Bible Reading Plan

Psalms 127,128,129

Acts 18

Chapter 18

In Corinth

¹ After this, Paul left Athens^(a) and went to Corinth.^{(b) 2} There he met a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla,^(c) because Claudius^(d) had ordered all Jews to leave Rome. Paul went to see them, ³ and because he was a tentmaker as they were, he stayed and worked with them.^{(e) 4} Every Sabbath^(f) he reasoned in the synagogue,^(g) trying to persuade Jews and Greeks.

⁵ When Silas^(h) and Timothy⁽ⁱ⁾ came from Macedonia,^(j) Paul devoted himself exclusively to preaching, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Messiah.^{(k) 6} But when they opposed Paul and became abusive,^(l) he shook out his clothes in protest^(m) and said to them, "Your blood be on your own heads!⁽ⁿ⁾ I am innocent of it.^(o) From now on I will go to the Gentiles."^(p)

⁷ Then Paul left the synagogue and went next door to the house of Titius Justus, a worshiper of God.^{(q) 8} Crispus,^(r) the synagogue leader,^(s) and his entire household^(t) believed in the Lord; and many of the Corinthians who heard Paul believed and were baptized.

⁹ One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision:^(u) "Do not be afraid;^(v) keep on speaking, do not be silent. ¹⁰ For I am with you,^(w) and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city." ¹¹ So Paul stayed in Corinth for a year and a half, teaching them the word of God.^(x)

¹² While Gallio was proconsul^(y) of Achaia,^(z) the Jews of Corinth made a united attack on Paul and brought him to the place of judgment. ¹³ "This man," they charged, "is persuading the people to worship God in ways contrary to the law."

¹⁴ Just as Paul was about to speak, Gallio said to them, "If you Jews were making a complaint about some misdemeanor or serious crime, it would be reasonable for me to listen to you. ¹⁵ But since it involves questions about words and names and your own law^(aa)—settle the matter yourselves. I will not be a judge of such things." ¹⁶ So he drove them off. ¹⁷ Then the crowd there turned on Sosthenes^(ab) the synagogue leader^(ac) and beat him in front of the proconsul; and Gallio showed no concern whatever.

Priscilla, Aquila and Apollos

¹⁸ Paul stayed on in Corinth for some time. Then he left the brothers and sisters^(ad) and sailed for Syria,^(ae) accompanied by Priscilla and Aquila.^(af) Before he sailed, he had his hair cut off at Cenchreae^(ag) because of a vow he had taken.^{(ah) 19} They arrived at Ephesus,^(ai) where Paul left Priscilla and Aquila. He himself went into the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews. ²⁰ When they asked him to spend more time with them, he declined. ²¹ But as he left, he promised, "I will come back if it is God's will."^(aj) Then he set sail from Ephesus. ²² When he landed at Caesarea,^(ak) he went up to Jerusalem and greeted the church and then went down to Antioch.^(al)

²³ After spending some time in Antioch, Paul set out from there and traveled from place to place throughout the region of Galatia^(am) and Phrygia,^(an) strengthening all the disciples.^(ao)

²⁴ Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos,^(ap) a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus.^(aq) He was a learned man, with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures. ²⁵ He had been instructed in the way of the Lord, and he spoke with great fervor^[a](ar) and taught about Jesus accurately, though he knew only the baptism of John.^{(as) 26} He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila^(at) heard him, they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately.

²⁷ When Apollos wanted to go to Achaia,^(au) the brothers and sisters^(av) encouraged him and wrote to the disciples there to welcome him. When he arrived, he was a great help to those who by grace had believed. ²⁸ For he vigorously refuted his Jewish opponents in public debate, proving from the Scriptures^(aw) that Jesus was the Messiah.^(ax)