Acts 18:1–18

Paul in Corinth

18Later Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. ²Here he met a Jew named Aquila who had been born in the country of Pontus. But Aquila and his wife, Priscilla, had recently moved to Corinth from Italy, because Claudius ⁿ commanded that all Jews must leave Rome. Paul went to visit Aquila and Priscilla. ³Because they were tentmakers, just as he was, he stayed with them and worked with them. ⁴Every Sabbath day he talked with the Jews and Greeks in the synagogue, trying to persuade them to believe in Jesus.

⁵Silas and Timothy came from Macedonia and joined Paul in Corinth. After this, Paul spent all his time telling people the Good News, showing them that Jesus is the Christ. ⁶But they would not accept Paul’s teaching and said some evil things. So he shook off the dust from his clothes ⁿ and said to them, “If you are not saved, it will be your own fault! I have done all I can do! After this, I will go to other nations.” ⁷Paul left the synagogue and moved into the home of Titius Justus, next to the synagogue. This man worshiped God. ⁸Crispus was the leader of that synagogue, and he and all the people living in his house believed in the Lord. Many others in Corinth also listened to Paul and believed and were baptized.

⁹During the night, the Lord told Paul in a vision: “Don’t be afraid. Continue talking to people and don’t be quiet. ¹⁰I am with you, and no one will hurt you because many of my people are in this city.” ¹¹Paul stayed there for a year and a half, teaching God’s word to the people.

Paul Is Brought Before Gallio

¹²When Gallio was the governor of the country of Southern Greece, some people came together against Paul and took him to the court. ¹³They said, “This man is teaching people to worship God in a way that is against our law.”

¹⁴Paul was about to say something, but Gallio spoke, saying, “I would listen to you if you were complaining about a crime or some wrong. ¹⁵But the things you are saying are only questions about words and names—arguments about your own law. So you must solve this problem yourselves. I don’t want to be a judge of these things.” ¹⁶And Gallio made them leave the court.

¹⁷Then they all grabbed Sosthenes, the leader of the synagogue, and beat him there before the court. But this did not bother Gallio.

Paul Returns to Antioch

¹⁸Paul stayed with the believers for many more days. Then he left and sailed for Syria, with Priscilla and Aquila. At Cenchrea Paul cut off his hair, ⁿ because he had made a promise to God.