Acts 18

1 Paul then left Athens and went to Corinth

On leaving Athens, Paul next went to Corinth.

2 where he met a Jew named Aquila. Aquila was originally from Pontus, and had just arrived from Italy with his wife Priscilla because Claudius had ordered all Jews expelled from Rome. Paul went to see them,

There he met a Jew of the name of Aquila, from Pontus, who, with his wife Priscilla, had lately come from Italy, in consequence of the order which had been issued by the Emperor Claudius for all Jews to leave Rome. Paul paid them a visit,

3 and because they were in the same business of tent-making, he stayed with them.

and, since their trade was the same as his, he stayed and worked with them – their trade was tent-making.

4 He debated in the synagogue every Sabbath, convincing both Jews and Greeks.

Every Sabbath Paul gave addresses in the synagogue, trying to convince both Jews and Greeks.

5 When Silas and Timothy arrived from Macedonia, Paul felt he had to become more direct in what he said, and told the Jews that Jesus was the Messiah.

But, when Silas and Timothy had come down from Macedonia, Paul devoted himself entirely to delivering the message, earnestly maintaining before the Jews that Jesus was the Christ.

6 When they opposed him and cursed him, he shook out his clothes and told them, “Your blood is on your own heads! I am innocent of any guilt, and from now on I will go to the foreigners.”

However, as they set themselves against him and became abusive, Paul shook his clothes in protest and said to them, ‘Your blood be on your own heads. My conscience is clear. From this time forward I will go to the Gentiles.’

7 He left and went to stay with Titius Justus, who worshiped God and whose house was next door to the synagogue.

So he left, and went to the house of a certain Titius Justus, who had been accustomed to join in the worship of God, and whose house was next door to the synagogue.

8 Crispus, leader of the synagogue, believed in the Lord together with his whole household. Many of the people of Corinth who heard the message became believers and were baptized.

Crispus, the synagogue leader, came to believe in the Lord, and so did all his household; and many of the Corinthians, as they listened to Paul, became believers in Christ and were baptized.

9 The Lord told Paul in a vision at night: “Don't be afraid. Speak up, don't keep quiet—

One night the Lord said to Paul, in a vision, ‘Have no fear, but continue to speak, and refuse to be silenced;

10 because I am with you, and no-one will attack you, for many people in this city are mine.”

for I am with you, and no one will do you harm, for I have many people in this city.’

11 Paul stayed there for eighteen months, teaching the people the word of God.

So he settled there for a year and a half, and taught God’s message among the people.

12 However, during the time when Gallio was the governor of Achaia, the Jews united in an attack against Paul and brought him before the court.

While Gallio was governor of Greece, some of the Jewish leaders made a combined attack on Paul, and brought him before the Governor’s Bench,

13 “This man is persuading people to worship God illegally,” they declared.

charging him with persuading people to worship God in a way forbidden by the Law.

14 But just as Paul was about to defend himself, Gallio told the Jews, “If you Jews were bringing criminal charges or some serious legal offense, there would be a reason for me to listen to your case.

Just as Paul was on the point of speaking, Gallio said to them, ‘If this were a case of misdemeanour or some serious crime, there would be some reason for my listening patiently to you;

15 But since you're only arguing over words and names and your own law, then you deal with it yourselves. I won't rule on such matters.”

but, since it is a dispute about words, and names, and your own Law, you must see to it yourselves. I do not choose to be a judge in such matters.’

16 Then Gallio had them ejected from the court.

Saying this, he drove them back from the Bench.

17 Then the crowd turned on Sosthenes, the leader of the synagogue, and beat him right outside the court, but Gallio wasn't concerned about this at all.

Then they all set on Sosthenes, the synagogue leader, and beat him in front of the Bench, but Gallio did not trouble himself about any of these things.

18 Paul stayed on for a while. Then left the believers and sailed for Syria, taking Priscilla and Aquila along with him. He had his head shaved while in Cenchrae, because he had taken a vow.

Paul remained there some time after this, and then took leave of the followers, and sailed to Syria with Priscilla and Aquila, but not before his head had been shaved at Cenchreae, because he was under a vow.

19 They arrived in Ephesus, where Paul left the others behind. He went to the synagogue to reason with the Jews.

They put into Ephesus, and there Paul, leaving his companions, went into the synagogue and addressed the Jews.

20 They asked him to stay longer, but he refused.

When they asked him to prolong his stay, he declined, saying however,

21 He said his goodbyes, and set sail from Ephesus, telling them, “I'll come back and see you if it's God's will.”

as he took his leave, ‘I will come back again to you, please God,’ and then set sail from Ephesus.

22 After landing at Caesarea he went to greet the church members, and then carried on to Antioch.

On reaching Caesarea, he went up to Jerusalem and exchanged greetings with the church, and then went down to Antioch.

23 He spent some time there and then went from town to town through the region of Galatia and Phrygia, encouraging all the believers.

After making some stay in Antioch, he set out on a tour through the Phrygian district of Galatia, strengthening the faith of all the disciples as he went.

24 In the meantime a Jew named Apollos, originally from Alexandria, arrived in Ephesus. He was a gifted speaker who knew the Scriptures well.

Meanwhile there had come to Ephesus an Alexandrian Jew, named Apollos, an eloquent man, who was well-versed in the scriptures.

25 He had been taught the way of the Lord. He was spiritually passionate, and in his speaking and teaching he presented Jesus accurately, but he only knew about John's baptism.

He had been well-instructed in the Way of the Lord, and with burning zeal he spoke of, and taught carefully, the facts about Jesus, though he knew of no baptism but John’s.

26 He started speaking openly in the synagogue. So when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they invited him to join them and explained the way of God to him more fully.

This man began to speak out fearlessly in the synagogue; and when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him home and explained the Way of God to him more carefully still.

27 When he decided to go to Achaia, the brothers encouraged him, and wrote to the disciples there telling them to welcome him. When he arrived he was very helpful to those who through grace trusted God,

When he wanted to cross to Greece, the followers furthered his plans, and wrote to the disciples there to welcome him. On his arrival he proved of great assistance to those who had, through the loving kindness of God, become believers in Christ,

28 because he was able to strongly refute the Jews in public debate, demonstrating from the Scriptures that Jesus was the Messiah.

for he vigorously confuted the Jews, publicly proving by the scriptures that Jesus was the Christ.