Acts 18 · The Lantern

Paul Ministers in Corinth

And after these things, having departed from Athens, he came to Corinth.

And having found a certain Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, recently having come from Italy, and Priscilla his wife — because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to depart out of Rome — he came to them;

"And having found a certain Jew named Aquila, of Pontus by birth, lately come from Italy"--for the greater part of his life had been passed there--"and Priscilla his wife, because that Claudius had commanded all the Jews to depart from Rome." For though it was in the reign of Nero that the war against the Jews was consummated, yet from the time of Claudius and thenceforward it…

Because Claudius had commanded all Jews to depart from Rome. Josephus narrates that this happened in the ninth year of Claudius. Suetonius the historian reports it in this way: Claudius expelled the Jews from Rome, as they were continually making disturbances at the instigation of Chrestus.

"Because Claudius had commanded." Under Nero, Paul reached perfection, and under Claudius a war was kindled against the Jews, and they, as dangerous people, were expelled from Rome. Therefore Providence arranged that he was brought there as a prisoner, so that he would not be expelled as a Jew.

and because of being of the same trade, he was staying with them and was working; for they were tentmakers by trade.

But the tents can be referred to perfect souls, to which the name Israel too fits, from seeing God. But these tents are, he says, "like shady groves, and like gardens beside rivers, and like the tents which the Lord has pitched." Therefore he shows that there are other tents which the Lord has pitched, to which the tents of Israel are like.

[Paul] has repeatedly said of himself that he was working with his own hands so as not to burden anyone, and it is written of him that he joined with Aquila because of the similarity of their handicraft, so that they might work together to maintain a livelihood.

"Because of the sameness of their trade, he stayed with them and worked." He stayed because he found lodging with them convenient, since it was for him more comfortable than many royal chambers, just as for an athlete the arena is more useful than soft carpets, and for a soldier an iron sword is necessary, not a golden one.

And he was reasoning in the synagogue on every Sabbath, and was persuading both Jews and Greeks.

And when both Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia, Paul was occupied with the word, earnestly testifying to the Jews that Jesus is the Christ.

But when they were opposing and denigrating him, having shaken out his garments, he said to them, “Your blood be upon your own head. I myself am clean. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.”

And having departed from there, he entered into the house of a certain one named Titius Justus, worshiping God, whose house was adjoining the synagogue.

And Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed in the Lord with all his household; and many of the Corinthians, hearing, were believing and were baptized.

And the Lord said to Paul in the night through a vision, “Do not fear, but keep speaking and do not be silent,

because I myself am with you, and no one will lay a hand on you to harm you; because I have many people in this city.”

And he remained a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.

Paul before Gallio

But when Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews rose up with one accord against Paul and led him to the judgment seat,

saying that, “This man persuades men to worship God contrary to the law.”

And when Paul was about to open his mouth, Gallio said to the Jews: “If indeed it were some unrighteousness or wicked crime, O Jews, according to reason I would have borne with you;

but if it is questions about a word and names and a law of your own, you yourselves will see to it. I myself do not resolve to be a judge of these things.”

And he drove them from the judgment seat.

And having seized Sosthenes, the ruler of the synagogue, they were all beating him before the judgment seat; and none of these things was a concern to Gallio.

He taught them that such matters do not demand a judicial sentence, but they were doing everything out of order. And he does not say, "It is not my duty," but "I do not choose," so that they may not trouble him again. Thus Pilate said in the case of Christ, "Take him, and judge him according to your law." But they were just like drunkards and madmen.

And all of them seized Sosthenes, the ruler of the synagogue, and beat him before the tribunal. In Greek it is better written: And all the Greeks seized Sosthenes. For after the Jews were disgracefully expelled from the tribunal, the Gentiles also afflicted their leader with greater humiliation by beating him.

"And all the Greeks, having seized Sosthenes." As for the fact that they beat Sosthenes, this was either because he too, like Crispus the ruler of the synagogue, was more devoted to Paul, or they had already gone so far in their frenzy that, forgetting their plans, they began beating Sosthenes instead of Paul, or they beat him because they wanted to kill Paul, but Sosthenes did…

Paul Returns to Antioch

Now Paul, having remained many more days, having taken leave of the brothers, was sailing away to Syria — and with him Priscilla and Aquila — having shaved his head in Cenchrea, for he had a vow.

After his resurrection the Savior said to his disciples, "Go and make disciples of all nations." They to whom the command had been given knew that "God wants all people to be saved and to attain knowledge of the truth." Since the human race had been divided into two religious groups, Jews and pagans, a division of the heralds of the gospel was also made so that some were assign…

Paul again went down to Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila, having had his head shaved; for to have the head shaved according to a vow was Jewish. And a sacrifice was also to be offered, which, however, did not take place after Sosthenes had been blinded; for the law was already being set aside, since they were restrained by conscience. [DIDYMUS]

"He sailed to Syria, and with him Aquila and Priscilla, having shorn his head in Cenchrea." Since it seemed to the Jews that Paul was teaching apostasy from the law, and since many abhorred him and did not accept his preaching, both here and in the temple of Jerusalem he does this with a lofty purpose.

And they came to Ephesus, and he left them there. But he himself, having entered into the synagogue, reasoned with the Jews.

And when they were asking him to remain for a longer time, he did not consent,

but having taken leave and having said, “Again I will return to you, God willing,” he sailed from Ephesus.

"And Paul departed from Ephesus and went down to Caesarea," etc. Walking out of there, Paul came down to Caesarea, where he saluted the congregation of the church. Then he left for Antioch and, after staying there for some time, traveled through the countries of Galatia and Phrygia, confirming all the disciples, so that they should continue in the rules they had received.

He departed from Ephesus, and descending, he went up to Caesarea and greeted the church. He says Caesarea, the metropolis of Cappadocia. For he had not yet come to Syria of Phoenicia. Formerly called Mosacha from Mosoc, the son of Japheth, later it received the name Caesarea from Caesar Augustus.

"I will return to you again." Being a prophet and knowing that he was to return, Paul gave a promise to return again to Ephesus.

And having landed at Caesarea, having gone up and having greeted the church, he went down to Antioch.

Paul’s Third Missionary Journey Begins

And having stayed some time, he went forth, passing successively through the Galatian region and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples.

Now a certain Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, an eloquent man, came to Ephesus, being mighty in the Scriptures.

He was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit, he was speaking and teaching earnestly the things concerning Jesus, knowing only the baptism of John.

Speaking somewhat accurately the things concerning Jesus is not different from laying out somewhat accurately the things concerning the way, the teaching of Christ, for it is possible that someone, having a generally precise knowledge about the things of Christ, needs a most nuanced explanation of them.

"This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the Spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John." If this man knew only the baptism of John, how is it that he was "fervent in the Spirit," for the Spirit was not given in that way?

"though he only knew the baptism of John." It is worth asking how, if he knew only John's baptism, he could therefore be filled with the Spirit. For the Spirit was not given in that way. And if those who came after him needed John's baptism, much more would this man have needed it. What then is one to say? For he did not simply place both in succession.

And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue. But having heard him, Priscilla and Aquila took him to themselves and expounded to him the way of God more accurately.

It must be noted that we must believe that women passed on the faith: see how completely desirous of salvation Apollos was, for even though he was an educated man and was well versed in the Scripture's secrets, he did not consider it worthless to learn the fullness of the faith from a woman.

"And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly." It was not for nothing that Paul left them at Ephesus, but for Apollos' sake, the Spirit so ordered it, that he might come with greater force to the attack upon Corinth.

If Apollos was baptized only with the baptism of John, then how did he burn with the Spirit? The Holy Spirit was not communicated in that manner. And if his followers needed the baptism of Christ, then he himself needed it all the more. So what shall we say to this?

And when he was resolving to pass through into Achaia, the brothers, having encouraged him, wrote to the disciples to welcome him; who, having arrived, helped greatly those having believed through the grace.

For he was powerfully refuting the Jews publicly, showing through the Scriptures that Jesus is the Christ.

For all things are placed under Thee as their Cause and Author, as He who brought all things into being out of nothing, and gave to what was unstable a firm coherence; as the connecting Band and Preserver of that which has been brought into being; as the Framer of things by nature different; as He who, with wise and steady hand, holds the helm of the universe; as the very Princ…

For he strongly refuted the Jews, publicly showing through the Scriptures that Jesus is the Christ. In Greek, it is written: Publicly and from house to house showing; which is of an excellent teacher, thus to teach many generally, so as not to cease to exhort individuals vigorously.