The big picture
Acts 18 opens in verse 1 with “After these things Paul departed from Athens, and came to Corinth;”, reaches its middle movement near verse 14 with “And when Paul was now about to open his mouth, Gallio said unto the Jews, If it were a…”, and closes in verse 28 with “For he mightily convinced the Jews, and that publickly, shewing by the scriptures that…” Repeated or prominent terms include Jews, Paul, synagogue, Lord, Aquila. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
Acts · King James Version · 28Acts 18:1-7
1–7: After these things Paul departed from Athens, and came to Corinth;
Acts 18:1–7 opens with “After these things Paul departed from Athens, and came to Corinth;” and reaches “And he departed thence, and entered into a certain man’s house, named Justus, one that…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Paul working with Aquila and Priscilla in Corinth and Priscilla and Aquila explaining the way more fully to Apollos, with particular weight carried by Jews, certain, departed.
Context that brings the passage to life
“After these things Paul departed from Athens, and came to Corinth;” Naming Athens and Corinth keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“And found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, lately come from Italy, with his wife Priscilla; (because that…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
Acts 18:1-7
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.
7And he departed thence, and entered into a certain man’s house, named Justus, one that worshipped God, whose house joined hard to the synagogue.
Acts 18:8-14
8–14: Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all…
Acts 18:8–14 opens with “And Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house; and many…” and reaches “And when Paul was now about to open his mouth, Gallio said unto the Jews, If it were a matter of…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Paul working with Aquila and Priscilla in Corinth and Priscilla and Aquila explaining the way more fully to Apollos, with particular weight carried by Jews, Paul, believed.
Context that brings the passage to life
“And Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house; and many of the Corinthians…” Naming Corinthians and Crispus keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“Then spake the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision, Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace:” Naming Paul keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
Acts 18:8-14
King James Version8And 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.
12And 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:
Acts 18:15-21
15–21: If it be a question of words and names, and of your law, look ye to it…
Acts 18:15–21 opens with “But if it be a question of words and names, and of your law, look ye to it; for I will be no…” and reaches “But bade them farewell, saying, I must by all means keep this feast that cometh in Jerusalem…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Paul working with Aquila and Priscilla in Corinth and Priscilla and Aquila explaining the way more fully to Apollos, with particular weight carried by Ephesus, judgment, sailed.
Context that brings the passage to life
“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 line’s distinctive content terms include judge, look, matters. Its relationship to verses 16 shows what work it does in this passage.
“And he drave them from the judgment seat.” The line’s distinctive content terms include drave, judgment, seat. Its relationship to verses 15 and 17 shows what work it does in this passage.
Acts 18:15-21
King James Version15But 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.
18And 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.
Acts 18:22-28
22–28: When he had landed at Cæsarea, and gone up, and saluted the church, he…
Acts 18:22–28 opens with “And when he had landed at Cæsarea, and gone up, and saluted the church, he went down to Antioch.” and reaches “For he mightily convinced the Jews, and that publickly, shewing by the scriptures that Jesus was…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Paul working with Aquila and Priscilla in Corinth and Priscilla and Aquila explaining the way more fully to Apollos, with particular weight carried by disciples, Lord, scriptures.
Context that brings the passage to life
“And when he had landed at Cæsarea, and gone up, and saluted the church, he went down to Antioch.” Naming Antioch keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“And after he had spent some time there, he departed, and went over all the country of Galatia and Phrygia in order…” Naming Galatia and Phrygia keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
Acts 18:22-28
King James Version22And 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.
24And 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.
What responsibility accompanies Abraham's election?
Verse 19 connects his household's calling with keeping the Lord's way through justice and judgment.
What is the moral center of his intercession?
That righteous and wicked should not be treated indiscriminately.
KJV words made clear
- unto
- to
- thee
- you
- thy
- your
- spake
- spoke
- raiment
- clothing
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.
