Summary
Acts 18:1–4 – Paul at Corinth
What happens:
Paul arrives in Corinth and stays with Aquila and Priscilla, who had recently left Italy. Because they are tentmakers, Paul works with them. He reasons in the synagogue every Sabbath, persuading Jews and Greeks.
What it means:
Paul models partnership in ministry by combining tentmaking with preaching. The gospel advances through relationships and marketplace witness, reaching both Jewish and Gentile listeners.
Acts 18:5–11 – Encouragement and Promise
What happens:
When Silas and Timothy arrive from Macedonia, Paul devotes himself fully to preaching, testifying that Jesus is the Messiah. Opposition from the Jews leads Paul to shake out his garments and declare that he will go to the Gentiles. The Lord appears to him in a vision, telling him not to be afraid but to keep speaking and that no one will harm him. Paul stays in Corinth for a year and a half, teaching the word of God.
What it means:
Divine reassurance sustains bold proclamation amid opposition. God’s guidance secures Paul’s mission among the Gentiles, demonstrating that obedience to the Spirit ensures both protection and effectiveness.
Acts 18:12–17 – Legal Conflict
What happens:
While Gallio is proconsul of Achaia, the Jews bring Paul before the tribunal, accusing him of persuading people to worship God in ways contrary to the law. Gallio, seeing it as a Jewish internal matter, refuses to judge and drives them off. The crowd then seizes Sosthenes, the synagogue leader, and beats him.
What it means:
Civil authorities can provide relief when they refuse to enforce religious disputes. God uses such moments to advance the church’s freedom and expose hostility without punitive power.
Acts 18:18–23 – Ministry in Ephesus and Return
What happens:
Paul, after staying some time, leaves Priscilla and Aquila in Corinth, sails to Syria with a vow fulfilled in Cenchreae, and returns to Antioch. From there he revisits Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples.
What it means:
Paul’s pattern of revisitation underscores the importance of follow-up in discipleship. Fulfilling personal commitments and strengthening existing communities are integral to sustained church health.
Acts 18:24–28 – Apollos in Ephesus
What happens:
A Jew named Apollos, an eloquent speaker from Alexandria, arrives in Ephesus knowing only John’s baptism. Priscilla and Aquila hear him and explain the way of God more accurately. Apollos then boldly speaks in the synagogue, refuting Jews with Scripture and proving that Jesus is the Messiah.
What it means:
Leaders benefit from mentoring to grow in doctrinal understanding. God equips gifted speakers to become even more effective when guided into fuller truth, empowering them to strengthen the church through Scripture.
Application
- Rely on marketplace partnerships to advance the gospel, integrating daily work with ministry
- Trust God’s protection and encouragement when facing opposition, continuing boldly in obedience
- Appreciate legal safeguards that allow the church to operate freely, praying for justice and relief
- Revisit and strengthen existing communities, recognizing that follow-up fosters lasting growth
- Mentor and be mentored in truth, helping leaders mature in their understanding and witness
