Acts chapter 18 continues Paul’s missionary journey as he arrives in Corinth, a major commercial city known for its diverse population and moral challenges. There he meets Aquila and Priscilla, a Jewish couple who had recently come from Rome, and he stays with them, working together as tentmakers while also preaching in the synagogue every Sabbath. When Silas and Timothy later join him, Paul devotes himself fully to preaching, testifying to the Jews that Jesus is the Christ, though he faces significant opposition that eventually leads him to focus his ministry primarily on the Gentiles in the city.
Despite this opposition, Paul receives encouragement through a vision in which the Lord assures him not to be afraid but to continue speaking boldly, promising that no harm will come to him and that many people in Corinth will believe. Paul remains in the city for a year and a half, teaching the word of God and establishing a strong Christian community. However, tension eventually escalates when the Jews bring Paul before Gallio, the proconsul, accusing him of promoting unlawful worship. Gallio dismisses the case, recognizing it as an internal religious dispute rather than a matter of civil law, providing Paul with a measure of legal protection to continue his ministry.
The chapter concludes with Paul departing from Corinth and traveling through Ephesus, briefly visiting the synagogue before continuing to Caesarea and eventually returning to Antioch, completing his second missionary journey. The narrative then introduces Apollos, a learned and eloquent man well versed in the Scriptures, who is further instructed by Aquila and Priscilla in the way of the Lord. Apollos subsequently travels to Achaia, where he powerfully assists the believers by demonstrating through the Scriptures that Jesus is indeed the Christ, showing the collaborative and growing nature of the early Christian mission.
Chapter 18 (BBE)
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.
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.
Important Verses
Acts 18:9 and 10 The Lord’s vision to Paul, encouraging him not to be afraid and assuring him of divine protection, highlights God’s faithfulness in sustaining His servants through difficult ministry seasons.
Acts 18:11 This verse notes Paul’s extended stay in Corinth, illustrating the importance of perseverance in establishing and strengthening a new Christian community.
Acts 18:14 and 15 Gallio’s dismissal of the case against Paul demonstrates how God can use civil authorities to provide protection and freedom for the spread of the gospel.
Acts 18:24 and 25 The introduction of Apollos as a learned man mighty in the Scriptures highlights the importance of knowledgeable teaching in the growth of the early church.
Acts 18:26 The willingness of Aquila and Priscilla to further instruct Apollos in the way of God more accurately demonstrates the value of mentorship and collaboration within the Christian community.
