Acts Chapter 18

From The Open Bible Project

18:1 After these things Paul departed from Athens, and came to Corinth.

• (1) The true ministers are so far from seeking their own profit, that they willingly depart from what is rightfully theirs, rather than hindering the course of the Gospel in the slightest way.

18:2 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,

• (a) Suetonius records that Rome banished the Jews because they were never at rest, and that because of Christ.

18:3 and because he practiced the same trade, he lived with them and worked, for by trade they were tent makers.

18:4 He reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and persuaded Jews and Greeks.

• (2) The truth ought always to be freely uttered, yet nonetheless the doctrine may be moderated in accordance with the hearers, so that they are most profited.
• (b) Exhorted so that he persuaded, and that is what the word signifies.

18:5 But when Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia, Paul was compelled by the Spirit, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ.

• (c) Was very much grieved in mind: by which is signified the great earnestness of his mind, which was greatly moved: for Paul was so zealous that he completely forgot himself, and with a wonderful courage gave himself to preach Christ.

18:6 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!"

• (3) Although we have tried all possible means, and yet in vain, we must not stop our work, but forsake the rebellious, and go to those that are more obedient.
• (d) This is a type of speech taken from the Hebrews, by which he means that the Jews are the cause of their own destruction, and as for him, that he is without fault in forsaking them and going to other nations.

18:7 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.

18:8 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.

18:9 The Lord said to Paul in the night by a vision, "Don't be afraid, but speak and don't be silent;

• (4) God does confirm and maintain the steadfastness of his servants.

18:10 for I am with you, and no one will attack you to harm you, for I have many people in this city."

18:11 He lived there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.

• (e) Literally, "sat", whereupon they in former time took the name of their bishop’s seat: but Paul sat, that is, continued teaching the word of God: and this type of seat does not belong to those who never took their seats with a mind to teach in them.

18:12 But when Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews with one accord rose up against Paul and brought him before the judgment seat,

• (5) The wicked are never weary of doing evil, but the Lord wonderfully mocks their endeavours.
• (f) That is, of Greece, yet the Romans did not call him deputy of Greece, but of Achaia, because the Romans brought the Greeks into subjection by the Achaians, who in those days were Princes of Greece, as Pausanias records.

18:13 saying, "This man persuades men to worship God contrary to the law."

18:14 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;

• (g) As much as I rightly could.

18:15 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."

• (h) As if a man has not spoken well, as judged by your religion.
• (i) For this profane man thinks that the controversy of religion is merely a fight about words, and over nothing important.

18:16 He drove them from the judgment seat.

18:17 Then all the Greeks laid hold on Sosthenes, the ruler of the synagogue, and beat him before the judgment seat. Gallio didn't care about any of these things.

18:18 Paul, having stayed after this many more days, took his leave of the [67] brothers, [See Acts Footnotes 67] and sailed from there for Syria, together with Priscilla and Aquila. He shaved his head in Cenchreae, for he had a vow.

• (6) Paul is made all to all, to win all to Christ.
• (k) That is, Paul.
• (l) Cenchrea was a haven of the Corinthians.

18:19 He came to Ephesus, and he left them there; but he himself entered into the synagogue, and reasoned with the Jews.

18:20 When they asked him to stay with them a longer time, he declined;

• (7) The apostles were carried about not by the will of man, but by the leading of the Holy Spirit.

18:21 but taking his leave of them, and saying, "I must by all means keep this coming feast in Jerusalem, but I will return again to you if God wills," he set sail from Ephesus.

• (m) So we should promise nothing without this clause, for we do not know what the following day will bring forth.

18:22 When he had landed at Caesarea, he went up and greeted the assembly, and went down to Antioch.

18:23 Having spent some time there, he departed, and went through the region of Galatia, and Phrygia, in order, establishing all the disciples.

18:24 Now a certain Jew named Apollos, an Alexandrian by race, an eloquent man, came to Ephesus. He was mighty in the Scriptures.

• (8) Apollos, a godly and learned man, does not refuse to profit in the school of a base and abject handicraftsman, and also of a woman: and so becomes and excellent minister of the Church.
• (n) Very well instructed in the knowledge of the scriptures.

18:25 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.

18:26 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.

• (o) The way that leads to God.

18:27 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;

• (p) Through God’s gracious favour, or by those excellent gifts which God had bestowed upon him.

18:28 for he powerfully refuted the Jews, publicly showing by the Scriptures that Jesus was the Christ.