Paul's Ministry in Corinth
Study note
In Corinth, Paul meets the Jewish couple Aquila and Priscilla, recently expelled from Rome by Emperor Claudius. Sharing the same trade of tentmaking, Paul stays and works with them. Each Sabbath he reasons in the synagogue, and when Silas and Timothy arrive, Paul devotes himself fully to preaching. When the Jews oppose him, Paul shakes out his clothing, declaring their blood is on their own heads, and turns to the Gentiles. He moves to the house of Justus next door to the synagogue. Crispus, the synagogue leader, believes along with his household and many Corinthians.
1 After leaving Athens, Paul traveled to Corinth. After these things Paul departed from Athens, and came to Corinth;
2 There he met a Jewish man named Aquila, who was originally from Pontus. Aquila and his wife Priscilla had recently moved from Italy because Emperor Claudius had ordered all Jews out of Rome. Paul went to visit them. And found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, lately come from Italy, with his wife Priscilla; (because that Claudius had commanded all Jews to depart from Rome:) and came unto them.
3 Since they shared the same trade -- tent-making -- Paul moved in with them and they worked together. And because he was of the same craft, he abode with them, and wrought: for by their occupation they were tentmakers.
4 Every Sabbath, Paul went to the synagogue and tried to convince both Jews and Greeks about Jesus. And he reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks.
5 After Silas and Timotheus arrived from Macedonia, Paul gave all his time to preaching. He told the Jewish people that Jesus is the Messiah. And when Silas and Timotheus were come from Macedonia, Paul was pressed in the spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus was Christ.
6 But they fought back and said ugly things about Jesus. So Paul shook out his clothing as a sign of protest and told them, "Whatever happens to you is your own responsibility. My conscience is clear. From here on out, I am taking my message to the Gentiles." And when they opposed themselves, and blasphemed, he shook his raiment, and said unto them, Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean: from henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles.
7 Paul left the synagogue and moved his teaching to the house next door, which belonged to Justus, a man who worshiped God. And he departed thence, and entered into a certain man's house, named Justus, one that worshipped God, whose house joined hard to the synagogue.
8 Crispus, the synagogue leader, believed in the Lord along with his entire family. And many Corinthians who heard the message believed and were baptized. And Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house; and many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized.
The Lord's Encouragement to Paul
Study note
The Lord speaks to Paul in a nighttime vision, telling him not to be afraid but to keep speaking because no one will harm him and God has many people in the city. Strengthened by this divine encouragement, Paul stays in Corinth for a year and a half, teaching the word of God.
9 One night, the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: "Don't be afraid. Keep speaking and do not stay silent." Then spake the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision, Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace:
10 "I am right here with you, and nobody is going to lay a hand on you or hurt you. I have many people in this city who belong to me." For I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city.
11 So Paul stayed in Corinth for a year and a half, teaching the word of God. And he continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.
Paul Before Gallio
Study note
The Jews bring Paul before the Roman governor Gallio, accusing him of teaching an illegal religion. Before Paul can even defend himself, Gallio dismisses the case as an internal Jewish dispute about words, names, and their own law, refusing to serve as judge in such matters. He drives them from the judgment seat. The crowd then beats Sosthenes, the synagogue leader, but Gallio takes no notice, effectively providing legal protection for Paul's ministry.
12 While Gallio was serving as governor of Achaia, the Jewish leaders teamed up against Paul. They dragged him before the judgment seat. And when Gallio was the deputy of Achaia, the Jews made insurrection with one accord against Paul, and brought him to the judgment seat,
13 "This man is trying to get people to worship God in ways that break the law!" they complained. Saying, This fellow persuadeth men to worship God contrary to the law.
14 Paul was about to answer, but Gallio spoke first. He said to the Jewish leaders, "If this were about a real crime or a serious wrong, I would have a reason to hear you out." And when Paul was now about to open his mouth, Gallio said unto the Jews, If it were a matter of wrong or wicked lewdness, O ye Jews, reason would that I should bear with you:
15 But since this is just a squabble about words, names, and your own religious law, deal with it yourselves. I refuse to get involved in these matters." But if it be a question of words and names, and of your law, look ye to it; for I will be no judge of such matters.
16 And he had them removed from the courtroom. And he drave them from the judgment seat.
17 The crowd then grabbed Sosthenes, the synagogue leader, and beat him up there in front of the judgment seat. Gallio could not have cared less. Then all the Greeks took Sosthenes, the chief ruler of the synagogue, and beat him before the judgment seat. And Gallio cared for none of those things.
Paul's Return Journey and Apollos in Ephesus
Study note
Paul takes leave of Corinth and sails for Syria with Priscilla and Aquila, stopping briefly in Ephesus where he leaves them. Paul continues to Caesarea, greets the church, goes to Antioch, and then sets out again through Galatia and Phrygia strengthening the disciples. Meanwhile, Apollos, an eloquent and Scripture-learned Jew from Alexandria, arrives in Ephesus. Though he knows only John's baptism, he speaks with great passion about Jesus. Priscilla and Aquila take him aside and explain the way of God more accurately. Apollos then goes to Achaia where he powerfully refutes the Jews publicly, proving from Scripture that Jesus is the Christ.
18 Paul remained in Corinth for a good while after that. Eventually he said goodbye to the believers and sailed for Syria with Priscilla and Aquila. Before leaving, he had his head shaved at Cenchrea because of a vow he had made. And Paul after this tarried there yet a good while, and then took his leave of the brethren, and sailed thence into Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila; having shorn his head in Cenchrea: for he had a vow.
19 When they reached Ephesus, Paul left Priscilla and Aquila there. He went into the synagogue to talk with the Jewish people. And he came to Ephesus, and left them there: but he himself entered into the synagogue, and reasoned with the Jews.
20 They asked him to stay longer, but he turned them down. When they desired him to tarry longer time with them, he consented not;
21 As he was leaving, he said, "I need to be in Jerusalem for the upcoming feast. But if God is willing, I will come back to you." Then he sailed out of Ephesus. But bade them farewell, saying, I must by all means keep this feast that cometh in Jerusalem: but I will return again unto you, if God will. And he sailed from Ephesus.
22 He docked at Caesarea, went up to greet the church, and then traveled down to Antioch. And when he had landed at Cæsarea, and gone up, and saluted the church, he went down to Antioch.
23 After spending some time in Antioch, Paul hit the road again. He traveled through Galatia and Phrygia. He made the believers stronger everywhere he went. And after he had spent some time there, he departed, and went over all the country of Galatia and Phrygia in order, strengthening all the disciples.
24 Meanwhile, a Jewish man named Apollos arrived in Ephesus. He was from Alexandria, was a brilliant speaker, and had a deep knowledge of the scriptures. And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures, came to Ephesus.
25 Someone had already taught him about the Lord, and he spoke with tremendous passion and got the facts about Jesus right. However, the only baptism he knew about was John's. This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John.
26 He started teaching boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside privately and helped him understand God's plan more completely. And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly.
27 When Apollos wanted to go to Achaia, the believers cheered him on. They wrote a letter asking the believers there to welcome him. After he arrived, he was a great help to those who had come to faith through God's grace. And when he was disposed to pass into Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him: who, when he was come, helped them much which had believed through grace:
28 In public debates, he crushed the arguments of the Jewish leaders. He proved from the scriptures that Jesus is the Messiah. For he mightily convinced the Jews, and that publickly, shewing by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ.