Acts 18

Paul in Corinth

1 Later Paul left Athens and went to Corinth.2 Here he met a Jew named Aquila who had been born in the country of Pontus. But Aquila and his wife, Priscilla, had recently moved to Corinth from Italy, because Claudius 3 Because they were tentmakers, just as he was, he stayed with them and worked with them.

4 Every Sabbath day he talked with the Jews and Greeks in the synagogue, trying to persuade them to believe in Jesus.
5 Silas and Timothy came from Macedonia and joined Paul in Corinth. After this, Paul spent all his time telling people the Good News, showing them that Jesus is the Christ.6 But they would not accept Paul’s teaching and said some evil things. So he shook off the dust from his clothes 7 Paul left the synagogue and moved into the home of Titius Justus, next to the synagogue. This man worshiped God.

8 Crispus was the leader of that synagogue, and he and all the people living in his house believed in the Lord. Many others in Corinth also listened to Paul and believed and were baptized.
9 During the night, the Lord told Paul in a vision: “Don’t be afraid. Continue talking to people and don’t be quiet. 10 I am with you, and no one will hurt you because many of my people are in this city.”

11 Paul stayed there for a year and a half, teaching God’s word to the people.

Paul Is Brought Before Gallio

12 When Gallio was the governor of the country of Southern Greece, some people came together against Paul and took him to the court.

13 They said, “This man is teaching people to worship God in a way that is against our law.”
14 Paul was about to say something, but Gallio spoke, saying, “I would listen to you if you were complaining about a crime or some wrong.15 But the things you are saying are only questions about words and names—arguments about your own law. So you must solve this problem yourselves. I don’t want to be a judge of these things.”

16 And Gallio made them leave the court.

17 Then they all grabbed Sosthenes, the leader of the synagogue, and beat him there before the court. But this did not bother Gallio.

Paul Returns to Antioch

18 Paul stayed with the believers for many more days. Then he left and sailed for Syria, with Priscilla and Aquila. At Cenchrea Paul cut off his hair, 19 Then they went to Ephesus, where Paul left Priscilla and Aquila. While Paul was there, he went into the synagogue and talked with the people.20 When they asked him to stay with them longer, he refused.

21 But as he left, he said, “I will come back to you again if God wants me to.” And so he sailed away from Ephesus.
22 When Paul landed at Caesarea, he went and gave greetings to the church in Jerusalem. After that, Paul went to Antioch.

23 He stayed there for a while and then left and went through the regions of Galatia and Phrygia. He traveled from town to town in these regions, giving strength to all the followers.

Apollos in Ephesus and Corinth

24 A Jew named Apollos came to Ephesus. He was born in the city of Alexandria and was a good speaker who knew the Scriptures well.25 He had been taught about the way of the Lord and was always very excited when he spoke and taught the truth about Jesus. But the only baptism Apollos knew about was the baptism that John 26 Apollos began to speak very boldly in the synagogue, and when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him to their home and helped him better understand the way of God.27 Now Apollos wanted to go to the country of Southern Greece. So the believers helped him and wrote a letter to the followers there, asking them to accept him. These followers had believed in Jesus because of God’s grace, and when Apollos arrived, he helped them very much.28 He argued very strongly with the Jews before all the people, clearly proving with the Scriptures that Jesus is the Christ.

Acts 18

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.