assume a significant Jewish minority. This may be important, since according to Acts the church in Corinth began as a breakaway from the synagogue, and continued to be regarded by the Roman authorities as an intra-Jewish affair (Acts 18:4–8, 12–17). A broken lintel inscribed ‘[Syna]gogue of the Hebr[ews]’ comes from a later period. Archaeological evidence throws further light on 1 Corinthians in two ways. One is the numerous small shops uncovered as part of Corinth city centre at the time of Paul’s