18:1 AFTER THIS [Paul] departed from Athens and went to Corinth. |
18:2 There he met a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, recently arrived from Italy with Priscilla his wife, due to the fact that Claudius had issued an edict that all the Jews were to leave Rome. And [Paul] went to see them, |
18:3 And because he was of the same occupation, he stayed with them; and they worked [together], for they were tentmakers by trade. |
18:4 But he discoursed {and} argued in the synagogue every Sabbath and won over [both] Jews and Greeks. |
18:5 By the time Silas and Timothy arrived from Macedonia, Paul was completely engrossed with preaching, earnestly arguing {and} testifying to the Jews that Jesus [is] the Christ. |
18:6 But since they kept opposing {and} abusing {and} reviling him, he shook out his clothing [against them] and said to them, Your blood be upon your [own] heads! I am innocent [of it]. From now on I will go to the Gentiles (the heathen). |
18:7 He then left there and went to the house of a man named Titus Justus, who worshiped God and whose house was next door to the synagogue. |
18:8 But Crispus, the leader of the synagogue, believed [that Jesus is the Messiah and acknowledged Him with joyful trust as Savior and Lord], together with his entire household; and many of the Corinthians who listened [to Paul also] believed and were baptized. |
18:9 And one night the Lord said to Paul in a vision, Have no fear, but speak and do not keep silent; |
18:10 For I am with you, and no man shall assault you to harm you, for I have many people in this city. |
18:11 So he settled down among them for a year and six months, teaching the Word of God [concerning the attainment through Christ of eternal salvation in the kingdom of God]. |
18:12 But when Gallio was proconsul of Achaia (most of Greece), the Jews unitedly made an attack upon Paul and brought him before the judge's seat, |
18:13 Declaring, This fellow is advising {and} inducing {and} inciting people to worship God in violation of the Law [of Rome and of Moses]. |
18:14 But when Paul was about to open his mouth to reply, Gallio said to the Jews, If it were a matter of some misdemeanor or villainy, O Jews, I should have cause to bear with you {and} listen; |
18:15 But since it is merely a question [of doctrine] about words and names and your own law, see to it yourselves; I decline to be a judge of such matters {and} I have no intention of trying such cases. |
18:16 And he drove them away from the judgment seat. |
18:17 Then they [the Greeks] all seized Sosthenes, the leader of the synagogue, and beat him right in front of the judgment seat. But Gallio paid no attention to any of this. |
18:18 Afterward Paul remained many days longer, and then told the brethren farewell and sailed for Syria; and he was accompanied by Priscilla and Aquila. At Cenchreae he [Paul] cut his hair, for he had made a vow. |
18:19 Then they arrived in Ephesus, and [Paul] left the others there; but he himself entered the synagogue and discoursed {and} argued with the Jews. |
18:20 When they asked him to remain for a longer time, he would not consent; |
18:21 But when he was leaving them he said, I will return to you if God is willing, and he set sail from Ephesus. |
18:22 When he landed at Caesarea, he went up and saluted the church [at Jerusalem], and then went down to Antioch. |
18:23 After staying there some time, he left and went from place to place in an orderly journey through the territory of Galatia and Phrygia, establishing the disciples {and} imparting new strength to them. |
18:24 Meanwhile, there was a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, who came to Ephesus. He was a cultured {and} eloquent man, well versed {and} mighty in the Scriptures. |
18:25 He had been instructed in the way of the Lord, and burning with spiritual zeal, he spoke and taught diligently {and} accurately the things concerning Jesus, though he was acquainted only with the baptism of John. |
18:26 He began to speak freely (fearlessly and boldly) in the synagogue; but when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him with them and expounded to him the way of God more definitely {and} accurately. |
18:27 And when [Apollos] wished to cross to Achaia (most of Greece), the brethren wrote to the disciples there, urging {and} encouraging them to accept {and} welcome him heartily. When he arrived, he proved a great help to those who through grace (God's unmerited favor and mercy) had believed (adhered to, trusted in, and relied on Christ as Lord and Savior). |
18:28 For with great power he refuted the Jews in public [discussions], showing {and} proving by the Scriptures that Jesus is the Christ (the Messiah). |