Acts 18
1After this, Paul left Athens and went to Corinth.
2There he met 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 see them, 3and because he
was a tentmaker as they were, he stayed and worked
with them. 4Every Sabbath he reasoned in the synagogue,
trying to persuade Jews and Greeks.
5When Silas and Timothy came from Macedonia,
Paul devoted himself exclusively to preaching, testifying
to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ. a 6But when the
Jews opposed Paul and became abusive, he shook out
his clothes in protest and said to them, “Your blood be
on your own heads! I am clear of my responsibility.
From now on I will go to the Gentiles.”
7Then Paul left the synagogue and went next door to
the house of Titius Justus, a worshiper of God. 8Crispus,
the synagogue ruler, and his entire household believed
in the Lord; and many of the Corinthians who heard
him 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 is going to attack and harm
you, because I have many people in this city.” 11So Paul
stayed for a year and a half, teaching them the word of
God.
12While Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews
made a united attack on Paul and brought him into
court. 13“This man,” they charged, “is persuading the
people to worship God in ways contrary to the law.”
14Just as Paul was about to speak, Gallio said to the
Jews, “If you Jews were making a complaint about some
misdemeanor or serious crime, it would be reasonable
for me to listen to you. 15But since it involves questions
about words and names and your own law—settle the
matter yourselves. I will not be a judge of such things.”
16So he had them ejected from the court. 17Then they all
turned on Sosthenes the synagogue ruler and beat him
in front of the court. But Gallio showed no concern
whatever.
Priscilla, Aquila and Apollos
18Paul stayed on in Corinth for some time. Then he
left the brothers and sailed for Syria, accompanied by
Priscilla and Aquila. Before he sailed, he had his hair
cut off at Cenchrea because of a vow he had taken.
19They arrived at Ephesus, where Paul left Priscilla and
Aquila. He himself went into the synagogue and reasoned
with the Jews. 20When they asked him to spend
more time with them, he declined. 21But as he left, he
promised, “I will come back if it is God’s will.” Then he
set sail from Ephesus. 22When he landed at Caesarea, he
went up and greeted the church and then went down to
Antioch.
23After spending some time in Antioch, Paul set out
from there and traveled from place to place throughout
the region of Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening all the
disciples.
24Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria,
came to Ephesus. He was a learned man, with a
thorough knowledge of the Scriptures. 25He had been
instructed in the way of the Lord, and he spoke with
great fervor b and taught about Jesus accurately, though
he knew only the baptism of John. 26He began to speak
boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila
heard him, they invited him to their home and explained
to him the way of God more adequately.
27When Apollos wanted to go to Achaia, the brothers
encouraged him and wrote to the disciples there to welcome
him. On arriving, he was a great help to those
who by grace had believed. 28For he vigorously refuted
the Jews in public debate, proving from the Scriptures
that Jesus was the Christ.