Acts Chapter 18 in Simple English

Updated on October 1, 2026

Read Acts Chapter 18

1After this Paul left Athens and came to Corinth.

2There he found a Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, who had lately come from Italy with his wife Priscilla. Claudius had commanded all Jews to leave Rome. Paul went to them,

3and because he had the same trade, he stayed with them and worked. By trade they were tentmakers.

4Every sabbath he reasoned in the synagogue, and tried to persuade both Jews and Greeks.

5When Silas and Timotheus came from Macedonia, Paul was pressed in the spirit, and he testified to the Jews that Jesus was Christ.

6But they set themselves against him and spoke evil. So he shook out his clothes and said to them, "Your blood be on your own heads. I am clean. From now on I will go to the Gentiles."

7He left that place and went into the house of a man named Justus, who worshipped God. His house was right next to the synagogue.

8Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his household. And many of the Corinthians who heard believed and were baptized.

9Then the Lord spoke to Paul in the night in a vision: "Do not be afraid. Speak, and do not keep silent."

10"For I am with you, and no one will attack you to hurt you. For I have many people in this city."

11So he stayed there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.

12When Gallio was the deputy of Achaia, the Jews rose up together against Paul and brought him to the judgment seat.

13They said, "This fellow persuades people to worship God in a way that is against the law."

14Paul was just about to open his mouth when Gallio said to the Jews, "If this were a matter of wrong or wicked crime, O you Jews, it would be reasonable for me to listen to you patiently."

15"But if it is a question about words and names and your own law, see to it yourselves. I will not be a judge of such matters."

16And he drove them away from the judgment seat.

17Then all the Greeks took Sosthenes, the chief ruler of the synagogue, and beat him in front of the judgment seat. And Gallio cared nothing about any of it.

18After this Paul stayed on there a good while longer. Then he said goodbye to the brothers and sisters and sailed from there to Syria, and Priscilla and Aquila went with him. He had cut off his hair at Cenchrea, for he had made a vow.

19He came to Ephesus and left them there. But he himself went into the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews.

20When they asked him to stay longer with them, he would not agree,

21but said goodbye to them: "I must by all means keep this feast that is coming in Jerusalem. But I will come back to you, if God wills." And he sailed from Ephesus.

22When he had landed at Caesarea, he went up and greeted the church, and then went down to Antioch.

23After he had spent some time there, he left and travelled from place to place through all the country of Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples.

24A Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He spoke well and was mighty in the scriptures.

25This man had been taught the way of the Lord. He was fervent in the spirit, and he spoke and taught carefully the things of the Lord, though he knew only the baptism of John.

26He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Aquila and Priscilla heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more perfectly.

27When he wanted to cross over into Achaia, the brothers and sisters wrote and urged the disciples to welcome him. When he arrived, he was a great help to those who had believed through grace.

28For he powerfully proved the Jews wrong, and did it publicly, showing from the scriptures that Jesus was Christ.

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Explanation

Acts 18

In short

Paul travels to Corinth, works as a tentmaker, and preaches in the synagogue. When Jewish opposition grows fierce, he turns to the Gentiles, but the Lord assures him through a vision that many people in the city will believe. After eighteen months of ministry and a hearing before the Roman governor, Paul sails onward, leaving behind two trusted companions who later help a gifted preacher named Apollos.

Context

This chapter follows Paul's time in Athens (17:16-34). Paul is now moving through the Mediterranean world, establishing churches and spreading news of Jesus. He travels alone to Corinth, a major Greek city, but soon meets other Jewish Christians there. The chapter covers his work in Corinth and his journey afterward to Syria and back through Ephesus, Caesarea, and Jerusalem, before settling in Antioch.

What the text says

Paul arrives in Corinth and meets Aquila and Priscilla, fellow Jews who have recently fled Rome because the emperor expelled all Jews (verses 1-2). Paul stays with them because they share his trade of tentmaking (verse 3). Each Sabbath he argues his case in the synagogue, persuading both Jews and Greeks (verse 4). When Silas and Timothy arrive from Macedonia, Paul becomes more urgent in his testimony that Jesus is the Messiah (verse 5). When the Jewish leaders oppose and insult him, he shakes out his garments and declares himself innocent of their blood, turning now to the Gentiles (verse 6). He moves to the house of a God-fearing man named Justus next door to the synagogue (verse 7). The synagogue leader Crispus and many Corinthians believe and are baptized (verse 8). The Lord appears to Paul in a night vision, telling him not to be afraid and to keep speaking, because the Lord is with him and has many people in the city (verses 9-10). Paul stays eighteen months teaching (verse 11). When the Roman governor Gallio arrives, the Jewish leaders bring Paul to court, accusing him of teaching people to worship contrary to the law (verses 12-13). Gallio refuses to judge religious matters, only legal ones, and dismisses the case (verses 14-16). Greeks then beat Sosthenes, the synagogue leader, but Gallio ignores this (verse 17). Paul later sails to Syria, taking Priscilla and Aquila with him; he has cut his hair as part of a vow (verse 18). They stop in Ephesus, where Paul reasons in the synagogue while Priscilla and Aquila remain (verses 19-20). Paul declines to stay longer, saying he must reach Jerusalem for a feast, but promises to return (verse 21). He goes to Caesarea, greets the church, then travels to Antioch (verse 22). After some time he travels through the regions of Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening believers (verse 23). Meanwhile, Apollos, an eloquent and knowledgeable Jew from Alexandria, arrives in Ephesus (verse 24). Though he knows only John's baptism, he is eager to teach about the Lord (verse 25). Priscilla and Aquila hear him, take him aside, and explain the faith more completely (verse 26). The believers write letters urging the Corinthians to receive him (verse 27). Apollos powerfully refutes the Jews publicly by showing from Scripture that Jesus is the Messiah (verse 28).

Takeaways

God's encouragement can come even when opposition is strongest, shifting Paul's focus from those who reject to those who will listen.
Ordinary work like tentmaking enabled Paul to live where he could preach, and friendships made through that work became lasting partnerships in the faith.
A person can be knowledgeable and eloquent yet still benefit from fuller teaching, as Apollos learned from Priscilla and Aquila.

Acts 18 - Simple English