Acts 18:1-28
Acts 18:1-3:
18:1After these-things, having been separated
from Athens, he went into Corinth, .2and having found
some Judean, Aquila by-name, a Pontusian by genus, recently having
come2 from Italy, and Priscilla his wife – because-of
the-thing (which) Claudius throughly-arranged2
(for) all the Judeans to be separated from Rome – he
came-towards them, .3and because-of being like-crafted he
remained with them and he worked, for they were tent-makers by
craft.
After Paul was parted out-from Athens, he went westward into Corinth.
Corinth was at that time a large city and the political capital of
Greece in the region of Achaia where the Roman proconsul officiated. It
was at the west end of the isthmus with two harbors, Lechaeum and
Cenchrea, and was therefore a busy trade route with many people passing
through it. Paul arrived there about 52 AD and stayed for about 18
months.
In Corinth he found a Judean named Aquila who was born in Pontus and who
had come away-from Italy a short time before this with his wife
Priscilla because of an edict which Claudius the Roman Emperor had made
that all the Judeans must leave Rome. Paul went towards them and he
remained with them in their home because both he and Aquila were of
similar craft (skill, trade, art, occupation) and they worked together
being tent-makers (using leather or cloth of goats' hair or linen; some
scholars suggest that they were saddle-makers).
Paul had not found them so that he could get a 'free-ride' or a
'free-ticket' or a 'free-breakfast, lunch and dinner' or so that he
would not have to pay any rent charges, etc, etc, etc. No! The great
Apostle Paul worked. He earned his stay in their house and he did not
abuse their hospitality.
[Reference: Romans 16:3-5; I Corinthians 1:2, 4:12, 16:19; II Corinthians
1:1; II Timothy 4:19.]
Verses 4-6:
.4But he throughly-spoke in the synagogue
according to every sabbath – he persuaded both Judeans and Greeks.
.5And as both Silas and Timothy came-down from Macedonia
Paul held-together with the word throughly-witnessing Jesus to be
the Christ to the Judeans, .6but (during) their
arranging-themselves-against (him) and blaspheming, having
shaken-out-from-himself the outer-garments, he said towards them,
"Your blood (is) on your head – I (am) clean;
from-now-on I will journey into the Gentiles."
Every sabbath Paul throughly spoke (conversed or discussed thoroughly,
had dialogue) with those in the synagogue persuading (convincing) both
Judeans and Greeks (Hellenists) who attended. Silas and Timothy had not
joined up with him yet from Berea in Macedonia, since he had left Athens
before they arrived there (refer to Acts 17:13-16).
Then when Silas and Timothy arrived (bringing supplies to Paul so that he
could spend more time teaching people and he did not need to spend so
much time working to earn his keep, etc), Paul held everything he was
teaching with/by God’s Word (his whole discourse was confined, pressed
or held-fast in conjunction with the spoken account) bearing complete
witness (fully affirming, testifying through the entire subject,
thoroughly making known the information and knowledge that he had) to
the Judeans that Jesus is the Christ (that the "Jesus" he is
talking about is the Messiah, the Anointed-one, whom they ought to have
been waiting for with anticipation and ready to believe what God said
regarding him).
But while the Judeans were arranging themselves against Paul (putting
themselves in order opposing him) and actively blaspheming (speaking
evilly, calumniating, treating God and the things of God which Paul was
speaking about with lack of Godly reverential respect), he shook out his
outer-garments from himself (he shook part of his clothing such as the
folded cloth worn around the neck down over the chest made to contain
little items, and so he symbolically emptied it out as emptying them
out, and this may also have included shaking the border on his robe
which indicated his authority as one who speaks for God) thereby
demonstrating his confirmation of the statement made by him, which was
that:
-
"your
blood is down-on your head (meaning that all of these Judeans' lives
united as one blood is pressed down on all of them as one head; they
bring about their own death and they themselves are completely
responsible for it; their lives will issue in death both physically
and spiritually because they willingly refused to believe what God
has given them to believe regarding the Lord Jesus Christ so that
they could receive eternal life which is God's gift of holy spirit);
-
I am
clean (I am free from any mixture of your blood, from everything
that would change or corrupt me in this respect);
-
from
this present time onwards, I will journey into (directed to) the
Gentiles (people belonging to nations other-than Israel/Judah here
in Corinth)."
The word “blood” is sometimes used literally as the blood in a fleshy
body; and it is also used to represent life, soul, natural man and his
abilities and descent, or the shedding of blood, or the guilt and
penalty of causing death, murder, or the consequences of the loss of
physical life, or what is red in color. Here, Paul is letting them know
plainly that he is free from any responsibility whatsoever regarding
what will happen to those Judeans who willingly refuse to believe God's
words regarding the Lord Jesus Christ which Paul was teaching to them.
They have no excuse before God or the Lord Jesus Christ! We should
understand that Paul was specifically speaking to those Judeans who did
not believe there in Corinth.
[Reference: Nehemiah 5:13; Acts 13:46, 20:26; II Corinthians 11:9; I
Thessalonians 3:6.]
Verses 7 and 8:
.7And having departed from-there he went into
(the) house of someone, Titius Justus by-name, reverencing
God, whose house was bordering-together with the synagogue; .8and
Crispus the chief-of-the-synagogue believed the Lord together with
his whole house, and many of the Corinthians hearing believed and
were baptized.
After Paul departed (moved out, changed his direction) from that place,
he went into Titius Justus' house. Titius (or ‘Titus’ in some Greek
texts) Justus was a man who reverentially respected the only true God,
and his house was joined next to the synagogue, so Paul preached there
instead of the synagogue.
Then Crispus, who was the ruler or presiding elder of the synagogue,
heard what Paul was teaching and he believed regarding the Lord Jesus
Christ, plus all the members of his household believed also.
In addition, many of the Corinthians who listened to the words that Paul
spoke believed what he said, and all those who believed were baptized in
holy spirit-life. They became children of God by receiving the spirit of
Christ within them.
[Reference: Acts 1:5 and 8, 2:1-4, 11:16; I Corinthians 1:14, 12:13.]
Verses 9-11:
.9But the Lord said to Paul in (the)
night by means of a seen-object, "You must not be fearful
but you must utter-forth and let you not be silent
.10for-this-reason-that I am with you, and
not-one-person will put-himself-on you to treat you
badly for-this-reason-that there is much people for me in this
city." .11And he sat-down a year and six months teaching
the word of God among them.
The Lord Jesus Christ had not forgotten about Paul – he wanted Paul to
know something from his point of view, and therefore Paul wouldn't
become confused or anything else regarding what he was supposed to do
next. The Lord spoke to Paul during the night through a seen-object –
God's Word does not say that it was a dream. Paul was awake at this time
and the Lord presented an object to be seen by him so that he would see
and perceive and know what the Lord intended to communicate and
make-known to him.
The Lord told Paul: "You must not be afraid, but contrary to being
fearful, you must speak and let you not be silent (not keep silence, not
stop speaking)…." The usages of “let you” is a polite command or a very
strong suggestion advising Paul not be silent, plus he used a figure of
speech “speak – not be silent” to emphasize what he is telling Paul
because when Paul would speak then he would not be silent.
Then the Lord Jesus Christ gives Paul the reason why he was to speak:
"…on this account that emphatically I (emphasis is placed on “I” by
putting the word for "I" separately from the verb – I myself) am in
company and association with you. Also no-one will put himself (place,
set, lay a hand) on you for the purpose of treating you badly (to
inflict and affect you with badness) on this account that there is a lot
of people for me in this city (Corinth)."
As a result of what the Lord Jesus Christ told Paul, Paul sat down
(stayed, settled temporarily) in Corinth for a year and six months more
teaching the Word of God among the people. He spent this time
instructing the people regarding God’s Word, not something else.
Also, it was during his period of time in Corinth that Paul wrote his
letters which we call "I Thessalonians" and "II Thessalonians," and
perhaps the Book of "Hebrews".
[Reference: Acts 9:3-6, 16:9, 22:17-21, 23:11; II Thessalonians 3:2.]
Verses 12-17:
.12But Gallio being proconsul of Achaia, the
Judeans like-mindedly stood-against Paul and they led him on the
judgment-seat .13saying that, "This-person up-persuades
the men to reverence God against the law." .14But Paul
being about to open (his) mouth, Gallio said towards the
Judeans, "If indeed it was some unrighteousness or evil
recklessness, oh Judeans, according to a word I should
hold-myself-up with you, .15but since there are seekings
concerning a word and names and law, the (law) according to
you, you yourselves will see – I do not
deliberately-determine to be a judge of these-things"; .16and
he drove them away-from the judgment-seat. .17But
all-people having taken-hold-on Sosthenes, the
chief-of-the-synagogue, beat (him) in-front-of the
judgment-seat, and nothing of these-things was-a-concern for Gallio.
While Gallio (brother of Seneca the philosopher) was the proconsul of
Achaia (the area in which the city of Corinth was located, he was
proconsul between 52 and 54 AD), the Judeans who did not believe what
Paul was teaching like-mindedly (passionately of the same mind,
unanimously) stood firm in a hostile manner against Paul. Then they
brought him down to the judgment-seat. A “judgment-seat” is a step or
raised-platform or tribune reached by steps, a judicial bench, an area
where someone, such as the Roman proconsul, would speak-from to the
assembly of people present because he is the one doing the judging, the
decision-making regarding those in front of him.
Their accusation was that Paul was adversely persuading men (convincing
people, stirring them up by persuasion, moving them) to reverence God
against the law (to reverentially respect God in a manner which is
contrary to the law).
But just as Paul was on the point of opening his mouth to speak, Gallio
said to the Judeans, “If indeed it was concerning some unrighteousness
(injustice, unjustness, wrong-doing) or evil recklessness (actively
malignant work of mischief), oh Judeans, according to reason (logically)
I would hold myself up with you (put up with, endure and sustain you in
this matter). But since there are seekings (it is regarding topics of
inquiry, actions of seeking after something, questions, looking for
answers, searches, inquiries, quests) concerning…
- a
word (a spoken account, an uttered statement)
- and
names (such as Jesus and Christ)
- and
law, emphatically the law according to you (your own law, not a Roman
law of the land),
…you yourselves will see (refer to the consequences of your own actions,
you deal with this yourselves) – emphatically I do not purposefully will
to be a judge (to be the one presiding and making the decision)
pertaining to these-things.”
Then Gallio drove them away from his presence on the judgment-seat.
What did the Judeans do then? All of them took hold on (seized) Sosthenes
who had become the chief of the synagogue (he had replaced Crispus after
Crispus had believed God's Word pertaining to the resurrected Christ
Jesus and thus had become a holy-person, a Christian; refer to verse 8
above). Sosthenes was their leader in this attempt against Paul but he
had failed. Then they beat (struck) him in front of the judgment seat.
However, none of these-things was a concern for Gallio (beating Sosthenes
was not an object of care or interest to Gallio, what the Judeans did
amongst themselves caused him no thought whatsoever).
[Sosthenes later believed regarding the Lord Jesus Christ and he became a
holy-person, just like Crispus did; refer to I Corinthians 1:1.]
Verses 18-23:
.18But Paul yet having remained sufficient days
with the brothers, having arranged-himself-away-from (them),
sailed-out (to go) into Syria, and Priscilla and Aquila
(were) together with him, having sheared (the hair of his)
head in Cenchrea for he had a (vowed) prayer. .19And
they came-down into Ephesus and he left those-people down there; but
he, having gone into the synagogue, throughly-spoke with the
Judeans. .20But
(during) their asking (him) to remain on more time, he
did not nod-assent; .21but having
arranged-himself-away and having said, "Again I will bend-upwards
towards you (during) God's intending," he was led-up (by
ship) from Ephesus. .22And having gone-down into
Caesarea, having ascended and having greeted the church, he
descended into Antioch, .23and having done some time, he
went-out successively going-through the Galatian country and Phrygia
fully-setting-fast all the learning-disciples.
Paul still stayed enough (a sufficient amount of) days after that with
the brothers in Corinth. The “brothers” refer to those who believed the
Word of God that Paul was teaching regarding the Lord Jesus Christ and
therefore received the gift of holy spirit. They were brothers in the
spirit category; they were holy-people.
Then Paul made arrangements for himself to leave and he sailed out from
the port east of Corinth called Cenchrea with the intention of
eventually arriving back into Syria where he began this journey. Before
Paul left, he cut-off the hair of his head in Cenchrea to demonstrate
his accomplishment of a commitment to a vow which he had previously made
before God in his prayer – he had accomplished what the Lord Jesus
Christ had asked him to do in Corinth. This vow could only be
ceremonially completed in the temple in Jerusalem, and Paul wanted to
have this finished in time for the Feast of Tabernacles held in
Jerusalem in September, 53 AD (refer to the Book of Numbers chapter 6).
When Paul left the Corinthian area he took Priscilla and Aquila with him
(refer to verse 1 above) and together they came-down into Ephesus. Later
when Paul went away from Ephesus he purposefully left Priscilla and
Aquila behind there. However, while he was in Ephesus, Paul himself went
into the synagogue and throughly spoke (conversed or discussed
thoroughly, had dialogue) with the Judeans. These Judeans asked him if
he would stay a longer time in Ephesus but Paul did not give his
consent, but on the contrary, he made arrangements to leave after he
first told them that he will again bend-upwards towards them (meaning
that he would travel back again to them) at such time that it will be
God’s intention (His will) to do so. Then Paul went on the ship from
Ephesus and went-down into the port of Caesarea.
From Caesarea he went-up into Jerusalem (his fourth time to go there) for
the feast and his vow towards God was ceremonially fulfilled and
accomplished. There he greeted (saluted) the church (the holy-people in
Jerusalem), and left again heading back to Antioch in Syria.
Paul spent some time, about three months or more, in Antioch before he
set out on his third journey. As Paul went on this journey, he went
through the country of Galatia and Phrygia according to one town after
the next, fully-setting all the learning-disciples fast (establishing
them, firmly fixing every one of the students in the truth of God’s
Word) in these locations.
[Reference: Romans 16:1.]
Next our attention is turned to the city of Ephesus where Paul had
purposefully left Priscilla and Aquila to remain.
Verses 24-26:
.24But some Judean, Apollos by-name,
Alexandrian by genus, a wordy adult-male, came-down into Ephesus
being able in the writings. .25This-person was having
been resounded2 (concerning) the way of the Lord,
and boiling with spirit he uttered-forth and taught accurately
the-things concerning Jesus, well-knowing only John's baptism;
.26and this-person began to boldly-speak in the synagogue, but
having heard him Priscilla and Aquila took him towards-themselves
and they expounded the way of God more-accurately to him.
Some Judean man named Apollos, an Alexandrian by race (Alexandria in
Egypt, northern Africa), came down into the city of Ephesus. He was
"wordy" meaning that he was well-learned in words and could thus speak
very well; and he was able (capable, he had ability, he was dynamic) in
the writings (the scrolls, the scriptures available at that time, the
old covenant writings).
Also, he had been resounded (orally taught, words sounding into his ears,
informed by word of mouth by someone preaching to him) and he remained
informed concerning the way (the manner of action, method of proceeding)
of the Lord, which is what John the baptizer (the baptist) had preached
during his ministry.
Apollos was boiling with spirit (he was fervent or hot, actively being
lively and energetic and giving it everything he could physically; this
is not referring to holy spirit-life because he did not have it at that
time) and he spoke and taught (instructed) the people in Ephesus
accurately (exactly, precisely) the-things about Jesus (what was written
in the scriptures about Jesus and what John the baptizer had taught
people; refer to Mathew chapter 3, Mark 1:4-11, Luke 3:15-18, and John
1:6-36).
Apollos was only well-knowing (being aware of, setting or fixing his mind
upon) John's baptism, which was washing with physical water (H2O). This
tells us that Apollos did not teach about baptism in holy spirit. He did
not know about the day of Pentecost and how God by means of the Lord
Jesus Christ shed forth holy spirit-life! Even though Apollos knew the
writings extensively, he had not yet learned the fullness of what God
and the Lord Jesus Christ brought to pass and which was made available
to/for mankind. He did not know details about the gift of holy spirit
being given on the day of Pentecost (Acts chapter 2) nor did he know
about its manifestation.
Apollos then started to speak openly and freely within the synagogue, and
all he was able to teach or speak was what he already knew. But after
Priscilla and Aquila (refer to verses 2 and 18 above) heard him in the
synagogue (which is where they went to hear and teach the Word of God
which they had already learned from Paul), they took Apollos to
themselves (received him aside from others, perhaps into their house),
and they expounded the way of God (they put or set out God's way of
proceeding, His road, the action that God purposed and accomplished by
means of Jesus) more exactly to him than what he already knew.
Priscilla and Aquila taught Apollos what they had learned from the
Apostle Paul which included not only the scrolls and what the Lord Jesus
Christ did while he was on earth, but it also included what happened
when God raised him from the dead, when God made him to sit at His
right-hand side, when God gave him the power to shed forth holy
spirit-life on the day of Pentecost, when the apostles on that day spoke
with tongues for the first time, how both the Judeans and the Gentiles
can believe what God has given to be believed regarding Himself and His
son, the Lord Jesus Christ, and receive the gift of holy spirit,
regarding the manifestation of holy spirit, that all the holy-people are
brothers in Christ, that all the brothers are members of the one body of
Christ, that Christ will come and gather all Christians together and
then the wrath will begin but not before then, etc, etc!
We should also note that the Word of God does not tell us that Apollos
got angry with them because they knew more than he did! No! Apollos was
a humble man who wanted to learn the way of God more accurately than he
had previously known. Also, how Godly-loving and kind it was for
Priscilla and Aquila to take the time to expound God's Word more
accurately to him; they did not think that they had something ‘better’
to do that afternoon!
[Reference: Acts 19:1-7; Romans 12:11; I Corinthians 1:12, 3:4-7 and
21-23, 4:6, 16:12; Titus 3:13.]
Verses 27 and 28:
.27And (during) his
deliberately-determining to go-through into Achaia, the brothers,
having turned (him) forward, wrote to the learning-disciples
to accept him, who having arrived he threw-together with much of the
(people) having believed2 by means of the grace,
.28for, stretching-well to the Judeans, he
throughly-refuted publicly pointing-upon Jesus to be the Christ by
means of the writings.
Afterwards, while Apollos was purposefully willing to go through into
Achaia (where Corinth was the main city and Paul had spent time there,
see verses 1-18 above), the brothers (referring to the holy-people) in
Ephesus helped him by turning him forward (urging him onwards in his
plans), and they wrote a letter to the learning-disciples (students) in
Achaia to accept him, (to fully welcome him with open-arms, willingly
receive or take him to themselves). Apollos had no reason to feel
embarrassed – on the contrary, he now knew more than he knew before he
came to Ephesus and he had become a holy-person (a person with the
spirit of Christ within him).
When Apollos arrived in Achaia he threw himself together with (he
consulted with, conferred his learning on, helped) many of the people
who had already believed God's Word by means of the grace of God. It was
by grace that they heard God's Word in order to believe it, and it was
by grace that God gave them the gift of holy spirit by means of the Lord
Jesus Christ. It was by God's bestowing of unmerited favor towards them
that they had previously become children of God. Apollos helped these
believers, his brothers, greatly.
In truth, Apollos helped by stretching-well (extending himself intensely)
to the Judeans and refuted thoroughly and publicly (he fully confuted
with discussions and did not hide away somewhere) actively pointing upon
(exhibiting, displaying, as pointing out with his finger) by means of
the writings (the scrolls, the scriptures which were available at that
time) that Jesus is the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed-one
whom the Judeans ought to have been waiting for and expecting and
jumping-with-joy on knowing that he has indeed redeemed mankind). Paul
had previously been teaching that Jesus is the Christ in Corinth in
verse 5 above.
[Reference: I Corinthians 3:4-17. Note: verbs with a superscript 2 (2)
immediately following them indicate the "perfect" tense - details are
provided in the "Relevant Notes" link of this study.]
