Acts18
New International Version
1After this, Paul left Athens and went to Corinth.
2There he met a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had ordered all Jews to leave Rome. Paul went to see them,
3and because he was a tentmaker as they were, he stayed and worked with them.
4Every Sabbath he reasoned in the synagogue, trying to persuade Jews and Greeks.
5When Silas and Timothy came from Macedonia, Paul devoted himself exclusively to preaching, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Messiah.
6But when they opposed Paul and became abusive, he shook out his clothes in protest and said to them, “Your blood be on your own heads! I am innocent of it. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.”
7Then Paul left the synagogue and went next door to the house of Titius Justus, a worshiper of God.
8Crispus, the synagogue leader, and his entire household believed in the Lord; and many of the Corinthians who heard Paul believed and were baptized.
9One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: “Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent.
10For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city.”
11So Paul stayed in Corinth for a year and a half, teaching them the word of God.
12While Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, 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.”
14Just 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.
15But since it involves questions about words and names and your own law—settle the matter yourselves. I will not be a judge of such things.”
16So he drove them off.
17Then the crowd there turned on Sosthenes the synagogue leader and beat him in front of the proconsul; and Gallio showed no concern whatever.
18Paul stayed on in Corinth for some time. Then he left the brothers and sisters and sailed for Syria, accompanied by Priscilla and Aquila. Before he sailed, he had his hair cut off at Cenchreae because of a vow he had taken.
19They arrived at Ephesus, where Paul left Priscilla and Aquila. He himself went into the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews.
20When they asked him to spend more time with them, he declined.
21But as he left, he promised, “I will come back if it is God’s will.” Then he set sail from Ephesus.
22When he landed at Caesarea, he went up to Jerusalem and greeted the church and then went down to Antioch.
23After spending some time in Antioch, Paul set out from there and traveled from place to place throughout the region of Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples.
24Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was a learned man, with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures.
25He had been instructed in the way of the Lord, and he spoke with great fervor and taught about Jesus accurately, though he knew only the baptism of John.
26He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately.
27When Apollos wanted to go to Achaia, the brothers and sisters 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.
28For he vigorously refuted his Jewish opponents in public debate, proving from the Scriptures that Jesus was the Messiah.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Acts 18.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: Paul at Corinth, with Aquila and Priscilla. (1–6). He continues to preach at Corinth. (7–11). Paul before Gallio. (12–17). He visits Jerusalem. (18–23). Apollos teaches at Ephesus and in Achaia. (24–28).
vv1-6
Though Paul was entitled to support from the churches he planted, and from the people to whom he preached, yet he worked at his calling. An honest trade, by which a man may get his bread, is not to be looked upon with contempt by any. It was the custom of the Jews to bring up their children to some trade, though they gave them learning or estates. Paul was careful to prevent prejudices, even the most unreasonable. The love of Christ is the best bond of the saints; and the communings of the saints with each other, sweeten labour, contempt, and even persecution. Most of the Jews persisted in contradicting the gospel of Christ, and blasphemed. They would not believe themselves, and did all they could to keep others from believing. Paul hereupon left them. He did not give over his work; for though Israel be not gathered, Christ and his gospel shall be glorious. The Jews could not complain, for they had the first offer. When some oppose the gospel, we must turn to others. Grief that many persist in unbelief should not prevent gratitude for the conversion of some to Christ.
vv7-11
The Lord knows those that are his, yea, and those that shall be his; for it is by his work upon them that they become his. Let us not despair concerning any place, when even in wicked Corinth Christ had much people. He will gather in his chosen flock from the places where they are scattered Thus encouraged, the apostle continued at Corinth, and a numerous and flourishing church grew up.
vv12-17
Paul was about to show that he did not teach men to worship God contrary to law; but the judge would not allow the Jews to complain to him of what was not within his office. It was right in Gallio that he left the Jews to themselves in matters relating to their religion, but yet would not let them, under pretence of that, persecute another. But it was wrong to speak slightly of a law and religion which he might have known to be of God, and which he ought to have acquainted himself with. In what way God is to be worshipped, whether Jesus be the Messiah, and whether the gospel be a Divine revelation, are not questions of words and names, they are questions of vast importance. Gallio spoke as if he boasted of his ignorance of the Scriptures, as if the law of God was beneath his notice. Gallio cared for none of these things. If he cared not for the affronts of bad men, it was commendable; but if he concerned not himself for the abuses done to good men, his indifference was carried too far. And those who see and hear of the sufferings of God's people, and have no feeling with them, or care for them, who do not pity and pray for them, are of the same spirit as Gallio, who cared for none of these things.
Key Words
ταῦτα (taûta): these things
Παῦλος (Paûlos): (little; but remotely from a derivative of G3973 (παύω), meaning the same); Paulus, the name of a Roman and of an apostle
Ἀθῆναι (Athēnai): Athenæ, the capitol of Greece
ἔρχομαι (érchomai): to come or go (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)
εἰς (eis): to or into (indicating the point reached or entered), of place, time, or (figuratively) purpose (result, etc.); also in adverbial phrases
Κόρινθος (Kórinthos): Corinthus, a city of Greece
καί (kaí): and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
εὑρίσκω (heurískō): to find (literally or figuratively)
τὶς (tìs): some or any person or object
Ἰουδαῖος (Ioudaîos): Judæan, i.e. belonging to Jehudah
Cross References
Acts 18The idiom 'blood upon your own heads' echoes Ezekiel's warning on the watchman's accountability.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Parallel pattern of Paul turning to the Gentiles after Jewish opposition and blasphemy.
Supported by JFB
Paul explicitly mentions baptizing Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue at Corinth.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Sosthenes, beaten here as synagogue leader, is later identified as Paul's Christian brother.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Paul's greetings to Priscilla and Aquila as his helpers in Christ Jesus.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB
Paul reminds the Ephesian elders that his own hands ministered to his necessities.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Provides the legal context for Paul taking and completing a Jewish Nazirite vow.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Identifies Apollos as a key minister alongside Paul in the Corinthian church.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Paul's symbolic act of shaking off dust/raiment in protest against rejecting Jews.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Illustrates Christ's claim to 'much people in this city' before they are gathered.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Verbal parallel to Paul's conditional promise: 'I will return... if God will.'
Supported by Matthew Henry
Another night vision where the Lord directly encourages Paul to speak boldly.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Roman officials consistently find Paul's accusations relate to Jewish law, not civil crimes.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Connects Aquila and Priscilla's instruction of Apollos back to their introduction in Corinth.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Priscilla and Aquila host a church in their house during their time in Asia.
Supported by JFB