THE BOOK OF ACTS

 

Acts Chapter 18

1 ¶ After this Paul left Athens, and went to Corinth;

2 There he met a Jew named Aquila, who was born in Pontus, and had recently arrived from Italy, with his wife Priscilla; (because Claudius had commanded all Jews to leave Rome.) Paul went to them.

3 And because he was of the same occupation, he stayed, and worked with them: for they were tentmakers by trade.

4 And he reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath, and persuaded both Jews and Greeks.

5 And when Silas and Timothy arrived from Macedonia, Paul began to devote all his time to the Word, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Messiah.

6 But when they arrayed themselves in opposition, and blasphemed, he shook his clothing, and said to them, Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean: from now on I will go to the Gentiles.

7 ¶ And he left the synagogue, and went to the house of a man named Titus Justus, a worshipper of God, whose house adjoined the synagogue.

8 But Crispus, the leader of the synagogue, believed in the Lord with all his household; and many of the Corinthians who heard believed, and were baptized.

9 Then the Lord spoke to Paul in the night by a vision, Do not be afraid, but keep on speaking, and do not be silent:

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

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

12 ¶ Now when Gallio was the proconsul of Achaia, the Jews rose up with one accord against Paul, and brought him to the judgment seat,

13 Saying, This fellow is convincing men to worship God contrary to the law.

14 And just as Paul was about to speak, Gallio said to the Jews, If it were a matter of some injury or criminal wickedness, O Jews, it would be reasonable for me to listen to you:

15 But if it is a question of words and names, and of your law, see to it yourselves; for I will not be a judge of such matters.

16 And he drove them from the judgment seat.

17 Then all the Greeks seized Sosthenes, the leader of the synagogue, and beat him before the judgment seat. But Gallio was not concerned about any of these things.

18 ¶ Now Paul after staying there for some time, took leave of the brethren, and sailed from there to Syria, accompanied by Priscilla and Aquila; having cut his hair in Cenchrea: for he had a vow.

19 And they arrived at Ephesus, where Paul left them: but he himself entered the synagogue, and reasoned with the Jews.

20 When they asked him to spend more time with them, he refused;

21 But bid them farewell, saying, I must if at all possible keep the coming feast in Jerusalem: but I will return to you again, if God wills. And he sailed from Ephesus.

22 And after he landed at Caesarea, he went up, and greeted the church at Jerusalem, and then went down to Antioch.

23 And after spending some time there, Paul left, and went from place to place through the region of Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples.

24 ¶ Now a certain Jew named Apollos, who had been born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, who was 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 spoke and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John.

26 And he began to speak out boldly in the synagogue: but when Aquila and Priscilla heard him, they took him with them, and explained unto him the way of God more accurately.

27 And when he wanted to cross over into Achaia, the brethren encouraging him, wrote urging the disciples to receive him: who, after he had arrived, helped greatly those who had believed through grace:

28 For he powerfully refuted the Jews, and that publicly, showing from the scriptures that Jesus was the Messiah.