At Corinth, Paul lodges with Aquila and Priscilla, fellow tentmakers recently expelled from Rome, reasons in the synagogue every Sabbath, and when Jewish opposition intensifies, turns to Gentiles, shaking out his garments with blood-innocence declared. The Lord encourages Paul through a night vision to speak boldly since He has many people in the city, resulting in an eighteen-month ministry until Gallio the proconsul dismisses Jewish charges as matters of their own law. Sailing for Syria with Priscilla and Aquila, Paul leaves them at Ephesus, proceeds to Antioch via Caesarea and Jerusalem, while Apollos, an eloquent Alexandrian mighty in Scripture, receives fuller instruction from Priscilla and Aquila before powerfully refuting Jews publicly at Corinth.
Read Acts Chapter 18 Summary
Characters in This Chapter
Leader of early Jerusalem church
Apostle to the Gentiles, missionary
First Christian martyr
Tentmaker and Co-worker with Paul
Teacher and Co-worker with Paul
Missionary Companion of Paul
Son of God, Messiah, Savior
Eloquent Alexandrian Preacher
Author of the Gospel of Mark
Places in This Chapter
Athens was the intellectual capital of the ancient world, famous for its philosophers and the Areopagus. Paul visited Athens during his second missionary journey and delivered his famous sermon on Mars Hill, addressing the Athenians' altar to the "unknown god" and proclaiming the true God who raised Jesus from the dead.
Corinth was a wealthy Greek port city known for its commerce and notorious for its immorality. Paul spent 18 months there founding a church and later wrote two letters to the Corinthians addressing various problems in the congregation. The city had two harbors and was a crossroads of trade, making it strategically important for spreading the Gospel.
Ephesus was a major city in Asia Minor and home to the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world. Paul spent over two years there establishing a church that became influential throughout the region. The riot of silversmiths threatened Paul's life. The book of Ephesians and the letter to the church of Ephesus in Revelation were written to this congregation.
Caesarea Maritima was a grand Roman port city built by Herod the Great. Peter preached to the Roman centurion Cornelius here, opening Christianity to the Gentiles. Paul was imprisoned here for two years and made his defense before Felix, Festus, and King Agrippa.
Galatia was a region in central Asia Minor where Paul established several churches during his missionary journeys. He wrote the letter to the Galatians to combat the teaching that Gentile Christians must follow Jewish law, powerfully arguing that salvation comes through faith in Christ alone.
Position in Book
Macedonia, Athens, Corinth.
Bible Bites
The Gospel Spreads in 28 Chapters
The book of Acts contains 28 chapters chronicling the explosive growth of the early church from Jerusalem to Rome. Written by Luke as a sequel to his Gospel, it begins with 120 believers in an upper room and ends with Paul preaching boldly in the capital of the Roman Empire.
ActsThe narrator joins the story
In Acts 16:10, Luke suddenly switches from 'they' to 'we,' revealing he personally joined Paul's missionary journey. These 'we passages' (Acts 16, 20-21, 27-28) provide eyewitness accounts showing Luke was present for key events including Paul's shipwreck.
Acts 16:10