Acts 18 Commentary

Paul leaves Athens and goes to Corinth. There, he meets a married Jewish couple, Priscilla and Aquila, who were exiled from Rome due to a ban against Jews, ordinated by Claudius Caesar. Priscilla and Aquila were tent-makers, which is also Paul’s trade, so he stays with them and works alongside them. But on the Sabbath days, Paul goes to the Corinthian synagogue to preach to the Jews and Greeks there.

Silas and Timothy eventually make their way from Macedonia to Corinth. When they arrive, Paul works full time preaching to the Jews about Jesus. The Jews curse Paul, so he tells them that he tried to help them, but now they are on their own. He will only preach to the Gentiles in Corinth from then on. However, some Jews believed, such as the leader of the synagogue, Crispus, as well as his household. Many Greek Corinthians believe as well. The Lord tells Paul in a dream to not fear being driven out of town as he had been in Thessalonica and Berea. The Lord urges Paul to keep preaching, because Christ has surrounded him with people who will protect him. So Paul lives in Corinth and preaches the gospel for a year and a half in peace.

A new proconsul is appointed to Achaia: Gallio. The Jews use this changing of the guard to strike against Paul. They mob him and take him before Gallio. They accuse Paul of teaching men to not worship God according to the Mosaic law. Gallio does not care about religious disputes among the Jews, and declines to judge on the matter. He dismisses them from his judgement seat. But the Jews return with the current synagogue leader, Sosthenes, a believer in Jesus, and beat him in front of the judgement seat. Gallio is unpersuaded by this display and still refuses to do anything about Paul.

Paul remains in Corinth for a while, but decides to leave. He boards a boat destined for Asia Minor, and Priscilla and Aquila go with him. They make port in Ephesus, where Priscilla and Aquila decide to stay. While in Ephesus, Paul preaches at the synagogue. The Ephesian Jews receive him warmly, asking him to stay longer. Paul says he must go on, but hopes that God will allow him to return one day. He sails from Ephesus across the Mediterranean, landing in Caesarea. He first visits the church in Jerusalem, and then goes north to Antioch in Syria.

After some time in Antioch, Paul sets out on a third missionary journey. He goes first through Galatia and Phrygia, visiting the churches he planted there and encouraging the believers.

Meanwhile, in Ephesus, Priscilla and Aquila meet a man named Apollos. Apollos is an admirer of Jesus, well-educated in the Scriptures, and well-spoken. He teaches in the synagogue passionately, but his knowledge is limited. Priscilla and Aquila talk to him and fill in his gaps of knowledge. After some time learning from Priscilla and Aquila, Apollos sails across the Aegean Sea to Corinth, and begins ministering to the Corinthian believers. He openly and strongly refutes the opponent Jews in public places, showing that Jesus was the Messiah which the Old Testament prophesied.