The Acts of the Apostles

⭑ Berean Study Bible :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

- Chapter 18 -

(1 Corinthians 1:1–3; 2 Corinthians 1:1–2)

After this, Paul left Athens and went to Corinth.

There he found a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla because Claudius had ordered all the Jews to leave Rome. Paul went to visit them,

and he stayed and worked with them because they were tentmakers by trade, just as he was.

Every Sabbath he reasoned in the synagogue, trying to persuade Jews and Greeks alike.

And when Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia, Paul devoted himself fully to the word, testifying to the Jews that Jesus is the Christ.

But when they opposed and insulted him, he shook out his garments and told them, “Your blood be on your own heads! I am innocent of it. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.”

So Paul left the synagogue and went next door to the house of Titus Justus,(a) a worshiper of God.

Crispus, the synagogue leader, and his whole household believed in the Lord. And many of the Corinthians who heard the message believed and were baptized.

One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: “Do not be afraid; keep on speaking; do not be silent.

For I am with you and no one will lay a hand on you, because I have many people in this city.”

So Paul stayed for a year and a half, teaching the word of God among the Corinthians.

Paul before Gallio

While Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews coordinated an attack on Paul and brought him before the judgment seat.

“This man is persuading the people to worship God in ways contrary to the law,” they said.

But just as Paul was about to speak, Gallio told the Jews, “If this matter involved a wrongdoing or vicious crime, O Jews, it would be reasonable for me to hear your complaint.

But since it is a dispute about words and names and your own law, settle it yourselves. I refuse to be a judge of such things.”

And he drove them away from the judgment seat.

At this, the crowd(b) seized Sosthenes the synagogue leader and beat him in front of the judgment seat. But none of this was of concern to Gallio.

Paul Returns to Antioch

Paul remained in Corinth for quite some time before saying goodbye to the brothers. He had his head shaved in Cenchrea to keep a vow he had made, and then he sailed for Syria, accompanied by Priscilla and Aquila.

When they reached Ephesus, Paul parted ways with Priscilla and Aquila. He himself went into the synagogue there and reasoned with the Jews.

When they asked him to stay for a while longer, he declined.

But as he left, he said, “I will come back

(c)

to you if God is willing.” And he set sail from Ephesus.

When Paul had landed at Caesarea, he went up and greeted the church at Jerusalem.(d) Then he went down to Antioch.

Paul’s Third Missionary Journey Begins

(Acts 13:1–3; Acts 15:36–41)

After Paul had spent some time in Antioch, he traveled from place to place throughout the region of Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples.

Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was an eloquent man, well versed in the Scriptures.

He had been instructed in the way of the Lord and was fervent in spirit. He spoke and taught accurately about Jesus,(e) though he knew only the baptism of John.

And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him in and explained to him the way of God more accurately.

When Apollos resolved to cross over to Achaia, the brothers encouraged him and wrote to the disciples there to welcome him. On his arrival, he was a great help to those who by grace had believed.

For he powerfully refuted the Jews in public debate, proving from the Scriptures that Jesus is the Christ.

Footnotes

(a)18:7 ECM; NA, SBL, NE, and WH Titius Justus; BYZ and TR Justus

(b)18:17 Literally they all; BYZ and TR all the Greeks

(d)18:22 Literally he went up and greeted the church

(e)18:25 BYZ and TR about the Lord

(1 Corinthians 1:1–3; 2 Corinthians 1:1–2)

After these things Paul departed from Athens and came to Corinth.

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,

and because he practiced the same trade, he lived with them and worked, for by trade they were tent makers.

He reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath and persuaded Jews and Greeks.

When Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia, Paul was compelled by the Spirit, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ.

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!”

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.

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.

The Lord said to Paul in the night by a vision, “Don’t be afraid, but speak and don’t be silent;

for I am with you, and no one will attack you to harm you, for I have many people in this city.”

He lived there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.

Paul before Gallio

But when Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews with one accord rose up against Paul and brought him before the judgment seat,

saying, “This man persuades men to worship God contrary to the law.”

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;

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.”

So he drove them from the judgment seat.

Then all the Greeks seized Sosthenes, the ruler of the synagogue, and beat him before the judgment seat. Gallio didn’t care about any of these things.

Paul Returns to Antioch

Paul, having stayed after this many more days, took his leave of the brothers,(a) and sailed from there for Syria, together with Priscilla and Aquila. He shaved his head in Cenchreae, for he had a vow.

He came to Ephesus, and he left them there; but he himself entered into the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews.

When they asked him to stay with them a longer time, he declined;

but taking his leave of them, he said, “I must by all means keep this coming feast in Jerusalem, but I will return again to you if God wills.” Then he set sail from Ephesus.

When he had landed at Caesarea, he went up and greeted the assembly, and went down to Antioch.

Paul’s Third Missionary Journey Begins

(Acts 13:1–3; Acts 15:36–41)

Having spent some time there, he departed and went through the region of Galatia and Phrygia, in order, establishing all the disciples.

Now a certain Jew named Apollos, an Alexandrian by race, an eloquent man, came to Ephesus. He was mighty in the Scriptures.

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.

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.

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;

for he powerfully refuted the Jews, publicly showing by the Scriptures that Jesus was the Christ.

Footnotes

(a)18:18 The word for “brothers” here and where the context allows may also be correctly translated “brothers and sisters” or “siblings.”