Acts chapter 18
Paul meets Aquila and Priscilla in Corinth. The Lord tells him to keep speaking. He returns to Antioch. In Ephesus, Apollos boldly speaks of Jesus Christ.
PAUL MEETS PRISCILLA AND AQUILA IN CORINTH
VERSE 1. After these things Paul departed from Athens, and came to Corinth.
Paul departed from Athens. Athens was famous for its culture and learning.
came to Corinth. Corinth was famous for commerce and immorality.
1 Corinthians 2:1. When I came to you, brothers, I didn’t come with excellence of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God.
VERSE 2. He found a certain Jew named Aquila, a man of Pontus by race, who had recently come from Italy, with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to depart from Rome. He came to them,
VERSE 3. and because he practiced the same trade, he lived with them and worked, for by trade they were tent makers.
they were tent makers. Based on this verse, some Christians imagine Paul exercised his ministry on a part-time basis and supported himself with a full-time job.
That was the case in Corinth. For a while. But it was not the case in any other location.
Why did he take on a job? It was probably to differentiate himself from the annoying multitude of religious beggars in Corinth.
VERSE 4. He reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath and persuaded Jews and Greeks.
VERSE 5. But when Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia, Paul was compelled by the Spirit, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ.
compelled by the Spirit. The Holy Spirit “compelled” Paul to do something.
Has the Holy Spirit ever “compelled” you to do something?
VERSE 6. When they opposed him and blasphemed, he shook out his clothing and said to them, “Your blood be on your own heads! I am clean. From now on, I will go to the Gentiles!”
they opposed him. The word “they” refers to the Jewish people in the synagogue.
From now on, I will go to the Gentiles! The Jewish people in the synagogue probably rejoiced.
VERSE 7. He departed there, and went into the house of a certain man named Justus, one who worshiped God, whose house was next door to the synagogue.
Justus, one who worshiped God. In those days, some Gentiles were called “God-fearers.” They had fully embraced the LORD God of Israel. They had associated themselves with the Jewish people as much as possible.
VERSE 8. Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed in the Lord with all his house. Many of the Corinthians, when they heard, believed and were baptized.
VERSE 9. The Lord said to Paul in the night by a vision, “Don’t be afraid, but speak and don’t be silent;
Don’t be afraid. There is no need for fear.
speak and don’t be silent. When God inspires us to say something, we can be confident. As long as we are motivated by love, we will be fine.
Love means wanting what’s best for the other person. Even if it’s different that what you want for them. Or what you want for yourself.
How can you reach out in love to another person? What might the Holy Spirit inspire you to say? How can you build that other person up?
VERSE 10. for I am with you, and no one will attack you to harm you, for I have many people in this city.”
I am with you. The LORD God promises to be with us always, even to the ends of the world. Read more »
VERSE 11. He lived there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.
VERSE 12. But when Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews with one accord rose up against Paul and brought him before the judgment seat,
VERSE 13. saying, “This man persuades men to worship God contrary to the law.”
worship God contrary to the law. This was not true.
Troublemakers are rooted in lies and falsehoods. They fail any fact-checking.
VERSE 14. But when Paul was about to open his mouth, Gallio said to the Jews, “If indeed it were a matter of wrong or of wicked crime, you Jews, it would be reasonable that I should bear with you;
VERSE 15. but if they are questions about words and names and your own law, look to it yourselves. For I don’t want to be a judge of these matters.”
VERSE 16. So he drove them from the judgment seat.
VERSE 17. Then all the Greeks siezed Sosthenes, the ruler of the synagogue, and beat him before the judgment seat. Gallio didn’t care about any of these things.
PAUL RETURNS TO ANTIOCH IN SYRIA
VERSE 18. Paul, having stayed after this many more days, took his leave of the brothers, and sailed from there for Syria, together with Priscilla and Aquila. He shaved his head in Cenchreae, for he had a vow.
He shaved his head. Shaving one’s hair is a part of the Nazirite vow:
Numbers 6:18. The Nazirite shall shave the head of his separation at the door of the Tent of Meeting, take the hair of the head of his separation, and put it on the fire which is under the sacrifice of peace offerings.
VERSE 19. He came to Ephesus, and he left them there; but he himself entered into the synagogue, and reasoned with the Jews.
VERSE 20. When they asked him to stay with them a longer time, he declined;
VERSE 21. but taking his leave of them, he said, “I must by all means keep this coming feast in Jerusalem, but I will return again to you if God wills.” Then he set sail from Ephesus.
if God wills. Lots of us plan for the future. But we don’t even know what will happen tomorrow. We should say “God-willing” and speak tentatively of our future. Read more »
VERSE 22. When he had landed at Caesarea, he went up and greeted the assembly, and went down to Antioch.
VERSE 23. Having spent some time there, he departed, and went through the region of Galatia, and Phrygia, in order, establishing all the disciples.
IN EPHESUS, APOLLOS SPEAKS BOLDLY OF JESUS CHRIST
VERSE 24. Now a certain Jew named Apollos, an Alexandrian by race, an eloquent man, came to Ephesus. He was mighty in the Scriptures.
He was mighty in the Scriptures. Are you “mighty” in the Scriptures? If not, how can you become like that?
VERSE 25. This man had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus, although he knew only the baptism of John.
fervent in spirit. When the Holy Spirit is in your life, you will have FIRE. Are you on fire for the LORD God? If not, how can you get on fire? Read more »
VERSE 26. He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. But when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside, and explained to him the way of God more accurately.
speak boldly in the synagogue. Can you speak boldly of Jesus Christ? If not, how can you become like that?
VERSE 27. When he had determined to pass over into Achaia, the brothers encouraged him, and wrote to the disciples to receive him. When he had come, he greatly helped those who had believed through grace;
VERSE 28. for he powerfully refuted the Jews, publicly showing by the Scriptures that Jesus was the Christ.
ACTS
CHAPTERS: 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28
RESOURCES: Summary, Outline, Memorize
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