CHAPTER 18

1 After these things Paul departed from Athens, and came to Corinth;
2 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 And because he was of the same craft, he abode with them, and wrought: for by their occupation they were tentmakers.

When Paul left Athens, he traveled a few miles west to the port city of Corinth.
Corinth was a major city of trade, known for the traffic of ships from many countries.

It was there Paul met Aquila and Priscilla.
They were Jewish, and had come from Rome when Claudius had made all the Jewish people leave Rome.

Aquila and Priscilla were tentmakers, like Paul.

Aquila and Priscilla also became partners in Paul's ministry (See Acts 18:18, Romans 16:3, 2Timothy 4:19).

4 And he reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks.
5 And when Silas and Timotheus were come from Macedonia, Paul was pressed in the spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus was Christ.

Paul "reasoned," or formed discourse with the Jews and also the Greeks.
Possibly, the "Greeks" were proselytes of the Jews and were around the synagogue.
However, one can also understand that Paul, an evangelical Christian, "reasoned" with other "Greeks" who were not proselytes of the Jews.

As Paul entered a city, he would first go to the Jewish synagogue and preach the gospel.
Then he would reason with them "out of the Scriptures" with which the people would be familiar. (See Acts 17:2-3)
And, he showed them how Christ was supposed to suffer according to the Scriptures. (See Isaiah 53:1-12)

"And when Silas and Timotheus were come from Macedonia," they brought good news concerning the Thessalonians.
(See 1Thessalonians 3:6-8)
It was because of this good news that Paul was "pressed in the Spirit."
Having heard the good news from Thessalonica, he was even more compelled by God's Holy Spirit to share that the "Christ" is "JESUS!"

6 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 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.

The Jewish people in the synagogue "opposed themselves" and even "blasphemed."
They resisted the idea that Jesus (Who was crucified, buried and risen) was really the "Christ" (Messiah).
And they ranted vehemently against Paul for suggesting such an idea.

Paul said, in effect, "Well, I've done my duty .... I came to you first!"
(See the instructions of Jesus in Acts 1:8, and Paul's comprehension of that statement for his ministry in Romans 1:16)

Paul no longer attended the synagogue, and moved his teaching and preaching to the home of Justus.
There, he was able to draw any Jewish people AND other gentiles because Justus' "house joined hard to," or was very close to the synagogue.

From this point on many people believe and are baptized.

8 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.

Not only did "many" believe, but also "Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue" believed in Jesus as the Christ, or prophesied Messiah!

We never know who may be listening as we teach and preach the Gospel of Jesus!
Some of those, no doubt, to whom Paul preached were people who had no real knowledge of the Old Testament or of God.
But, Crispus was very learned in the Bible and respected among others who knew about God through the Old Testament.

When people believe that Jesus is the Christ, the incarnate God (Isaiah 43:11), they will make testimony of that belief!

Those who gave that testimony and were baptized, were the beginning of the "church of God which is at Corinth." (1Cor. 1:2, 2Cor. 1:1).

Paul himself baptized only a few there. (See 1Corinthians 1:14)
However, it is obvious "many (MORE) of the Corinthians believed and were baptized." (vs 8 above)

9 Then spake the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision, Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace:
10 For I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city.
11 And he continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.

After Crispus believed, and many others, Paul was no doubt feeling pressure from some of the other Jews;
as well as those Gentiles who held firm in their belief of other gods.
Perhaps Paul was reminded of the violence which he had encountered before. (See Acts 16:18-24, Acts 17:5-10, and Acts 17:13

But the Lord spoke to Paul in a "vision" of two very important things:
First, God would protect Paul and "no man shall set on thee to hurt thee."
Second, using the omniscience in His power, the Lord said, "I have MUCH PEOPLE in this city!"
The Lord KNEW that many MORE would believe and be converted!

So, Paul "continued there" for some 18 months, and a thriving church developed.

12 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 Saying, This fellow persuadeth men to worship God contrary to the law.
14 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 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 drave them from the judgment seat.

The word "deputy" is translated from the Greek anthupatos, which means highest officer.
The highest officer in that day was the Roman Proconsul, or governor of the area.

The word "insurrection" is translated from the Greek katephistemi, which in this case would mean "stood over against."
The Jews brought an accusation against Paul to the proconsul Gallio.
Therefore, Gallio was obliged to hear the complaint and have a sort of trial.

However, Gallio refused to debate or decide on the complaint!
He said if it were "wrong or wicked lewdness" (against the laws of the Romans), he would listen and determine action.
But their complaint was about "words and names, and of your (their) law."
In other words, Gallio considered this a religious matter, and not a matter of Roman law.
And, Gallio determined that whether Jesus is the "Christ" or promised Messiah was NOT a matter for the court.

Gallio could see that the complaint was insignificant as concerned Roman law, and he "drave", or dismissed them from the Court.

17 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.

Some were quite upset that Paul was brought before the proconsul.
But WHO were the ones upset?

Some believe that "the Jews" (vs 12 above) did NOT include Sosthenes who had arisen as the chief ruler of the synagogue.
And, some believe that the words "the Greeks" (vs 17 above) were inserted, and were probably NOT part of the original text.
To me, this makes more sense for a couple reasons.

First, I question that Christian action would go so far as to "beat" a person.
And often this IS action performed by the Jews upon Christian believers. (For instance Acts 14:19, Acts 17:5)

Second, Sosthenes is mentioned in 1Corinthians 1:1-2 as Paul's "brother" in Christ.

Now, we have no way of knowing that the Sosthenes in 1Cor. 1:1-2 was the SAME as the one in Acts 18:17.
But, to me at least, it makes more sense.
Because Sosthenes followed Crispus as ruler of the synagogue, and
he probably was leaning toward the same belief as Crispus.
Therefore, he would have taken no part in accusing Paul before Gallio.
And, the Jews would be angry with him because of that.

The sense of verse 17 is that they literally beat Sosthenes under the eye of Gallio, "before the judgment seat."

18 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 And he came to Ephesus, and left them there: but he himself entered into the synagogue, and reasoned with the Jews.
20 When they desired him to tarry longer time with them, he consented not;
21 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.

After Sosthenes was beaten, Paul stayed in Corinth "yet a good while."

When he left, he took Aquila and Priscilla with him.

Paul had shaved his head in Cenchrea, because he had taken a certain "vow" to the Lord.
Generally it is understood that shaving the head was at the END of the vowed period of time, and signified the completion of the vow.
We have no indication from the Bible about what this vow was, nor how long Paul had kept it.
But this shows that Paul was a man of deep conviction, and diligent in performing his word.

If you promise (or vow) something to the Lord, be sure and KEEP the promise! (See Deuteoronomy 23:22)

WHILE in Ephesus, Paul "reasoned with the Jews" in the synagogue.
Evidently, many of the Jews there believed, because they "desired him (Paul) to tarry longer time with them."

However, Paul felt it imperative to attend the feast in Jerusalem.
Since, he had to travel a long way, he "bade them farewell."
But he did say "if God will", he would return to visit with them again.

If Christ is truly the center of your life, then you will always determine action according to God's will.
For you may desire to do something, but God might have other plans for you.
(See James 4:13-15)

When Paul left Ephesus (vs 19) above, he also left Aquila an Priscilla there.
Later, we'll see how God used Acquila and Priscilla in a special manner there in Ephesus.

22 And when he had landed at Caesarea, and gone up, and saluted the church, he went down to Antioch.
23 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.

Paul had extensive traveling to perform before going to Jerusalem for the feast he mentioned in vs 21 above.
He went first to Caesarea, then to Antioch.
Then he traveled across the regions of Galatia and Phrygia, visiting with the churches that had been established there, and "strengthening all the disciples."

By visiting these churches and sharing the good news of what was happening in Corinth and other places, Paul
encouraged the disciples.
Hearing good news of people coming to Christ is always encouraging to Christians!

24 And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures, came to Ephesus.
25 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 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.

Back in verse 19, we saw Paul leaving Ephesus, but he left Aquila and Priscilla there.

Then, "a certain Jew named Apollos" came to Ephesus.
Verse 25 describes Apollos as being very learned in the Scriptures, and also a very "eloquent"

Being "instructed in the way of the Lord" Apollos believed Messiah was indeed soon to arrive.
Being well-versed in Scripture, he was well able to show the prophesies of Messiah being humble and paying the blood sacrifice for men's sin.
Being "fervent in the Spirit" Apollos "taught diligently" and spoke "boldly in the synagogue."

However, Apollos was only preaching "the baptism of John."
This was baptism of repentance, and believing Messiah was to come.
That's what John the Baptist preached.
And, many people had heard of his preaching. (See Acts 19:1-4)

The news had spread across the world about John the Baptist; how he had preached to be repentant, and baptized because of belief that Messiah would come.
John was beheaded, and all the synagogues would have heard of that.

Then Aquila and Priscilla acquainted themselves with Apollos, and "expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly."
They taught him about JESUS!
They told him Messiah had indeed come, and His Name was JESUS!
They also told him how Jesus had been crucified, buried, and had risen again "according to the Scriptures" (1Corinthians 15:3-5).
Apollos knew these things were prophesied in the Scriptures, but he did not yet know they had happened!

When Apollos learned of Jesus, he determined to go other places and preach the gospel.

27 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 For he mightily convinced the Jews, and that publickly, shewing by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ.

Evidently, Apollos did not continue to preach in Ephesus, for he was desirous to travel to "Achaia" (a region) of which Corinth was the capitol.

When Apollos left, some of the members there in Ephesus gave him letters "exhorting the disciples to receive him."
They also wrote that he "mightily convinced the Jews" publicly by showing in the "Scriptures that Jesus was the CHRIST!"

As Apollos leaves Ephesus, Paul returns.

PLEASE CONTINUE WITH US IN BIBLE STUDY TOMORROW.
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