Acts 18:1–18

Paul in Corinth

¹After this, Paul left Athens and went to the city of Corinth. ²In Corinth he met a Jewish man named Aquila and his wife Priscilla. Aquila had been born in Pontus, and they had recently come from Italy because Claudius had ordered all Jews to leave Rome. Paul went to visit them, ³and because they made tents for a living as he did, he stayed with them and they worked together. 

⁴On every day of rest—a holy day, Paul would discuss ⸤Scripture⸥ in the synagogue. He tried to win over Jews and Greeks who had converted to Judaism. ⁵But when Silas and Timothy arrived from Macedonia, Paul devoted all his time to teaching God’s word. He assured the Jews that Jesus is the Messiah. ⁶But they opposed him and insulted him. So Paul shook the dust from his clothes and told them, “You’re responsible for your own death. I’m innocent. From now on I’m going to people who are not Jewish.” 

⁷Then he left the synagogue and went to the home of a man named Titius Justus, who was a convert to Judaism. His house was next door to the synagogue. ⁸The synagogue leader Crispus and his whole family believed in the Lord. Many Corinthians who heard Paul believed and were baptized. 

⁹One night the Lord said to Paul in a vision, “Don’t be afraid to speak out! Don’t be silent! ¹⁰I’m with you. No one will attack you or harm you. I have many people in this city.” 

¹¹Paul lived in Corinth for a year and a half and taught God’s word to them. 

¹²While Gallio was governor of Greece, the Jews had one thought in mind. They attacked Paul and brought him to court. ¹³They said, “This man is persuading people to worship God in ways that are against Moses’ Teachings.” 

¹⁴Paul was about to answer when Gallio said to the Jews, “If there were some kind of misdemeanor or crime involved, reason would demand that I put up with you Jews. ¹⁵But since you’re disputing words, names, and your own teachings, you’ll have to take care of that yourselves. I don’t want to be a judge who gets involved in those things.” ¹⁶So Gallio had them forced out of his court. 

¹⁷Then all ⸤the governor’s officers⸥ took Sosthenes, the synagogue leader, and beat him in front of the court. But Gallio couldn’t have cared less. 

Paul’s Return Trip to Antioch

¹⁸After staying in Corinth quite a while longer, Paul left ⸤for Ephesus⸥. Priscilla and Aquila went with him. In the city of Cenchrea, Aquila had his hair cut, since he had taken a vow. From Cenchrea they took a boat headed for Syria