Paul's divine vision promising protection ("Do not be afraid, but speak and do not be silent") uniquely combines God's encouragement with explicit safety assurance, appearing nowhere else in Acts.
Acts 18
In Corinth
1After these things Paul departed from Athens and came to Corinth.
2He 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,
3and because he practiced the same trade, he lived with them and worked, for by trade they were tent makers.
4He reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath and persuaded Jews and Greeks.
5When Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia, Paul was compelled by the Spirit, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ.
6When 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!”
7He 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.
8Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed in the Lord with all his house. Many of the Corinthians, when they heard, believed and were baptized.
9The Lord said to Paul in the night by a vision, “Don’t be afraid, but speak and don’t be silent;
10for I am with you, and no one will attack you to harm you, for I have many people in this city.”
11He lived there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.
12But when Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews with one accord rose up against Paul and brought him before the judgment seat,
13saying, “This man persuades men to worship God contrary to the law.”
14But 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;
15but 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.”
16So he drove them from the judgment seat.
17Then all the Greeks seized Sosthenes, the ruler of the synagogue, and beat him before the judgment seat. Gallio didn’t care about any of these things.
Priscilla, Aquila and Apollos
18Paul, 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.
19He came to Ephesus, and he left them there; but he himself entered into the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews.
20When they asked him to stay with them a longer time, he declined;
21but 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.
22When he had landed at Caesarea, he went up and greeted the assembly, and went down to Antioch.
23Having spent some time there, he departed and went through the region of Galatia and Phrygia, in order, establishing all the disciples.
24Now a certain Jew named Apollos, an Alexandrian by race, an eloquent man, came to Ephesus. He was mighty in the Scriptures.
25This 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.
26He 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.
27When 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;
28for he powerfully refuted the Jews, publicly showing by the Scriptures that Jesus was the Christ.
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Theme
Paul establishes a significant ministry in Corinth, working alongside the tentmaker couple Priscilla and Aquila while preaching in the synagogue and later focusing on Gentile outreach. Despite Jewish opposition that leads to a trial before Proconsul Gallio, Paul receives divine encouragement to continue his work and remains in Corinth for eighteen months. The chapter concludes with Paul's departure and the introduction of Apollos, an eloquent teacher who receives further instruction from Priscilla and Aquila in Ephesus.
Context
This chapter continues Paul's second missionary journey from Athens and establishes the foundation for his later extensive correspondence with the Corinthian church.
Key Themes
Outline
- 1-3 Paul Arrives in Corinth Paul meets Priscilla and Aquila, fellow tentmakers recently expelled from Rome under Claudius.
- 4-8 Ministry in the Synagogue Paul preaches to Jews and Greeks, then shifts focus to Gentiles after opposition, seeing many conversions including synagogue ruler Crispus.
- 9-11 Divine Encouragement The Lord appears to Paul in a vision, promising protection and revealing many people in the city, leading to an extended eighteen-month ministry.
- 12-17 Trial Before Gallio Jewish leaders bring Paul before the Roman proconsul, who dismisses the case as an internal religious dispute.
- 18-23 Paul's Departure and Journey Paul leaves Corinth with Priscilla and Aquila, travels through Ephesus and Caesarea, and returns to Antioch before beginning another missionary journey.
- 24-28 Apollos in Ephesus An eloquent Alexandrian teacher receives more complete instruction from Priscilla and Aquila, then ministers effectively in Achaia.
In Corinth
18:1–18:17 narrative narration hopeful
Paul arrives in Corinth, works with Aquila and Priscilla as tentmakers, preaches in the synagogue, and faces opposition from Jews but receives divine encouragement and protection through a vision from the Lord.
person_contrast
Paul's divine vision promising protection ("Do not be afraid, but speak and do not be silent") uniquely combines God's encouragement with explicit safety assurance, appearing nowhere else in Acts.
Priscilla, Aquila and Apollos
18:18–18:28 narrative narration contemplative
Paul continues his missionary journey through various regions, while Priscilla and Aquila mentor Apollos, an eloquent teacher who powerfully demonstrates from Scripture that Jesus is the Christ.
person_contrast
Paul's unusual vow-shaving at Cenchreae marks one of only two instances where he performs Jewish ritual observances during his missionary journeys, suggesting strategic cultural accommodation.
Insights
Paul's unusual vow-shaving at Cenchreae marks one of only two instances where he performs Jewish ritual observances during his missionary journeys, suggesting strategic cultural accommodation.
Cross-References
Connected passages across Scripture
Acts 18:2 2 references
Acts 18:4 5 references
Lexicals 5
Acts 14:1 Lexical
In Iconium, they entered together into the synagogue of the Jews, and so spoke that a great multitude both of Jews and o…
Acts 19:8 Lexical
He entered into the synagogue and spoke boldly for a period of three months, reasoning and persuading about the things c…
Acts 20:7 Lexical
On the first day of the week, when the disciples were gathered together to break bread, Paul talked with them, intending…
Acts 17:17 Lexical
So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the devout persons, and in the marketplace every day with those who me…
Acts 17:4 Lexical
Some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas: of the devout Greeks a great multitude, and not a few of the chie…
Acts 18:5 5 references
Lexicals 5
Acts 17:14 Lexical
Then the brothers immediately sent out Paul to go as far as to the sea, and Silas and Timothy still stayed there.
Acts 17:10 Lexical
The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Beroea. When they arrived, they went into the Jewish synag…
Acts 17:15 Lexical
But those who escorted Paul brought him as far as Athens. Receiving a commandment to Silas and Timothy that they should…
Acts 17:4 Lexical
Some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas: of the devout Greeks a great multitude, and not a few of the chie…
Acts 20:21 Lexical
testifying both to Jews and to Greeks repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus.
Acts 18:6 1 reference
Acts 18:7 1 reference
Acts 18:8 5 references
Lexicals 5
Mark 5:38 Lexical
He came to the synagogue ruler’s house, and he saw an uproar, weeping, and great wailing.
1 Corinthians 1:14 Lexical
I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius,
Acts 10:22 Lexical
They said, “Cornelius, a centurion, a righteous man and one who fears God, and well spoken of by all the nation of the J…
1 Corinthians 16:19 Lexical
The assemblies of Asia greet you. Aquila and Priscilla greet you warmly in the Lord, together with the assembly that is…
Acts 10:2 Lexical
a devout man, and one who feared God with all his house, who gave gifts for the needy generously to the people, and alwa…
Acts 18:9 1 reference
Acts 18:11 4 references
Lexicals 4
James 5:17 Lexical
Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain, and it didn’t rain on the eart…
Luke 4:25 Lexical
But truly I tell you, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the sky was shut up three years and s…
Galatians 4:10 Lexical
You observe days, months, seasons, and years.
Revelation 9:15 Lexical
The four angels were freed who had been prepared for that hour and day and month and year, so that they might kill one t…
Acts 18:12 2 references
Acts 18:14 5 references
Lexicals 5
Acts 27:21 Lexical
When they had been long without food, Paul stood up in the middle of them and said, “Sirs, you should have listened to m…
Acts 1:1 Lexical
The first book I wrote, Theophilus, concerned all that Jesus began both to do and to teach,
Acts 19:13 Lexical
But some of the itinerant Jews, exorcists, took on themselves to invoke over those who had the evil spirits the name of…
Acts 25:4 Lexical
However Festus answered that Paul should be kept in custody at Caesarea, and that he himself was about to depart shortly…
Matthew 12:32 Lexical
Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it wi…
Acts 18:15 2 references
Acts 18:18 4 references
Lexicals 4
Acts 15:22 Lexical
Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole assembly, to choose men out of their company, and sen…
2 Corinthians 1:1 Lexical
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus through the will of God, and Timothy our brother, to the assembly of God which is at Co…
Acts 24:24 Lexical
After some days, Felix came with Drusilla his wife, who was a Jewess, and sent for Paul and heard him concerning the fai…
Acts 21:26 Lexical
Then Paul took the men, and the next day purified himself and went with them into the temple, declaring the fulfillment…
Acts 18:19 1 reference
Acts 18:22 2 references
Acts 18:23 1 reference
Acts 18:24 3 references
Lexicals 3
Acts 16:1 Lexical
He came to Derbe and Lystra; and behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewess who believed,…
Acts 19:17 Lexical
This became known to all, both Jews and Greeks, who lived at Ephesus. Fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Je…
Acts 19:1 Lexical
While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul, having passed through the upper country, came to Ephesus and found certain disciples…
Acts 18:25 4 references
Lexicals 4
Acts 21:21 Lexical
They have been informed about you, that you teach all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, telling them…
Acts 26:26 Lexical
For the king knows of these things, to whom also I speak freely. For I am persuaded that none of these things is hidden…
Matthew 22:16 Lexical
They sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that you are honest, and teach the…
Mark 12:14 Lexical
When they had come, they asked him, “Teacher, we know that you are honest, and don’t defer to anyone; for you aren’t par…
Acts 18:26 3 references
Lexicals 3
Acts 9:2 Lexical
and asked for letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or w…
Mark 6:2 Lexical
When the Sabbath had come, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many hearing him were astonished, saying, “Where did…
Acts 11:4 Lexical
But Peter began, and explained to them in order, saying,
Acts 18:27 2 references
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