Acts 18

Paul's Ministry to Jews and Gentiles Acts 18:5–8

⁵Verse 5. But when Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia, Paul was compelled by the Spirit, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ. ⁶Verse 6. When they opposed him and blasphemed, he shook out his clothing and said to them, “Your blood be on your own heads! I am clean. From now on, I will go to the Gentiles!” ⁷Verse 7. He departed there, and went into the house of a certain man named Justus, one who worshiped God, whose house was next door to the synagogue. ⁸Verse 8. Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed in the Lord with all his house. Many of the Corinthians, when they heard, believed and were baptized.

Divine Assurance in Vision Acts 18:9–11

⁹Verse 9. The Lord said to Paul in the night by a vision, “Don’t be afraid, but speak and don’t be silent; ¹⁰Verse 10. for I am with you, and no one will attack you to harm you, for I have many people in this city.” ¹¹Verse 11. He lived there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.

Paul Before Gallio Acts 18:12–17

¹²Verse 12. But when Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews with one accord rose up against Paul and brought him before the judgment seat, ¹³Verse 13. saying, “This man persuades men to worship God contrary to the law.” ¹⁴Verse 14. But when Paul was about to open his mouth, Gallio said to the Jews, “If indeed it were a matter of wrong or of wicked crime, you Jews, it would be reasonable that I should bear with you; ¹⁵Verse 15. but if they are questions about words and names and your own law, look to it yourselves. For I don’t want to be a judge of these matters.”

¹⁶Verse 16. So he drove them from the judgment seat. ¹⁷Verse 17. Then all the Greeks laid hold on Sosthenes, the ruler of the synagogue, and beat him before the judgment seat. Gallio didn’t care about any of these things.

Paul's Journey to Ephesus Acts 18:18–21

¹⁸Verse 18. Paul, having stayed after this many more days, took his leave of the brothers, and sailed from there for Syria, together with Priscilla and Aquila. He shaved his head in Cenchreae, for he had a vow. ¹⁹Verse 19. He came to Ephesus, and he left them there; but he himself entered into the synagogue, and reasoned with the Jews. ²⁰Verse 20. When they asked him to stay with them a longer time, he declined; ²¹Verse 21. but taking his leave of them, he said, “I must by all means keep this coming feast in Jerusalem, but I will return again to you if God wills.” Then he set sail from Ephesus.

Return to Antioch Acts 18:22–23

²²Verse 22. When he had landed at Caesarea, he went up and greeted the assembly, and went down to Antioch. ²³Verse 23. Having spent some time there, he departed, and went through the region of Galatia, and Phrygia, in order, establishing all the disciples.

Apollos' Arrival and Instruction Acts 18:24–28

²⁴Verse 24. Now a certain Jew named Apollos, an Alexandrian by race, an eloquent man, came to Ephesus. He was mighty in the Scriptures. ²⁵Verse 25. This man had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus, although he knew only the baptism of John. ²⁶Verse 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. ²⁷Verse 27. When he had determined to pass over into Achaia, the brothers encouraged him, and wrote to the disciples to receive him. When he had come, he greatly helped those who had believed through grace;

²⁸Verse 28. for he powerfully refuted the Jews, publicly showing by the Scriptures that Jesus was the Christ.