Acts 18

Acts 18:1 After these things Paul departed from Athens, and came to Corinth;

After, Athens and Mars Hill, Paul came to Corinth, a place of sexual sin. The Corinthians worshipped the goddess Aprodite, the sex goddess. There was all manner of immorality. Many Americans also have sex as their god, to their ruin.

Acts 18:2 And found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, lately come from Italy, with his wife Priscilla; (because that Claudius had commanded all Jews to depart from Rome:) and came unto them.
Acts 18:3 And because he was of the same craft, he abode with them, and wrought: for by their occupation they were tentmakers.

Emperor Claudius, banished the Jews. Aquila was husband to Priscilla, both tentmakers as was Paul.
It seems that the expulsion had to do with “dissension and disorder within the Jewish community of Rome resulting from the introduction of Christianity into one or more of the synagogues of the city.” (Bruce)

"Aquila" -- eagle "Priscilla" -- ancient or venerated woman, (respected elder)

"tentmakers" has become the title for missionaries who support themselves in a foreign mission. The Osborns went to Africa as teachers in a private school and also worked in the country establishing churches. The Strodes, also are teaching in China but witnessing as well to the students.

Acts 18:4 And he reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks.

Isa 1:18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

"reason" -- ) to think different things with one's self, mingle thought with thought

We do not reason with the worlds ways, we are of the truth. but we reason with the worlds people.

Col 1:27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:
Col 1:28 Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:

"persuade" -- to induce one by words to believe. Some have their mind set with it's defenses and will not receive.

Acts 18:5 And when Silas and Timotheus were come from Macedonia, Paul was pressed in the spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus was Christ.

"pressed in the spirit" -- taken with the Holy Spirit, compelled to testify, devoted to doiing this

Acts 18:6 And when they opposed themselves, and blasphemed, he shook his raiment, and said unto them, Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean: from henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles.

He wants to be clear of the judgment that their blasphemy will incur. He wants them to know that their rejection of the message places them in the same position as Gentiles: facing judgment. He wants to declare his freedom from any further responsibility for their eternal destiny

"shook his raiment" -- Neh 5:13 Also I shook my lap, and said, So God shake out every man from his house, and from his labour, that performeth not this promise, even thus be he shaken out, and emptied. And all the congregation said, Amen, and praised the LORD. And the people did according to this promise.

blood guilt -- Mat 27:24 When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it.
Mat 27:25 Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children.

Heb 10:26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,

Acts 18:7 And he departed thence, and entered into a certain man's house, named Justus, one that worshipped God, whose house joined hard to the synagogue.
Acts 18:8 And Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house; and many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized.

Crispus the ruler of the Synagogue, a Jew, believed and all his house, and many Corinthians.

Acts 18:9 Then spake the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision, Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace:
Acts 18:10 For I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city.

God speaks encouragement and protection in a three part vision.

"Be not afraid" -- this statement is found in every book of the Bible, fear not

"but speak" -- speak God's word, give out his message, you will be protected

"hold not thy peace" -- do not be silent

Paul used this time to make disciples. One thing I have seen from those who receive the Lord on the Internet, many do not know what God's love is. All they know is the world's "Corinthian" love. Paul in his first eppistle to the Corinthians devotes a chapter to explaining love. 1Corinthians 13, the love chapter.

Acts 18:12 And when Gallio was the deputy of Achaia, the Jews made insurrection with one accord against Paul, and brought him to the judgment seat,
Acts 18:13 Saying, This fellow persuadeth men to worship God contrary to the law.
Acts 18:14 And when Paul was now about to open his mouth, Gallio said unto the Jews, If it were a matter of wrong or wicked lewdness, O ye Jews, reason would that I should bear with you:
Acts 18:15 But if it be a question of words and names, and of your law, look ye to it; for I will be no judge of such matters.

This sounds somewhat like Pontius Pilate talking to the Jews that were envious of Jesus.

Luke 23:4 Then said Pilate to the chief priests and to the people, I find no fault in this man.
Luke 23:5 And they were the more fierce, saying, He stirreth up the people, teaching throughout all Jewry, beginning from Galilee to this place.
Luke 23:6 When Pilate heard of Galilee, he asked whether the man were a Galilaean.
Luke 23:7 And as soon as he knew that he belonged unto Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who himself also was at Jerusalem at that time.

John 19:4 Pilate therefore went forth again, and saith unto them, Behold, I bring him forth to you, that ye may know that I find no fault in him.
John 19:5 Then came Jesus forth, wearing the crown of thorns, and the purple robe. And Pilate saith unto them, Behold the man!
John 19:6 When the chief priests therefore and officers saw him, they cried out, saying, Crucify him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Take ye him, and crucify him: for I find no fault in him.
John 19:7 The Jews answered him, We have a law, and by our law he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God.
John 19:8 When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he was the more afraid;
John 19:9 And went again into the judgment hall, and saith unto Jesus, Whence art thou? But Jesus gave him no answer.
John 19:10 Then saith Pilate unto him, Speakest thou not unto me? knowest thou not that I have power to crucify thee, and have power to release thee?
John 19:11 Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin.
John 19:12 And from thenceforth Pilate sought to release him: but the Jews cried out, saying, If thou let this man go, thou art not Caesar's friend: whosoever maketh himself a king speaketh against Caesar.

Pilate washed his hands and Jesus was killed. It was a great sin, but also the purpose for which Jesus came. Paul was given another promise from God in a dream. That no one would hurt him. See the different reaction in the Corinthian ruler towards the accusers.

Acts 18:16 And he drave them from the judgment seat.
Acts 18:17 Then all the Greeks took Sosthenes, the chief ruler of the synagogue, and beat him before the judgment seat. And Gallio cared for none of those things.

This time it was the Jews who were beaten, but wait, he was also a Christian. According to 1Cor 1:1 Sosthenes was chief ruler of the Synagogue and so was Crispus "Acts 18:8 And Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house; " were they the same person?

1 Cor 1:1 Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother,

Procounsel Gallio could care less. God's hand was in this decision. Yet satan took advantage in bringing harm to Sosthenes. Satan seems to fall in the cracks where God moves, he follows to stir up trouble. We are not to be trouble free disciples. The Lord suffered persecution, so will his disciples. Often it is how we react to these trials, that reaches to the non Christian. How can we relate to the broken if we have not been broken?

Apollos

Acts 18:18 And Paul after this tarried there yet a good while, and then took his leave of the brethren, and sailed thence into Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila; having shorn his head in Cenchrea: for he had a vow.

Paul staid at Corinth a good while after his trial, then took his friends with him and headed towards Antioch. He had a vow, perhaps a Nazarite vow, to not cut the hair, but now this vow is over."The Nazarite’s head was to be shaved when either his consecration was accidentally polluted, in which case he must begin again, or when the days of his separation were fulfilled (Num. 6:9; 13:18), which, we suppose, was the case here." M. Henry

Tradition of the Jews was to bring the hair to Jerusalem to the temple, in completion of the vow. Though keeping Jewish customs was not required of a Christian, especially a Gentile, nonetheless they are a rich part of the Jewish heritage and may be observed. God does expect us to keep our vows. Better to not make a vow, if you do not intend to keep it.

Acts 18:19 And he came to Ephesus, and left them there: but he himself entered into the synagogue, and reasoned with the Jews.
Acts 18:20 When they desired him to tarry longer time with them, he consented not;

The Holy Spirit had prevented Paul from going to Ephesus two years previous to this time. Now the time is right, it was God's perfect time to go. Paul is received in the synagogue and they want him to stay longer.

Even with the open door to Asia., Paul must keep his vow. But God has brought Pauls companions for a purpose.

Acts 18:21 But bade them farewell, saying, I must by all means keep this feast that cometh in Jerusalem: but I will return again unto you, if God will. And he sailed from Ephesus.

Note that Paul said he would return "if God will." James spoke of making plans, but God having the final say.

James 4:15 For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.

Paul cut his ministry in the synagogue short, though he was received. He wanted to make it to Jerusalem for the feast perhaps the Passover feast.

Acts 18:22 And when he had landed at Caesarea, and gone up, and saluted the church, he went down to Antioch. (Syrian Antioch)

Landing at Caesarea, and going through Jerusalem, Paul returns to his home church at Antioch of Syria, concluding his second missionary journey. When it says that Paul had gone up, it refers to Jerusalem. Jerusalem is lifted up, all roads to Jerusalem go up. He had fulfilled his vow at the temple.

Acts 18:23 And after he had spent some time there, he departed, and went over all the country of Galatia and Phrygia in order, strengthening all the disciples.

Paul was more than an evangelist. He was a teacher discipling others and strengthening them. Many say they are Christians and know little of the word of God. In the Internet chats, so many are as the world, filled with lusts and an evil tongue. We must be about our Father's business. We dare not serve the world, the flesh and the devil.

Acts 18:24 And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures, came to Ephesus.

He was "eloquent" and mighty in the scriptures -- He was a strong articulate speaker, well versed in the scriptures.

Acts 18:25 This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John.

He was fervant, as boiling water, in teaching what he was taught of the scriptures. Yet, he only knew the baptism of John. Here was a man called of God to witness, but he had not been given full teaching and understanding of what Jesus had accomplished.

Acts 18:26 And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly.

Aquila and Priscilla had been left in Ephesus when Paul stopped there on his way to Jerusalem. Apollos was preaching that Jesus was the Christ, convincing the Jews with the scriptural evidence. A true servant of God will receive the truth. Aquila and Priscilla were sent to bring more knowledge to him.

Priscilla and Aquila heard Apollos speaking boldly to the Jews in the Synagogue, and they expounded to him the way of God more perfectly. Probably, the death and resurrection of Jesus, Pentecost and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Of Paul's doctrine of justification through the blood, and sanctification through the Spirit, he seems at that time to have known nothing

Rom 10:14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?

Even the preacher must be taught and learn before teaching others.

2 Tim 2:2 And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.

Prov 27:17 Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.

I don't know everything, when we think we do know it all, we are fooled and full of pride.

Acts 18:27 And when he was disposed to pass into Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him: who, when he was come, helped them much which had believed through grace:
Acts 18:28 For he mightily convinced the Jews, and that publicly, showing by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ.

Paul when called as an apostle, he received of no man, but by revelation from Jesus.

Gal 1:15 But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace,
Gal 1:16 To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood:
Gal 1:17 Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus.

When Apollos traveled to Achaia, probably to Corinth, he was received with great enthusiasm. He was listed with the apostles. Paul considered him a fellow minister of the word.

1 Cor 1:12 Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ.
Cor 1:13 Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?

1 Cor 3:5 Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?
1 Cor 3:6 I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.

Apollos mightily convinced the Jews, showing them from their scriptures that Jesus was their Messiah.

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