and Phrygia, establishing all the disciples.
24 But a certain Jew, Apollos by name, an Alexandrian by race, an eloquent man, who was mighty in the scriptures, arrived at Ephesus.
25 He was instructed in the way of the Lord, and being fervent in his spirit, he spoke and taught exactly the things concerning Jesus, knowing only the baptism of John.
26 And *he* began to speak boldly in the synagogue. And Aquila and Priscilla, having heard him, took him to [them] and unfolded to him the way of God more exactly.
27 And when he purposed to go into Achaia, the brethren wrote to the disciples engaging them to receive him, who, being come, contributed much to those who believed through grace.
28 For he with great force convinced the Jews publicly, shewing by the scriptures that Jesus was the Christ.
1 After these things Paul departed from Athens, and came to Corinth.
2 He found a certain Jew named Aquila, a man of Pontus by race, who had recently come from Italy, with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to depart from Rome. He came to them,
3 and because he practiced the same trade, he lived with them and worked, for by trade they were tent makers.
4 He reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and persuaded Jews and Greeks.
5 But when Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia, Paul was compelled by the Spirit, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ.
6 When they opposed him and blasphemed, he shook out his clothing and said to them, "Your blood be on your own heads! I am clean. From now on, I will go to the Gentiles!"
7 He departed there, and went into the house of a certain man named Justus, one who worshiped God, whose house was next door to the synagogue.
8 Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed in the Lord with all his house. Many of the Corinthians, when they heard, believed and were baptized.
9 The Lord said to Paul in the night by a vision, "Don't be afraid, but speak and don't be silent;
10 for I am with you, and no one will attack you to harm you, for I have many people in this city."
11 He lived there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.
12 But when Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews with one accord rose up against Paul and brought him before the judgment seat,
13 saying, "This man persuades men to worship God contrary to the law."
14 But when Paul was about to open his mouth, Gallio said to the Jews, "If indeed it were a matter of wrong or of wicked crime, you Jews, it would be reasonable that I should bear with you;
15 but if they are questions about words and names and your own law, look to it yourselves. For I don't want to be a judge of these matters."
16 He drove them from the judgment seat.
17 Then all the Greeks laid hold on Sosthenes, the ruler of the synagogue, and beat him before the judgment seat. Gallio didn't care about any of these things.
18 Paul, having stayed after this many more days, took his leave of the brothers,{The word for "brothers" here and where the context allows may also be correctly translated "brothers and sisters" or "siblings."} and sailed from there for Syria, together with Priscilla and Aquila. He shaved his head in Cenchreae, for he had a vow.
19 He came to Ephesus, and he left them there; but he himself entered into the synagogue, and reasoned with the Jews.
20 When they asked him to stay with them a longer time, he declined;
21 but taking his leave of them, and saying, "I must by all means keep this coming feast in Jerusalem, but I will return again to you if God wills," he set sail from Ephesus.
22 When he had landed at Caesarea, he went up and greeted the assembly, and went down to Antioch.
23 Having spent some time there, he departed, and went through the region of Galatia, and Phrygia, in order, establishing all the disciples.
24 Now a certain Jew named Apollos, an Alexandrian by race, an eloquent man, came to Ephesus. He was mighty in the Scriptures.
25 This man had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus, although he knew only the baptism of John.
26 He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. But when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside, and explained to him the way of God more accurately.
27 When he had determined to pass over into Achaia, the brothers encouraged him, and wrote to the disciples to receive him. When he had come, he greatly helped those who had believed through grace;
28 for he powerfully refuted the Jews, publicly showing by the Scriptures that Jesus was the Christ.
1 After these things, he went away from Athens, and came to Corinth.
2 And there he came across a certain Jew named Aquila, a man of Pontus by birth, who not long before had come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had given orders that all Jews were to go away from Rome: and he came to them;
3 And because he was of the same trade, he was living with them, and they did their work together; for by trade they were tent-makers.
4 And every Sabbath he had discussions in the Synagogue, turning Jews and Greeks to the faith.
5 And when Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia, Paul was completely given up to the word, preaching to the Jews that the Christ was Jesus.
6 And when they put themselves against him, and said evil words, he said, shaking his clothing, Your blood be on your heads, I am clean: from now I will go to the Gentiles.
7 And moving from there, he went into the house of a man named Titus Justus, a God-fearing man, whose house was very near the Synagogue.
8 And Crispus, the ruler of the Synagogue, with all his family, had faith in the Lord; and a great number of the people of Corinth, hearing the word, had faith and were given baptism.
9 And the Lord said to Paul in the night, in a vision, Have no fear and go on preaching:
10 For I am with you, and no one will make an attack on you to do you damage: for I have a number of people in this town.
11 And he was there for a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.
12 But when Gallio was ruler of Achaia, all the Jews together made an attack on Paul, and took him to the judge's seat,
13 Saying, This man is teaching the people to give worship to God in a way which is against the law.
14 But when Paul was about to say something, Gallio said to the Jews, If this was anything to do with wrongdoing or crime, there would be a reason for me to give you a hearing:
15 But if it is a question of words or names or of your law, see to it yourselves; I will not be a judge of such things.
16 And he sent them away from the judge's seat.
17 And they all made an attack on Sosthenes, the ruler of the Synagogue, and gave him blows before the judge's seat; but Gallio gave no attention to these things.
18 And Paul, after waiting some days, went away from the brothers and went by ship to Syria, Priscilla and Aquila being with him; and he had had his hair cut off in Cenchrea, for he had taken an oath.
19 And they came down to Ephesus and he left them there: and he himself went into the Synagogue and had a discussion with the Jews.
20 And being requested by them to be there for a longer time, he said, No;
21 And went from them, saying, I will come back to you if God lets me; and he took ship from Ephesus.
22 And when he had come to land at Caesarea, he went to see the church, and then went down to Antioch.
23 And having been there for some time, he went through the country of Galatia and Phrygia in order, making the disciples strong in the faith.
24 Now a certain Jew named Apollos, an Alexandrian by birth, and a man of learning, came to Ephesus; and he had great knowledge of the holy Writings.
25 This man had been trained in the way of the Lord; and burning in spirit, he gave himself up to teaching the facts about Jesus, though he had knowledge only of John's baptism:
26 And he was preaching in the Synagogue without fear. But Priscilla and Aquila, hearing his words, took him in, and gave him fuller teaching about the way of God.
27 And when he had a desire to go over into Achaia, the brothers gave him help, and sent letters to the disciples requesting them to take him in among them: and when he had come, he gave much help to those who had faith through grace:
28 For he overcame the Jews in public discussion, making clear from the holy Writings that the Christ was Jesus.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Acts 18
Commentary on Acts 18 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 18
Ac 18:1-22. Paul's Arrival and Labors at Corinth, Where He Is Rejoined by Silas and Timothy, and, under Divine Encouragement, Makes a Long Stay—At Length, Retracing His Steps, by Ephesus, Cæsarea, and Jerusalem, He Returns for the Last Time to Antioch, Thus Completing His Second Missionary Journey.
1-4. came to Corinth—rebuilt by Julius Cæsar on the isthmus between the Ægean and Ionian Seas; the capital of the Roman province of Achaia, and the residence of the proconsul; a large and populous mercantile city, and the center of commerce alike for East and West; having a considerable Jewish population, larger, probably, at this time than usual, owing to the banishment of the Jews from Rome by Claudius Cæsar (Ac 18:2). Such a city was a noble field for the Gospel, which, once established there, would naturally diffuse itself far and wide.
2. a Jew … Aquila … with his wife Priscilla—From these Latin names one would conclude that they had resided so long in Rome as to lose their Jewish family names.
born in Pontus—the most easterly province of Asia Minor, stretching along the southern shore of the Black Sea. From this province there were Jews at Jerusalem on the great Pentecost (Ac 2:9), and the Christians of it are included among "the strangers of the dispersion," to whom Peter addressed his first Epistle (1Pe 1:1). Whether this couple were converted before Paul made their acquaintance, commentators are much divided. They may have brought their Christianity with them from Rome [Olshausen], or Paul may have been drawn to them merely by like occupation, and, lodging with them, have been the instrument of their conversion [Meyer]. They appear to have been in good circumstances, and after travelling much, to have eventually settled at Ephesus. The Christian friendship now first formed continued warm and unbroken, and the highest testimony is once and again borne to them by the apostle.
Claudius, &c.—This edict is almost certainly that mentioned by Suetonius, in his life of this emperor [Lives of the Cæsars, "Claudius," 25].
3. tentmakers—manufacturers, probably, of those hair-cloth tents supplied by the goats of the apostle's native province, and hence, as sold in the markets of the Levant, called cilicium. Every Jewish youth, whatever the pecuniary circumstances of his parents, was taught some trade (see on Lu 2:42), and Paul made it a point of conscience to work at that which he had probably been bred to, partly that he might not be burdensome to the churches, and partly that his motives as a minister of Christ might not be liable to misconstruction. To both these he makes frequent reference in his Epistles.
4. the Greeks—that is, Gentile proselytes; for to the heathen, as usual, he only turned when rejected by the Jews (Ac 18:6).
5, 6. And when Silas and Timotheus were come from Macedonia—that is, from Thessalonica, whither Silas had probably accompanied Timothy when sent back from Athens (see on Ac 17:15).
Paul was pressed in the spirit—rather (according to what is certainly the true reading) "was pressed with the word"; expressing not only his zeal and assiduity in preaching it, but some inward pressure which at this time he experienced in the work (to convey which more clearly was probably the origin of the common reading). What that pressure was we happen to know, with singular minuteness and vividness of description, from the apostle himself, in his first Epistles to the Corinthians and Thessalonians (1Co 2:1-5; 1Th 3:1-10). He had come away from Athens, as he remained there, in a depressed and anxious state of mind, having there met, for the first time, with unwilling Gentile ears. He continued, apparently for some time, laboring alone in the synagogue of Corinth, full of deep and anxious solicitude for his Thessalonian converts. His early ministry at Corinth was colored by these feelings. Himself deeply humbled, his power as a preacher was more than ever felt to lie in demonstration of the Spirit. At length Silas and Timotheus arrived with exhilarating tidings of the faith and love of his Thessalonian children, and of their earnest longing again to see their father in Christ; bringing with them also, in token of their love and duty, a pecuniary contribution for the supply of his wants. This seems to have so lifted him as to put new life and vigor into his ministry. He now wrote his First Epistle to the Thessalonians, in which the "pressure" which resulted from all this strikingly appears. (See Introduction to First Thessalonians). Such emotions are known only to the ministers of Christ, and, even of them, only to such as "travail in birth until Christ be formed in" their hearers.
6. Your blood be upon your own heads, &c.—See Eze 33:4, 9.
from henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles—Compare Ac 13:46.
7, 8. he departed thence, and entered into a certain man's house, named Justus—not changing his lodging, as if Aquila and Priscilla up to this time were with the opponents of the apostle [Alford], but merely ceasing any more to testify in the synagogue, and henceforth carrying on his labors in this house of Justus, which "joining hard to the synagogue," would be easily accessible to such of its worshippers as were still open to light. Justus, too, being probably a proselyte, would more easily draw a mixed audience than the synagogue. From this time forth conversions rapidly increased.
8. Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house—an event felt to be so important that the apostle deviated from his usual practice (1Co 1:14-16) and baptized him, as well as Caius (Gaius) and the household of Stephanas, with his own hand [Howson].
many of the Corinthians … believed and were baptized—The beginning of the church gathered there.
9-11. Then spake the Lord to Paul … by a vision, Be not afraid … no man shall set on thee to hurt thee, &c.—From this it would seem that these signal successes were stirring up the wrath of the unbelieving Jews, and probably the apostle feared being driven by violence, as before, from this scene of such promising labor. He is reassured, however, from above.
10. I have much people in this city—"whom in virtue of their election to eternal life He already designates as His" (compare Ac 13:48) [Baumgarten].
11. continued there a year and six months—the whole period of this stay at Corinth, and not merely up to what is next recorded. During some part of this period he wrote his Second Epistle to the Thessalonians. (See Introduction to Second Thessalonians.)
12-17. when Gallio was the deputy—"the proconsul." See on Ac 13:7. He was brother to the celebrated philosopher Seneca, the tutor of Nero, who passed sentence of death on both.
13. contrary to the—Jewish
law—probably in not requiring the Gentiles to be circumcised.
14. If it were a matter of wrong or wicked lewdness—any offense punishable by the magistrate.
15. if it be a question of words and names, and of your law … I will be no judge, &c.—in this only laying down the proper limits of his office.
16. drave them, &c.—annoyed at such a case.
17. all the Greeks—the Gentile spectators.
took Sosthenes—perhaps the successor of Crispus, and certainly the head of the accusing party. It is very improbable that this was the same Sosthenes as the apostle afterwards calls "his brother" (1Co 1:1).
and beat him before the judgment-seat—under the very eye of the judge.
And Gallio cared for none of those things—nothing loath, perhaps, to see these turbulent Jews, for whom probably he felt contempt, themselves getting what they hoped to inflict on another, and indifferent to whatever was beyond the range of his office and case. His brother eulogizes his loving and lovable manners. Religious indifference, under the influence of an easy and amiable temper, reappears from age to age.
18. Paul … tarried … yet a good while—During his long residence at Corinth, Paul planted other churches in Achaia (2Co 1:1).
then took … leave of the brethren, and sailed … into—rather, "for"
Syria—to Antioch, the starting-point of all the missions to the Gentiles, which he feels to be for the present concluded.
with him Priscilla and Aquila—In this order the names also occur in Ac 18:26 (according to the true reading); compare Ro 16:3; 2Ti 4:19, which seem to imply that the wife was the more prominent and helpful to the Church. Silas and Timotheus doubtless accompanied the apostle, as also Erastus, Gaius, and Aristarchus (Ac 19:22, 29). Of Silas, as Paul's associate, we read no more. His name occurs last in connection with Peter and the churches of Asia Minor [Webster and Wilkinson].
having shorn his head in Cenchrea—the eastern harbor of Corinth, about ten miles distant, where a church had been formed (Ro 16:1).
for he—Paul.
had a vow—That it was the Nazarite vow (Nu 6:1-27) is not likely. It was probably one made in one of his seasons of difficulty or danger, in prosecution of which he cuts off his hair and hastens to Jerusalem to offer the requisite sacrifice within the prescribed thirty days [Josephus, Wars of the Jews, 2.15.1]. This explains the haste with which he leaves Ephesus (Ac 18:21), and the subsequent observance, on the recommendation of the brethren, of a similar vow (Ac 21:24). This one at Corinth was voluntary, and shows that even in heathen countries he systematically studied the prejudices of his Jewish brethren.
19. he came to Ephesus—the capital of the Roman province of Asia. (See Introduction to Ephesians). It was a sail, right across from the west to the east side of the Ægean Sea, of some eight or ten days, with a fair wind.
left them there—Aquila and Priscilla.
but he himself entered into the synagogue—merely taking advantage of the vessel putting in there.
and reasoned with the Jews—the tense here not being the usual one denoting continuous action (as in Ac 17:2; 18:4), but that expressing a transient act. He had been forbidden to preach the word in Asia (Ac 16:6), but he would not consider that as precluding this passing exercise of his ministry when Providence brought him to its capital; nor did it follow that the prohibition was still in force.
20. when they desired him to tarry—The Jews seldom rose against the Gospel till the successful preaching of it stirred them up, and there was no time for that here.
21. I must … keep this feast—probably Pentecost, presenting a noble opportunity of preaching the Gospel.
but I will return—the fulfilment of which promise is recorded in Ac 19:1.
22. And when he had landed at Cæsarea—where he left the vessel.
and gone up—that is, to Jerusalem.
and saluted the church—In these few words does the historian despatch the apostle's FOURTH VISIT TO Jerusalem after his conversion. The expression "going up" is invariably used of a journey to the metropolis; and thence he naturally "went down to Antioch." Perhaps the vessel reached too late for the feast, as he seems to have done nothing in Jerusalem beyond "saluting the Church," and privately offering the sacrifice with which his vow (Ac 18:18) would conclude. It is left to be understood, as on his arrival from his first missionary tour, that "when he was come, and had gathered the church together, he rehearsed all that God had done with him" (Ac 14:27) on this his second missionary journey.
Ac 18:23-21:16. Paul's Third and Last Missionary Journey—He Visits the Churches of Galatia and Phrygia.
23. And after he had spent some time there—but probably not long.
he departed—little thinking, probably, he was never more to return to Antioch.
went over all … Galatia and Phrygia in order—visiting the several churches in succession. See on Ac 16:6. Galatia is mentioned first here, as he would come to it first from Antioch. It was on this visitation that he ordained the weekly collection (1Co 16:1, 2), which has been since adopted generally, and converted into a public usage throughout Christendom. Timotheus and Erastus, Gaius and Aristarchus, appear to have accompanied him on this journey (Ac 19:22, 29; 2Co 1:1), and from Second Corinthians we may presume, Titus also. The details of this visit, as of the former (Ac 16:6), are not given.
Ac 18:24-28. Episode Concerning Apollos at Ephesus and in Achaia.
This is one of the most interesting and suggestive incidental narratives in this precious history.
24, 25. a … Jew named Apollos—a contraction from Apollonius.
born at Alexandria—the celebrated city of Egypt on the southeastern shore of the Mediterranean, called after its founder, Alexander the Great. Nowhere was there such a fusion of Greek, Jewish, and Oriental peculiarities, and an intelligent Jew educated in that city could hardly fail to manifest all these elements in his mental character.
eloquent—turning his Alexandrian culture to high account.
and mighty in the scriptures—his eloquence enabling him to express clearly and enforce skilfully what, as a Jew, he had gathered from a diligent study of the Old Testament Scriptures.
came to Ephesus—on what errand is not known.
25. This man was instructed in the way of the Lord … knowing only the baptism of John—He was instructed, probably, by some disciple of the Baptist, in the whole circle of John's teaching concerning Jesus, but no more: he had yet to learn the new light which the outpouring of the Spirit at Pentecost had thrown upon the Redeemer's death and resurrection; as appears from Ac 19:2, 3.
being fervent in the spirit—His heart warm, and conscious, probably, of his gifts and attainments, he burned to impart to others the truth he had himself received.
he spake and taught diligently—rather, "accurately" (it is the same word as is rendered "perfectly" in Ac 18:26).
26. speak boldly in the synagogue, whom when Aquila and Priscilla heard—joying to observe the extent of Scripture knowledge and evangelical truth which he displayed, and the fervency, courage, and eloquence with which he preached the truth.
they took him unto them—privately.
and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly—opening up those truths, to him as yet unknown, on which the Spirit had shed such glorious light. (In what appears to be the true reading of this verse, Priscilla is put before Aquila, as in Ac 18:18 [see on Ac 18:18]; she being probably the more intelligent and devoted of the two). One cannot but observe how providential it was that this couple should have been left at Ephesus when Paul sailed thence for Syria; and no doubt it was chiefly to pave the way for the better understanding of this episode that the fact is expressly mentioned by the historian in Ac 18:19. We see here also an example of not only lay agency (as it is called), but female agency of the highest kind and with the most admirable fruit. Nor can one help admiring the humility and teachableness of so gifted a teacher in sitting at the feet of a Christian woman and her husband.
27, 28. And when he was disposed—"minded," "resolved."
to pass into Achaia—of which Corinth, on the opposite coast (see on Ac 18:1), was the capital; there to proclaim that Gospel which he now more fully comprehended.
the brethren—We had not before heard of such gathered at Ephesus. But the desire of the Jews to whom Paul preached to retain him among them for some time (Ac 18:20), and his promise to return to them (Ac 18:21), seem to indicate some drawing towards the Gospel, which, no doubt, the zealous private labors of Priscilla and Aquila would ripen into discipleship.
wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him—a beautiful specimen of "letters of recommendation" (as Ac 15:23, 25-27, and see 2Co 3:1); by which, as well as by interchange of deputations, &c., the early churches maintained active Christian fellowship with each other.
when he was come, helped them much—was a great acquisition to the Achaian brethren.
which believed through grace—one of those incidental expressions which show that faith's being a production of God's grace in the heart was so current and recognized a truth that it was taken for granted, as a necessary consequence of the general system of grace, rather than expressly insisted on. (It is against the natural order of the words to read them, as Bengel, Meyer, and others, do, "helped through grace those who believed").
28. For he mightily convinced the Jews—The word is very strong: "stoutly bore them down in argument," "vigorously argued them down," and the tense in that he continued to do it, or that this was the characteristic of his ministry.
showing by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ—Rather, "that the Christ (or Messiah) was Jesus." This expression, when compared with Ac 18:25, seems to imply a richer testimony than with his partial knowledge he was at first able to bear; and the power with which he bore down all opposition in argument is that which made him such an acquisition to the brethren. Thus his ministry would be as good as another visitation to the Achaian churches by the apostle himself (see 1Co 3:6) and the more as, in so far as he was indebted for it to Priscilla and Aquila, it would have a decidedly Pauline cast.