Introduction
Paul preaches in Corinth (v 4).
He stays in Corinth for 18 months and then goes back to base in Antioch via Ephesus and Jerusalem.
Verses
1After these things Paul departed from Athens, and came to Corinth.
2He found a certain Jew named Aquila, a man of Pontus by race, who had recently come from Italy, with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to depart from Rome. He came to them,
3and because he practised the same trade, he lived with them and worked, for by trade they were tent makers.
4He reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath and persuaded Jews and Greeks.
5But when Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia, Paul was compelled by the Spirit, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ.
6When they opposed him and blasphemed, he shook out his clothing and said to them, “Your blood be on your own heads! I am clean. From now on, I will go to the Gentiles!”
7He departed there, and went into the house of a certain man named Justus, one who worshipped God, whose house was next door to the synagogue.
8Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed in the Lord with all his house. Many of the Corinthians, when they heard, believed and were baptised.
9The Lord said to Paul in the night by a vision, “Don’t be afraid, but speak and don’t be silent;
11He lived there a year and six months, teaching the word of God amongst them.
12But when Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews with one accord rose up against Paul and brought him before the judgement seat,
13saying, “This man persuades men to worship God contrary to the law.”
14But when Paul was about to open his mouth, Gallio said to the Jews, “If indeed it were a matter of wrong or of wicked crime, you Jews, it would be reasonable that I should bear with you;
15but if they are questions about words and names and your own law, look to it yourselves. For I don’t want to be a judge of these matters.”
16So he drove them from the judgement seat.
17Then all the Greeks seized Sosthenes, the ruler of the synagogue, and beat him before the judgement seat. Gallio didn’t care about any of these things.
18Paul, having stayed after this many more days, took his leave of the brothers, and sailed from there for Syria, together with Priscilla and Aquila. He shaved his head in Cenchreae, for he had a vow.
19He came to Ephesus, and he left them there; but he himself entered into the synagogue, and reasoned with the Jews.
20When they asked him to stay with them a longer time, he declined;
21but taking his leave of them, he said, “I must by all means keep this coming feast in Jerusalem, but I will return again to you if God wills.” Then he set sail from Ephesus.
22When he had landed at Caesarea, he went up and greeted the assembly, and went down to Antioch.
23Having spent some time there, he departed, and went through the region of Galatia, and Phrygia, in order, establishing all the disciples.
24Now a certain Jew named Apollos, an Alexandrian by race, an eloquent man, came to Ephesus. He was mighty in the Scriptures.
25This man had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus, although he knew only the baptism of John.
26He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. But when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside, and explained to him the way of God more accurately.
27When he had determined to pass over into Achaia, the brothers encouraged him, and wrote to the disciples to receive him. When he had come, he greatly helped those who had believed through grace;
28for he powerfully refuted the Jews, publicly showing by the Scriptures that Jesus was the Christ.
Questions
1. What did Paul do in Corinth every Sabbath?
v 4 He reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath and persuaded Jews and Greeks.
2. What stopped Paul teaching the Jews in Corinth and made him concentrate on Gentiles?
v 6 When they (the Jews) opposed him and blasphemed, ...
3. What was notable about Apollos?
v 24 Now a certain Jew named Apollos, an Alexandrian by race, an eloquent man, came to Ephesus. He was mighty in the Scriptures.
Summary Points
- v 1 to 11 Paul comes to Corinth. He preaches there for 18 months after being assured that God is with him. He starts in the synagogue, but moves to the house of Justus when the Jews oppose him. Many Jews and Gentiles are converted
- v 12 to 22 Unbelieving Jews continue to oppose Paul, but the proconsul Gallio dismisses their accusation against Paul. He continues to preach in Corinth before moving on, eventually arriving via Caesarea and Jerusalem back at Antioch.
- v 23 to 28 Paul starts his third major recorded journey and goes through Galatia and Phrygia strengthening the disciples. Apollos, a believing Jew from Alexandria comes to Ephesus preaching, but he doesn’t know the full gospel. Friends of Paul instruct him fully, and he proves a formidable preacher of the gospel
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