Acts 18:1-17
Many People in This City
1After this, Paul left Athens and went to Corinth.
2There he found a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla because Claudius had ordered all the Jews to leave Rome. Paul went to visit them,
3and he stayed and worked with them because they were tentmakers by trade, just as he was.
4Every Sabbath he reasoned in the synagogue, trying to persuade Jews and Greeks alike.
5And when Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia, Paul devoted himself fully to the word, testifying to the Jews that Jesus is the Christ.
6But when they opposed and insulted him, he shook out his garments and told them, “Your blood be on your own heads! I am innocent of it. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.”
7So Paul left the synagogue and went next door to the house of Titus Justus, a worshiper of God.
8Crispus, the synagogue leader, and his whole household believed in the Lord. And many of the Corinthians who heard the message believed and were baptized.
9One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: “Do not be afraid; keep on speaking; do not be silent.
10For I am with you and no one will lay a hand on you, because I have many people in this city.”
11So Paul stayed for a year and a half, teaching the word of God among the Corinthians.
12While Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews coordinated an attack on Paul and brought him before the judgment seat.
13“This man is persuading the people to worship God in ways contrary to the law,” they said.
14But just as Paul was about to speak, Gallio told the Jews, “If this matter involved a wrongdoing or vicious crime, O Jews, it would be reasonable for me to hear your complaint.
15But since it is a dispute about words and names and your own law, settle it yourselves. I refuse to be a judge of such things.”
16And he drove them away from the judgment seat.
17At this, the crowd seized Sosthenes the synagogue leader and beat him in front of the judgment seat. But none of this was of concern to Gallio.
Berean Standard Bible
Paul arrives in Corinth and works with Aquila and Priscilla, fellow tentmakers. Each Sabbath he reasons in the synagogue. When Silas and Timothy arrive, Paul devotes himself fully to testifying that Jesus is the Christ. Some oppose him, but Crispus and many Corinthians believe and are baptized.
Do not be afraid; keep on speaking; do not be silent.
The Lord assures Paul that he is with him and that many people in the city belong to him. Paul stays a year and a half. When Jewish leaders bring him before Gallio, the governor refuses to judge a dispute about their own law. The legal setting is tense, but the mission is not stopped.
Paul arrives in Corinth and meets Aquila and Priscilla, Jewish believers recently expelled from Rome by Claudius. They share the trade of tentmaking, and Paul stays and works with them. Each Sabbath he reasons in the synagogue and tries to persuade Jews and Greeks. When Silas and Timothy arrive from Macedonia, Paul is occupied with preaching and testifies that Jesus is the Christ.
Opposition leads Paul to say he will go to the Gentiles, but the story does not end with rejection. Titius Justus, a worshiper of God, lives next door to the synagogue, and Crispus, the synagogue leader, believes in the Lord with his whole household. Many Corinthians hear, believe, and are baptized.
The Lord speaks to Paul in a vision and tells him not to be afraid, to keep speaking, and not to be silent. God promises to be with him and says that many people in the city belong to him. Paul stays a year and six months teaching God's word. When Gallio is proconsul, the Jews bring Paul before the tribunal, but Gallio refuses to judge a dispute about words, names, and their law. Afterward Paul leaves with Priscilla and Aquila, and the work continues through ordinary travel, friendship, work, and teaching.
Questions
1 With whom did Paul work?
AnswerHe worked with Aquila and Priscilla because they were tentmakers.
2 What did Paul testify?
AnswerHe testified to the Jews that Jesus is the Christ.
3 What did the Lord tell Paul?
AnswerHe told Paul not to be afraid but to keep speaking.
4 How long did Paul stay in Corinth?
AnswerHe stayed a year and a half teaching God's word.
What This Means for Us
Fear can make us quiet precisely where God has given us people to serve. His presence does not mean opposition disappears; it means we can continue faithfully without believing that opposition has the final word.
Prayer
Lord, steady us when we are afraid. Give us faithful work, faithful friends, and the courage to keep speaking and serving where you have placed us. Amen.