Introductory remarks:
"In Corinth, Paul meets Roman refugees, Aquila and Priscilla, who are tentmakers, and he works with them. Paul is rejected in the synagogue. He visits Justus and the head of the synagogue. Crispus is converted and is baptized. God tells Paul in a vision to be bold, and he teaches there for a year and a half. The Jews bring Paul before Gallio, but he refuses to rule on matters of religious law. Paul sails to Ephesus with Priscilla and Aquila. He teaches in the synagogue and they ask him to stay, but he says he wants to attend the feast in Jerusalem. He teaches in Galatia and Phrygia. Apollos comes to Ephesus teaching of John the Baptist. Aquila and Priscilla give more information and he goes through Achaia teaching of Christ" (A Survey of Acts By Brenda).
This chapter may be outlined as follows: Paul at Corinth vv. 1-17; Paul's return to Antioch vv. 18-23; Apollos preaches at Ephesus vv. 24-28.
Paul at Corinth
Verse 1, "After these things Paul departed from Athens, and came to Corinth."
LGT "After these things, he having departed from Athens, came to Corinth."
The phrase after these things is referring to the events of chapter seventeen. "Corinth was probably the most wicked city of that day. It was the Hollywood and the Las Vegas of the Roman Empire. It was the place where you could go to live it up. Sex and drink and all other sensual pleasures were there. In Corinth today one can see the remains of a great Roman bath. That is where they went to sober up. In the distance is the temple that was dedicated to Aphrodite (or Venus) in which there were a thousand so-called vestal virgins. They were anything but virgins; they were prostitutes - sex was a religion. Corinth was one of the most wicked cities of the day. Also there were two tremendous theatres there. People came from all over the empire to the city of Corinth" (McGee).
Robertson notes on Corinth:
"Mummius had captured and destroyed Corinth B.C. 146. It was destroyed by Julius Caesar B.C. 46 as a boom town and made a colony. It was now the capital of the province of Achaia and the chief commercial city of Greece with a cosmopolitan population. It was only fifty miles from Athens. The summit of Acrocorinthus was 1,800 feet high and the ports of Cenchreae and Lechaeum and the Isthmus across which ships were hauled gave it command of the trade routes between Asia and Rome. The temple of Aphrodite on the Acrocorinthus had a thousand consecrated prostitutes and the very name Corinthianize meant immorality. Not the Parthenon with Athene faced Paul in Corinth, but a worse situation. Naturally many Jews were in such a mart of trade. Philippi, Thessalonica, Berea, Athens, all had brought anxiety to Paul. What could he expect in Licentious Corinth?"
Verse 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."
LGT "And having found a certain Jew, by name Aquila, of Pontus by race, lately come from Italy, and Priscilla his wife, because Claudius had ordered all the Jews to depart from Rome, he came to them."
Aquila and Priscilla had to leave Rome because Claudius Caesar had issued a decree that all the Jews had to leave Rome. Caesar issued this decree because the Jews that were living there were in constant turmoil that began after Christ was crucified. It had been issued because of the charge that Christ was the King of the Jews, and it naturally followed that all Jews were a threat to Caesar.
Verse 3, "And because he was of the same craft, he abode with them, and wrought: for by their occupation they were tent makers."
LGT "And because being of the same trade, he abode with them, and worked: for they were tent makers by trade."
It was easy for Paul to make an acquaintance with this couple because they worked at the same trade as Paul; they made the tents used by shepherds and travelers. "The apostle Paul was not ashamed of honest industry for livelihood; nor did he deem it any disparagement [ridicule] that a minister of the gospel should labor with his own hands" (Barnes). What a wonderful lesson for the so-called pastors of today, for 1) if they worked with their hands, they can appreciate the working class, and 2) every pastor I have been acquainted with has always paid special attention to the upper class because they were dependant upon the people for their income. A teacher should not depend on any one for their livelihood, because, like a politician, they would pander to the rich. If a teacher worked at an honest trade they would not need to trust any one except the God they preached.
Verse 4, "And he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks."
LGT "And he used discourse in the synagogue every Sabbath, and tried to persuade Jews and Greeks."
Paul went into the synagogue and disputed with the Jews, and reasoned with them out of their Scriptures. The literal translation is he tried to persuade both Jews and Greeks; that is, he taught them little by little, or as Isaiah put it, For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little (Isa. 28:10).
Verse 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."
LGT "And when both Silas and Timotheus came down from Macedonia, Paul was absorbed by the Word, earnestly testifying to the Jews Jesus to be the Christ."
The literal translation is Paul was absorbed by the Word; "He was relieved of anxiety by the arrival of his friends, and stimulated to greater activity in the work of preaching the word" (Vincent). Paul had sent for his friends when he was in Athens, and now they finally show up in Corinth.
Verse 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."
LGT "But as they set themselves in opposition, and were blaspheming, having shaken [his] garments, he said to them, Your blood [be] upon your head: I am pure: from henceforth I will go to the Gentiles."
The first phrase is literally, as they set themselves in opposition. "This was an organized and concerted effort that they oppose Paul's teaching" (Vincent). Having shaken his garments; This is the same as when the Jews blasphemed his teaching in Antioch, he and Barnabas shake the dust off of their sandals in a gesture of we have no more to do with you (Acts 13:51). Paul shakes off the dust from his garments for the same reason here. Paul did his duty as an apostle, and he says, I am pure that is, their destruction is their own, brought on by their own deliberate rejection. I will go to the Gentiles; "apparently it was at this time that Paul made the break that took him to the Gentile world" (McGee). Paul's ministry from this point on will be primarily to the Gentiles.
Verse 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."
LGT "And having departed thence, he entered into [the] house of a certain one by name Titus Justus, who worshipped the God, of whom the house was adjoining the synagogue."
Paul now enters into the house of a certain man, a Greek named Titus Justus, who gave up idols and worshipped the true God; Paul chooses his house because it is near the synagogue.
Verse 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."
LGT "But Crispus the ruler of the synagogue, believed in the Lord with his whole house, and many of the Corinthians hearing believed and were baptized."
Paul will spend about eighteen months in Corinth. With Silas and Timothy joining Paul here, there was a continual revival going on, with Crispus becoming a Christian, which would end his career in the synagogue. Paul establishes an assembly here in Corinth, this wicked city. "Perhaps the power of the gospel was never more signal than in converting sinners in Corinth, and rearing a Christian church in a place so dissolute [depraved and immoral] and abandoned. If it was adapted to such a place as Corinth; if a church, under the power of Christian doctrine, could be organized there, it is adapted to any city, and there is none so corrupt that the gospel cannot change and purify it" (Barnes).
Verse 9, "Then spake the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision, Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace."
LGT "And the Lord said by a vision in [the] night to Paul, fear not, but speak and be not silent,"
The Lord comes to Paul in a vision at night encouraging him to stop being afraid. Evidently there was a storm brewing in the synagogue, and Paul was used to the turmoil of hatred instigated by the Jews. The Lord urges Paul to speak and not be silent; Paul had misgivings as to whether or not he should leave, as he had to do at Damascus, Jerusalem, and Antioch in Pisidia, Iconium, Lystra, Derbe, Thessalonica, and Berea. Paul alluded to this situation when he says to the assembly at Corinth, and I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling (1 Cor. 2:3).
Verse 10, "For I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city."
LGT "Because I am with you, and no one shall set on thee to ill treat thee, because there is to Me much people in this city."
The Lord continues to shore up Paul's faith by telling him that He will be with him; and the reason that he wants Paul to stay and speak in this immoral city is that He has much people there. The Lord tells Paul that he need not fear for two reasons; 1) the Lord promised to be with Paul, and 2) the Lord had a mission in that corrupt city. The Lord wanted Paul to go out and gather together His people from among the masses to a family assembly, where they might gather together and learn Bible doctrine.
Verse 11, "And he continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them."
LGT "And he remained a year and six months, teaching among them the Word of God."
Paul was a true missionary; he gathered together believers, and then continued teaching them Bible doctrine. Paul's mission was to gather a family together and give them a solid foundation from the Word of God. The people, once established and grounded in Bible doctrine, would in turn go out and witness to the unbelievers the truth of the gospel.
Verse 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."
LGT "But Gallio, being proconsul of Achaia, the Jews rose up with one accord against Paul, and led him to the judgment seat."
Robertson notes on Gallio:
"Gallio was the brother of Seneca the Stoic (Nero's tutor) and uncle of Lucan the author of the Phasalia. His original name was M. Annaeus Novatus till he was adopted by Gallio the rhetorician. The family was Spanish. Gallio was a man of culture and refinement and may have been chosen proconsul of Achaia for this reason. Luke alone among the writers says that he was proconsul, but Seneca speaks of his being in Achaia where he caught fever, a corroboration of Luke. But now a whitish gray limestone inscription from the Hagios Elias quarries near Delphi (a letter of Claudius to Delphi) has been found which definitely names Gallio as proconsul of Achaia. The province of Achaia after various shifts (first senatorial, then imperial) back and forth with Macedonia, in A.D. 44. Claudius gave back to the Senate with proconsul as the title of the governor. It is amazing how Luke is confirmed whenever a new discovery is made."
And led him to the judgment seat; this is the second time these Jewish haters of the gospel haul Paul before a Roman proconsul, probably to charge him with disturbing the peace.
Verse 13, "Saying this fellow persuadeth men to worship God contrary to the law."
LGT "Saying, that contrary to the law this [man] persuades men to worship God."
Of course this time they charge Paul with teaching men to worship God contrary to the Law of Moses, not the Roman law, which forbade men to worship another God that they did not recognize, as they did in Thessalonica; there they accused him of treason. This accusation would hold no weight with Gallio; evidently Paul had been more careful in the way he presented himself.
Verse 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;"
LGT "But Paul, being about to open [his] mouth, Gallio said to the Jews, If indeed it was an act of injustice or some wicked criminality, O Jews, according to reason, I should have agreed with you,"
Before Paul could open his mouth in his own defense, Gallio vindicated him. Gallio said that he found no civil disobedience or act of lewdness, or any injustice committed by Paul, so he says that he could not agree with these Jews.
Verse 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."
LGT "But if it be a question about a word and names, and a law which [is] among you, you will see [to it] yourselves: I do not wish to be a judge of these things."
Gallio tells these Jews point blank that he would not judge for them matters of religion. He tells them in no uncertain terms that they need to handle these religious affairs themselves; now this is separation of church and state.
McGee notes:
"Gallio was a Roman magistrate and he was concerned with the enforcing Roman law. But when the case did not involve Roman law, he would not interfere. He told them to handle religious matters themselves. He adopted a hands off policy. I like Gallio. He separated church and state. He would not interfere with Paul preaching in the city of Corinth. Corinth was a city of freedom, including religious freedom. Since the issue had to do with religion, he asked them to settle it themselves."
Verse 16, "And he Drave them from the judgment seat."
LGT "And he drove them from the judgment seat."
As much as these Jews wanted to stay and argue their case further, this judge would not hear them; he made them go. Gallio said authoritatively, case dismissed!
Verse 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."
LGT "And all, having laid hold of Sosthenes, the ruler of the synagogue, they beat [him] before the judgment seat: and it mattered nothing to Gallio about these things."
The Greeks took Sosthenes, the leader of this Jewish revolt against Paul, and beat him before Gallio; and it says that Gallio cared not a wit for their actions, and would not meddle in their affairs. Robertson says that this is a beating Sosthenes richly deserved, and that it had a good effect, for he later becomes a Christian as his successor Crispus had become.
Paul's Return to Antioch
Verse 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."
LGT "But Paul yet having remained many days, having taken leave of the brethren, sailed away to Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila, having shorn [his] head in Cenchrea, for he had a vow."
Paul's design was to go to Jerusalem to keep the feast there. The vow Paul made is not recorded, but he did cut his hair in observance of it; some think that it was a vow of thanksgiving, and that it would be culminated in Jerusalem at the feast. Paul was not observing the Jewish ordinances in a legalistic manner; he did so in order that he might win the Jews. Paul never kept any of the Jewish ordinances in order to please God, but in order not to be shunned by the Jews. Paul had the liberty to make a vow, or to not make a vow; it was strictly his choice. Paul never taught that a man might be saved, or sanctified by keeping the Law.
Verse 19, "And he came to Ephesus, and left them there: but he himself entered the synagogue, and reasoned with the Jews."
LGT "And he came to Ephesus, and left them here; but he himself entered into the synagogue reasoned with the Jews."
Paul was forbidden to go to Ephesus on his departure, but now on his return he is allowed to come to Ephesus where he will spend three years after his return from Jerusalem. Paul leaves Priscilla and Aquila here in Ephesus. Paul enters the synagogue there and reasons with the Jews. You see Paul is keeping many of the Jews ordinances in order that they would receive him into their synagogues so that he might reason with them. He becomes as a Jew to win the Jew.
Verses 20, 21, "When they desired him to tarry longer time with them, he considered not; but bade them farewell, saying, I must by all means keep the feast that cometh in Jerusalem: but I will return again unto you, if God will. And he sailed from Ephesus."
LGT "And they asking [him] to remain with them for a longer time, he did not consent. But took leave of them, saying, I will return again unto you, God willing; he sailed from Ephesus."
Priscilla and Aquila desired that Paul tarry longer in Ephesus, he consented not, that is, he could not stay there any longer. Paul told them that he would return to them, if God willed to send him, and He did (chp. 19:1), and he remained there three years; the phrase "I must by all means keep the feast that cometh in Jerusalem" is not in the best manuscripts.
Verse 22, "And when he had landed at Caesarea, and gone up, and saluted the church, he went down to Antioch."
LGT "And having landed at Caesarea, and having gone up and having saluted the assembly, he went down to Antioch."
Paul went up from the ship he went and saluted, that is, he expressed his tender regard for them, the assembly at Jerusalem, and then went down to the assembly at Antioch, in Syria. "He went to Jerusalem and gave his report there. Then he went back up north to his home church, which was at Antioch. This concludes the second missionary journey" (McGee).
Verse 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."
LGT "And having stayed some time, he went forth, passing through the Galatian and Phrygian country in order, establishing all the disciples."
Paul spent some time going through the country he had passed through before, establishing the disciples, the learners, with more Bible doctrine. Paul begins this, his third missionary journey, alone.
Apollos Preaches at Ephesus
Verse 24, "And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures, came to Ephesus."
LGT "But a certain Jew, Apollos by name, an Alexandrian by birth, an eloquent man, came to Ephesus, being mighty in the Scriptures."
Apollos was a Jew with a Greek name, making him a Hellenist of the Diaspora. He was born in Alexandria, a great center of Greek culture. He was well educated in the Old Testament Scriptures, and a very eloquent man. It was here in Alexandria that the Greek translation of the Old Testament, the Septuagint was made. Tertullian, Athanasius, and Augustine, the great Catholic commentators of the early church came from there. It must be noted also that Origen was from the seminary in Alexandria, and he was the father of the allegorical interpretation of the scriptures; the other seminary of note in the early church was that in Antioch, which was known for its literal, historical, grammatical interpretation of the scriptures, which we hold to today; the Roman Catholic Church still holds to the allegorical interpretation.
Verse 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."
LGT "He was instructed in the way of the Lord, and being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things concerning the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John."
He was instructed by word of mouth, and what he taught, he taught accurately, however, he was only instructed as far as what John the Baptist had taught. He was fervent in spirit, meaning that he was eager to teach everything he knew about the Lord. "Apollos knew only what the Baptist knew when he died, but John had preached the coming of the Messiah, had baptized him, had identified him as the Son of God, had proclaimed the baptism of the Holy Spirit, but had not seen the Cross, the Resurrection of Jesus, nor the great Day of Pentecost" (Robertson).
Verse 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."
LGT "And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue. And Aquila and Priscilla having heard him, they took him to [them], and more accurately expounded the way of God to him."
Aquila and Priscilla had heard Apollos speaking in the synagogue and were impressed with his zeal, and that what he taught, he taught correctly; however they could see that he had not been taught the doctrines that Paul was teaching, and so they took him and began to teach him the deeper things of God more accurately, that is, more completely. Notice they didn't try and silence Apollos, for they saw that he was filled with the Holy Spirit, and that he was useful to the Lord. We all may take a lesson here in that we should encourage one another, and not take the upper hand and criticize mistakes of youth; we should share what we know of the Scriptures with one another.
Verse 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 believed through grace."
LGT "And he being minded to pass through into Achaia, the brethren wrote to the disciples, exhorting them to welcome him, who having arrived helped much those who believed through grace."
Apollos helped these grace believers very much; he encouraged them with the new doctrines he had just recently learned from Aquila and Priscilla.
Verse 28, "For he mightily convinced the Jews, and that publicly, showing by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ."
LGT "For he powerfully overwhelmed with his arguments publicly, showing by the Scriptures, Jesus to be the Christ."
Apollos was a powerful public speaker and he overwhelmed these Jews, overpowering their every argument, with the fact that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God. He proved by the Scriptures that Jesus was the Messiah. Apollos had not yet met Paul.
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