1
Then Paul left Athens and went to Corinth.

2
In Corinth he met a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus. He had recently come from Italy with Priscilla, his wife, because Emperor Claudius had ordered all the Jews to leave Rome. Paul visited their home.

3
And because they practiced the same trade, he stayed with them. They worked together, for they were both tentmakers.

4
Every Sabbath Paul spoke in the synagogue and tried to persuade both Jews and Greeks.

5
When Silas and Timothy came from Macedonia, Paul was able to devote himself fully to preaching the word, testifying to the Jews that Jesus is the Messiah.

6
But when they opposed him and reviled him, he shook the dust from his garments and said to them, “Your blood be on your own heads; I am clean and innocent. From now on I will go to the nations.”

7
Then he left there and went to the house of a man named Titius Justus, a worshiper of God, whose house was next to the synagogue.

8
But Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed in the Lord together with all his household, and many of the Corinthians who heard Paul’s message believed and were baptized.

9
One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: “Do not be afraid! Keep on speaking, and do not be silent!

10
For I am with you, and no one will attack or harm you, because I have many people in this city.”

11
So Paul stayed there for a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.

12
But when Gallio became governor of Achaia, the Jews rose up together against Paul and brought him before the court.

13
They said, “This man is trying to persuade people to worship God in a way contrary to the law.”

14
When Paul was about to begin speaking, Gallio said to the Jews, “Jews, if your complaint were about some wrongdoing or serious crime, it would be proper for me to hear your case;

15
but if it is a dispute about words or names or your own law, then deal with it yourselves; I am unwilling to be a judge in such matters.”

16
Then he drove them from the judgment seat.

17
And they all seized Sosthenes, the ruler of the synagogue, and beat him before the judgment seat; but Gallio paid no attention to these things at all.

18
Paul remained many more days in Corinth. Then he took leave of the brothers there and sailed for Syria, after he had his hair cut at Cenchrea, for he had taken a vow. Priscilla and Aquila accompanied him.

19
Then they came to Ephesus. Paul left Priscilla and Aquila there. He himself entered the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews.

20
They asked him to stay longer with them, but he would not consent.

21
But taking leave of them, he said, “I will return to you, if God wills.” Then he set sail from Ephesus.

22
He landed at Caesarea, and after going up and greeting the church, he went down to Antioch.

23
After he had spent some time there, he departed and went through the whole region of Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples.

24
Now a Jew named Apollos, an Alexandrian by birth, came to Ephesus. He was an eloquent man and mighty in the Scriptures.

25
He had been instructed in the way of the Lord. Being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately about Jesus, though he knew only the baptism of John.

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.

27
And when Apollos desired to cross over to Achaia, the brothers in Ephesus wrote to the disciples there, urging them to welcome him. When he arrived in Achaia, by the grace of God he became a great help to those who believed.

28
For he powerfully refuted the Jews in public, proving from the Scriptures that Jesus is the Messiah.

📖 Acts 18 – Paul’s Ministry in Corinth and the Beginning of Apollos’ Ministry

🧾 Summary of Acts 18

In this chapter, Paul ministers in Corinth, meets Aquila and Priscilla, and stays there for a year and a half. He proclaims the gospel to Jews and Gentiles. Though there is opposition, many believe and are baptized. He also receives direct encouragement from the Lord. After that, Paul returns to Antioch, then continues on his third journey. Meanwhile, Apollos appears as a new preacher in Ephesus, guided by Aquila and Priscilla.

✨ Content Explanation

1. Paul in Corinth (verses 1–17)

• Paul went to Corinth, a large city and a center of trade in Greece.
• There he met Aquila and Priscilla, a husband-and-wife pair who had just arrived from Italy because of Emperor Claudius’s expulsion of the Jews.
• They worked together as tentmakers.

Paul’s Ministry:

• Every Sabbath, Paul reasoned in the synagogue and tried to persuade Jews and Greeks.
• When Silas and Timothy arrived, Paul was even more earnest in proclaiming the gospel.
• Because of the strong rejection from some of the Jews, Paul said:

“Your blood be on your own heads; I am clean. From now on I will go to the nations.” (verse 6)

The Gospel Breakthrough:

• He ministered in the house of Titius Justus, a Gentile who believed in God.
• Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed together with his whole household, and many Corinthians were baptized.
• The Lord appeared to Paul in a night vision and said:

“Do not be afraid! Keep on speaking the word and do not be silent…” (verses 9–10)

Persecution:

• The Jews brought Paul before Gallio, the governor of Achaia, but Gallio refused to interfere in Jewish religious matters and released Paul.
• Then the people beat Sosthenes, the new ruler of the synagogue, but Gallio still did not care.

2. The End of the Second Missionary Journey (verses 18–22)

• Paul left Corinth with Aquila and Priscilla for Ephesus, then continued on to Jerusalem and Antioch, bringing his second missionary journey to an end.
• He cut his hair at Cenchrea because of a vow (a religious promise).

3. The Beginning of the Third Missionary Journey (verse 23)

• After some time in Antioch, Paul began his third journey, strengthening the believers in Galatia and Phrygia.

4. Apollos Begins His Ministry (verses 24–28)

• Apollos, a Jew from Alexandria, eloquent in speech and mighty in the Scriptures, came to Ephesus.
• He knew only John’s baptism, but Aquila and Priscilla instructed him more fully about Jesus.
• Apollos then went to Achaia (Corinth) and greatly helped the church, proving from the Scriptures that Jesus is the Messiah.

📘 Main Lessons from Acts 18

1. The Lord works through partnership – Paul was not alone; he worked together with Aquila, Priscilla, Silas, Timothy, and Apollos.
2. We need not be afraid to keep proclaiming the Gospel, for the Lord is with us (verses 9–10).
3. Rejection of the Gospel does not mean failure; it may even open the way to reach more people.
4. Spiritual mentoring is very important – Apollos, though eloquent, was still guided by a couple more mature in the faith.
5. The church grows through cooperation and courage, both by the main messengers and by those working behind the scenes.

✨ Spiritual Meaning of Acts 18

• Paul teaches us to remain faithful and courageous amid trials, because God said, “I am with you.”
• Aquila and Priscilla show that ministry is not only the pulpit, but also nurturing, hosting, and guiding.
• Apollos is an example that learning and humility bring spiritual growth.