Paul in Corinth

18 After this Paul[a] left Athens and went to Corinth. And he found a Jew named (A)Aquila, a native of Pontus, recently come from Italy with his wife (B)Priscilla, because (C)Claudius had commanded all the Jews to leave Rome. And he went to see them, and (D)because he was of the same trade he stayed with them and worked, for they were tentmakers by trade. And (E)he reasoned in the synagogue (F)every Sabbath, and tried to persuade Jews and Greeks.

(G)When Silas and Timothy arrived from Macedonia, Paul (H)was occupied with the word, (I)testifying to the Jews that the Christ was (J)Jesus. And when they opposed and reviled him, (K)he shook out his garments and said to them, (L)“Your blood be on your own heads! (M)I am innocent. (N)From now on I will go to the Gentiles.” And he left there and went to the house of a man named Titius (O)Justus, (P)a worshiper of God. His house was next door to the synagogue. (Q)Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed in the Lord, together (R)with his entire household. And many of the Corinthians hearing Paul believed and were baptized. And the Lord said to Paul (S)one night in (T)a vision, (U)“Do not be afraid, but go on speaking and do not be silent, 10 (V)for I am with you, and (W)no one will attack you to harm you, for (X)I have many in this city who are my people.” 11 And he stayed a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.

12 But when Gallio was (Y)proconsul of Achaia, (Z)the Jews[b] made a united attack on Paul and (AA)brought him before the tribunal, 13 saying, “This man is persuading people to worship God contrary to (AB)the law.” 14 But when Paul was about to open his mouth, Gallio said to the Jews, “If it were a matter of wrongdoing or vicious (AC)crime, O Jews, I would have reason to accept your complaint. 15 But (AD)since it is a matter of questions about words and names and (AE)your own law, see to it yourselves. I refuse to be a judge of these things.” 16 And he drove them from the tribunal. 17 And they all seized Sosthenes, the ruler of the synagogue, and beat him in front of the tribunal. But Gallio paid no attention to any of this.

Paul Returns to Antioch

18 After this, Paul stayed many days longer and then took leave of (AF)the brothers[c] and set sail for Syria, and with him (AG)Priscilla and Aquila. At (AH)Cenchreae (AI)he had cut his hair, for he was under a vow. 19 And they came to (AJ)Ephesus, and he left them there, but (AK)he himself went into the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews. 20 When they asked him to stay for a longer period, he declined. 21 But on taking leave of them he said, “I will return to you (AL)if God wills,” and he set sail from Ephesus.

22 When he had landed at Caesarea, he (AM)went up and greeted the church, and then went down to Antioch. 23 After spending some time there, he departed and (AN)went from one place to the next through the region of Galatia and Phrygia, (AO)strengthening all the disciples.

Apollos Speaks Boldly in Ephesus

24 Now a Jew named (AP)Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was an eloquent man, (AQ)competent in the Scriptures. 25 He had been instructed in (AR)the way of the Lord. And (AS)being fervent in spirit,[d] he spoke and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus, though he knew only (AT)the baptism of John. 26 He began to speak boldly in the synagogue, but when (AU)Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained to him (AV)the way of God more accurately. 27 And when he wished to cross to (AW)Achaia, (AX)the brothers encouraged him and (AY)wrote to the disciples to welcome him. When he arrived, (AZ)he greatly helped those who through grace had believed, 28 for he powerfully refuted the Jews in public, showing by the Scriptures (BA)that the Christ was Jesus.

Footnotes

  1. Acts 18:1 Greek he
  2. Acts 18:12 Greek Ioudaioi probably refers here to Jewish religious leaders, and others under their influence, in that time; also verses 14 (twice), 28
  3. Acts 18:18 Or brothers and sisters; also verse 27
  4. Acts 18:25 Or in the Spirit

In Corinth

18 After this, Paul left Athens(A) and went to Corinth.(B) 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, and because he was a tentmaker as they were, he stayed and worked with them.(E) Every Sabbath(F) he reasoned in the synagogue,(G) trying to persuade Jews and Greeks.

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) 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)

Then Paul left the synagogue and went next door to the house of Titius Justus, a worshiper of God.(Q) 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.

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

  1. Acts 18:25 Or with fervor in the Spirit