The big picture
Paul, a travelling witness to Jesus, leaves Athens and comes to Corinth, another Greek city. Jesus is the risen Lord whom he proclaims as God's promised ruler. Paul meets a couple who share his trade and works beside them. He continues teaching despite rejection, and a promise from the Lord steadies a long stay. After he leaves, the couple help another gifted speaker understand more fully. The work spreads through households, patient teaching, and new partnerships.
In this chapter
- Work and Witness in Corinth Acts 18:1-6
Paul meets Aquila, a Jewish man, and his wife Priscilla.
- A Promise Sustains Eighteen Months Acts 18:7-11
Paul moves next door to the home of Justus, a man who worships God.
- Gallio Refuses the Religious Charge Acts 18:12-17
Opponents bring Paul before Gallio, governor of Achaia, the region containing Corinth.
- Paul Revisits the Churches Acts 18:18-23
After more time in Corinth, Paul leaves with Priscilla and Aquila.
- Apollos Receives Fuller Instruction Acts 18:24-28
Apollos, a Jewish speaker from Alexandria, an Egyptian city, arrives in Ephesus.
Central truth
God sustains Paul's teaching in Corinth, while shared work and patient correction prepare more people to strengthen the growing churches.
Scripture beside the summary
Acts · King James Version · 28Acts 18:1-6
Work and Witness in Corinth
Paul meets Aquila, a Jewish man, and his wife Priscilla. They have left Rome, the imperial capital, because Claudius, the emperor, expelled Jews from it. Paul stays and works with them because all make tents. Each sabbath, the weekly rest day, he reasons with Jews and Greeks in the synagogue, their worship gathering. Silas and Timotheus, his companions, arrive from Macedonia, a northern region. Paul presses his witness that Jesus is the Christ. When opponents resist and insult the message, he shakes his clothing as a sign against their refusal. He will now speak to Gentiles, non-Jewish hearers.
In everyday life
An upholsterer far from home finds a place at another displaced craft worker's bench. They stitch through the week, while evenings give room for the message he has come to share. Shared work supplies both shelter and daily contact without replacing his larger purpose. Paul's trade supports his witness that Jesus is God's promised Christ.
Notice
Acts 18:3 The common trade gives Paul a place to stay and work. The account places ordinary labour alongside public teaching without treating them as rival callings.
Acts 18:1-6
King James Version1After these things Paul departed from Athens, and came to Corinth;
2And found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, lately come from Italy, with his wife Priscilla; (because that Claudius had commanded all Jews to depart from Rome:) and came unto them.
3And because he was of the same craft, he abode with them, and wrought: for by their occupation they were tentmakers.
4And he reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks.
5And when Silas and Timotheus were come from Macedonia, Paul was pressed in the spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus was Christ.
6And when they opposed themselves, and blasphemed, he shook his raiment, and said unto them, Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean: from henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles.
Acts 18:7-11
A Promise Sustains Eighteen Months
Paul moves next door to the home of Justus, a man who worships God. Crispus, the synagogue leader, believes with his household. Many other residents hear, believe, and receive baptism, washing in water as followers of Jesus. In a night vision, the Lord tells Paul not to fear or fall silent. He is with Paul, will protect him from attack there, and has many people in the city. Paul remains for a year and six months, teaching God's word. The rejection in one place does not mean the whole city is closed.
In everyday life
A reading tutor loses access to one hall but receives a room in the house next door. New learners keep arriving, and her sponsoring team promises support for a full year. She unpacks the books she had begun to box away. A closed room has not ended the work. Paul's reassurance comes from the Lord in a vision.
Notice
Acts 18:10 The promise names God's presence and people still to be reached in that city. Paul has a reason to remain beyond the response of his first opponents.
Acts 18:7-11
King James Version7And he departed thence, and entered into a certain man’s house, named Justus, one that worshipped God, whose house joined hard to the synagogue.
8And Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house; and many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized.
9Then spake the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision, Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace:
10For I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city.
11And he continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.
Acts 18:12-17
Gallio Refuses the Religious Charge
Opponents bring Paul before Gallio, governor of Achaia, the region containing Corinth. They accuse him of urging worship contrary to the law. Before Paul can answer, Gallio distinguishes crimes from disputes about religious words, names, and their law. He refuses to judge the latter and drives the accusers away. Then Greeks seize Sosthenes, the synagogue's chief ruler, and beat him before the judgement seat. Gallio ignores this too. His refusal to prosecute Paul does not make the scene fair or peaceful; violence against another man happens in front of his indifferent authority.
In everyday life
A courthouse monitor notes that a dismissed complaint ends without charges against its target. Then she records a separate assault in the corridor that officials fail to address. The first decision does not make the second neglect acceptable. Her report keeps both events visible. Gallio's refusal concerns religious law, while his indifference leaves Sosthenes exposed to violence.
Notice
Acts 18:17 Gallio's lack of concern extends to the beating before him. The account records the limit of his intervention rather than making him a model of full fairness.
Acts 18:12-17
King James Version12And when Gallio was the deputy of Achaia, the Jews made insurrection with one accord against Paul, and brought him to the judgment seat,
13Saying, This fellow persuadeth men to worship God contrary to the law.
14And when Paul was now about to open his mouth, Gallio said unto the Jews, If it were a matter of wrong or wicked lewdness, O ye Jews, reason would that I should bear with you:
15But if it be a question of words and names, and of your law, look ye to it; for I will be no judge of such matters.
16And he drave them from the judgment seat.
17Then all the Greeks took Sosthenes, the chief ruler of the synagogue, and beat him before the judgment seat. And Gallio cared for none of those things.
Acts 18:18-23
Paul Revisits the Churches
After more time in Corinth, Paul leaves with Priscilla and Aquila. At Cenchrea, a port, he cuts his hair because of a vow. They reach Ephesus, a city across the sea, where he teaches in the synagogue. He leaves the couple there and declines an invitation to stay. He intends to reach Jerusalem, the chief Jewish city, for a feast, promising a return if God wills. After landing and greeting the church, he goes to Antioch, his sending city. Later he travels through Galatia and Phrygia, inland regions, strengthening the believers.
In everyday life
A piano tuner finishes one long placement and revisits households whose instruments she repaired earlier. Some ask her to stay, but she keeps a prior commitment and plans another visit when the route allows. The work includes return and maintenance, not only first calls. Paul strengthens faith and submits his return to God's will.
Notice
Acts 18:21 Paul's promise to return includes God's will. He makes a real plan without claiming that his own intention controls every later event.
Acts 18:18-23
King James Version18And Paul after this tarried there yet a good while, and then took his leave of the brethren, and sailed thence into Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila; having shorn his head in Cenchrea: for he had a vow.
19And he came to Ephesus, and left them there: but he himself entered into the synagogue, and reasoned with the Jews.
20When they desired him to tarry longer time with them, he consented not;
21But bade them farewell, saying, I must by all means keep this feast that cometh in Jerusalem: but I will return again unto you, if God will. And he sailed from Ephesus.
22And when he had landed at Cæsarea, and gone up, and saluted the church, he went down to Antioch.
23And after he had spent some time there, he departed, and went over all the country of Galatia and Phrygia in order, strengthening all the disciples.
Acts 18:24-28
Apollos Receives Fuller Instruction
Apollos, a Jewish speaker from Alexandria, an Egyptian city, arrives in Ephesus. He knows Scripture well and teaches earnestly about the Lord, but knows only the baptism of John, the earlier preacher. Priscilla and Aquila hear him and take him aside to explain God's way more fully. When he plans to go to Achaia, believers write asking others to welcome him. There he greatly helps people who have believed through grace, God's favour. Using Scripture in public, he shows that Jesus is the Christ. Strong gifts grow more useful through a willingness to receive further teaching.
In everyday life
A skilled apprentice demonstrates a difficult glass-cutting method before two experienced craft workers. Afterward, they invite him to their bench and show the missing step that makes the work complete. They then recommend him to another workshop. His ability is honoured through correction rather than flattery. Apollos receives fuller knowledge of God's way and proves Jesus' identity from Scripture.
Notice
Acts 18:26 The couple take Apollos to themselves for fuller teaching. They do not treat his incomplete knowledge as a reason to discard his skill or zeal.
Acts 18:24-28
King James Version24And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures, came to Ephesus.
25This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John.
26And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly.
27And when he was disposed to pass into Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him: who, when he was come, helped them much which had believed through grace:
28For he mightily convinced the Jews, and that publickly, shewing by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
Acts 18:1 begins with “After these things Paul departed from Athens, and came to Corinth;”
Where the chapter turns
Acts 18:15 forms a natural hinge: “But if it be a question of words and names, and of your law, look ye to it; for I will be no judge of such matters.”
The final note
Acts 18:28 leaves the reader with “For he mightily convinced the Jews, and that publickly, shewing by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ.”
A word trail through the chapter
The words Jews, Paul, synagogue, Lord, Aquila, believed help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
KJV words made clear
- tentmakers
- Craft workers who make or repair tents for use as shelter.
- raiment
- An older word for the clothing someone wears.
- vow
- A solemn promise made to God about a chosen action.
Music and video connected to the passage
No exact media match is cataloged for this passage yet. New material can be connected when it becomes available.