Paul in Corinth
18 After this, Paul[a] left Athens and went to Corinth. 2 There 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[b] went to visit them, 3 and because they had the same trade he stayed with them. They worked together because they were tentmakers by trade. 4 Every Sabbath, he would speak in the synagogue, trying to persuade both Jews and Greeks. 5 But when Silas and Timothy arrived from Macedonia, Paul devoted himself entirely to the word[c] as he emphatically assured the Jews that Jesus is the Messiah.[d] 6 But when they began to oppose him and insult him, he shook out his clothes in protest and told them, “Your blood be on your own heads! I am innocent. From now on I will go to the gentiles.”
7 Then he left that place and went to the home of a man named Titius[e] Justus, who worshipped God and whose house was next door to the synagogue. 8 Now Crispus, the leader of the synagogue, believed in the Lord, along with his whole family. Many Corinthians who heard Paul also believed and were baptized.
9 One night, the Lord told Paul in a vision, “Stop being afraid to speak out! Don’t remain silent! 10 For I am with you, and no one will lay a hand on you or harm you, because I have many people in this city.” 11 So Paul[f] lived there for a year and a half and continued to teach the word of God among the people there.[g]
12 While Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jewish leaders[h] gathered together, attacked Paul, and brought him before the judge’s seat. 13 They said, “This man is persuading people to worship God in ways that are contrary to the Law.”
14 Paul was about to speak when Gallio admonished the Jewish leaders,[i] “If there were some misdemeanor or crime involved, it would be reasonable to put up with you Jews. 15 But since it is a question about words, names, and your own Law, you will have to take care of that yourselves. I refuse to be a judge in these matters.” 16 So he drove them away from the judge’s seat. 17 Then all of them[j] took Sosthenes, the synagogue leader, and began beating him in front of the judge’s seat. But Gallio paid no attention to any of this.
Paul’s Return Trip to Antioch
18 After staying there for quite a while longer, Paul said goodbye to the brothers and sailed for Syria, accompanied by Priscilla and Aquila. He had his hair cut in Cenchrea, since he was under a vow. 19 When they arrived in Ephesus, he left Priscilla and Aquila[k] there. Then he went into the synagogue and had a discussion with the Jews. 20 They asked him to stay longer, but he refused. 21 As he told them goodbye, he said, “I will come back[l] to you again if it is God’s will.” Then he set sail from Ephesus. 22 When he arrived in Caesarea, he went up to Jerusalem,[m] greeted the church there, and then returned to Antioch. 23 After spending some time there, he departed and went from place to place through the region of Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples.
Apollos Preaches in Ephesus
24 Meanwhile, a Jew named Apollos arrived in Ephesus. He was a native of Alexandria, an eloquent man, and well versed in the Scriptures. 25 He had been instructed in the Lord’s way, and with spiritual fervor he kept speaking and teaching accurately about Jesus, although he knew only about John’s baptism. 26 He began to speak boldly in the synagogue, but when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him home and explained God’s way to him more accurately. 27 When Apollos[n] wanted to cross over to Achaia, the brothers wrote to the disciples there, urging them to welcome him. On his arrival he greatly helped those who, through God’s[o] grace, had believed. 28 He successfully refuted the Jews in public and proved by the Scriptures that Jesus is the Messiah.[p]
Footnotes
- Acts 18:1 Lit. he
- Acts 18:2 Lit. He
- Acts 18:5 Other mss. read Spirit
- Acts 18:5 Or Christ
- Acts 18:7 Other mss. read Titus
- Acts 18:11 Lit. he
- Acts 18:11 Lit. among them
- Acts 18:12 I.e. Judean leaders; lit. the Jews
- Acts 18:14 I.e. Judean leaders; lit. the Jews
- Acts 18:17 Other mss. read of the Greeks
- Acts 18:19 Lit. left them
- Acts 18:21 Other mss. read I must at all costs keep the approaching festival in Jerusalem, but I will come back
- Acts 18:22 The Gk. lacks to Jerusalem
- Acts 18:27 Lit. he
- Acts 18:27 The Gk. lacks God’s
- Acts 18:28 Or Christ