1
|
After this, Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. |
|
2
|
There he found a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla because Claudius had ordered all the Jews to leave Rome. Paul went to visit them, |
|
3
|
and he stayed and worked with them because they were tentmakers by trade, just as he was. |
|
4
|
Every Sabbath he reasoned in the synagogue, trying to persuade Jews and Greeks alike. |
|
5
|
And when Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia, Paul devoted himself fully to the word, testifying to the Jews that Jesus is the Christ. |
|
6
|
But when they opposed and insulted him, he shook out his garments and told them, “Your blood be on your own heads! I am innocent of it. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.” |
|
7
|
So Paul left the synagogue and went next door to the house of Titus Justus, a worshiper of God. |
|
8
|
Crispus, the synagogue leader, and his whole household believed in the Lord. And many of the Corinthians who heard the message believed and were baptized. |
|
9
|
One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: “Do not be afraid; keep on speaking; do not be silent. |
|
10
|
For I am with you and no one will lay a hand on you, because I have many people in this city.” |
|
11
|
So Paul stayed for a year and a half, teaching the word of God among the Corinthians. |
|
12
|
While Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews coordinated an attack on Paul and brought him before the judgment seat. |
|
13
|
“This man is persuading the people to worship God in ways contrary to the law,” they said. |
|
14
|
But just as Paul was about to speak, Gallio told the Jews, “If this matter involved a wrongdoing or vicious crime, O Jews, it would be reasonable for me to hear your complaint. |
|
15
|
But since it is a dispute about words and names and your own law, settle it yourselves. I refuse to be a judge of such things.” |
|
16
|
And he drove them away from the judgment seat. |
|
17
|
At this, the crowd seized Sosthenes the synagogue leader and beat him in front of the judgment seat. But none of this was of concern to Gallio. |
|
18
|
Paul remained in Corinth for quite some time before saying goodbye to the brothers. He had his head shaved in Cenchrea to keep a vow he had made, and then he sailed for Syria, accompanied by Priscilla and Aquila. |
|
19
|
When they reached Ephesus, Paul parted ways with Priscilla and Aquila. He himself went into the synagogue there and reasoned with the Jews. |
|
20
|
When they asked him to stay for a while longer, he declined. |
|
21
|
But as he left, he said, “I will come back to you if God is willing.” And he set sail from Ephesus. |
|
22
|
When Paul had landed at Caesarea, he went up and greeted the church at Jerusalem. Then he went down to Antioch. |
|
23
|
After Paul had spent some time in Antioch, he traveled from place to place throughout the region of Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples. |
|
24
|
Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was an eloquent man, well versed in the Scriptures. |
|
25
|
He had been instructed in the way of the Lord and was fervent in spirit. He spoke and taught accurately about Jesus, though he knew only the baptism of John. |
|
26
|
And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him in and explained to him the way of God more accurately. |
|
27
|
When Apollos resolved to cross over to Achaia, the brothers encouraged him and wrote to the disciples there to welcome him. On his arrival, he was a great help to those who by grace had believed. |
|
28
|
For he powerfully refuted the Jews in public debate, proving from the Scriptures that Jesus is the Christ. |
|