Acts 18 · Clearspring

Paul Ministers in Corinth

1 Corinthians 1:1–3; 2 Corinthians 1:1–2

¹After this, Paul left Athens and went to Corinth.+ ²There 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,+ ³and he stayed and worked with them because they were tentmakers by trade, just as he was.+ ⁴Every Sabbath he reasoned in the synagogue, trying to persuade Jews and Greeks alike.+ ⁵And when Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia, Paul devoted himself fully to the word, testifying to the Jews that Jesus is the Christ.+ ⁶But 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.”+ ⁷So Paul left the synagogue and went next door to the house of Titus Justus, a worshiper of God.+ ⁸Crispus, the synagogue leader, and his whole household believed in the Lord. And many of the Corinthians who heard the message 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 will lay a hand on you, because I have many people in this city.”+ ¹¹So Paul stayed for a year and a half, teaching the word of God among the Corinthians.+

Paul before Gallio

¹²While Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews coordinated an attack on Paul and brought him before the judgment seat.+ ¹³“This man is persuading the people to worship God in ways contrary to the law,” they said.+ ¹⁴But 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 .+ ¹⁵But 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.”+ ¹⁶And he drove them away from the judgment seat.+ ¹⁷At this, the crowd 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

¹⁸Paul 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.+ ¹⁹When they reached Ephesus, Paul left Priscilla and Aquila. He himself went into the synagogue there and reasoned with the Jews.+ ²⁰When they asked him to stay for a while longer, he declined.+ ²¹But as he left, he said, “I will come back to you if God is willing.” And he set sail from Ephesus.+ ²²When Paul had landed at Caesarea, he went up and greeted the church at Jerusalem . Then he went down to Antioch.+

Paul’s Third Missionary Journey Begins

Acts 13:1–3; Acts 15:36–41

²³After Paul had spent some time in Antioch, he 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 an eloquent man, well versed in the Scriptures.+ ²⁵He had been instructed in the way of the Lord and was fervent in spirit. He spoke and taught accurately about Jesus, though he knew only the baptism of John.+ ²⁶And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately.+ ²⁷When 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.+ ²⁸For he powerfully refuted the Jews in public debate, proving from the Scriptures that Jesus is the Christ.+

Paul Ministers in Corinth

Paul before Gallio

Paul Returns to Antioch

Paul’s Third Missionary Journey Begins

Study Acts 18