CHAPTER 18
About Aquila and Priscilla, the disobedience of the Corinthians, and the revelation to Paul of God's favorable intention toward them by foreknowledge; in which also concerning Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, who believed along with certain others and was baptized, and that when a disturbance arose in Corinth Paul withdrew, and having come to Ephesus and engaged in discussion he departed; concerning Apollos, a man learned and faithful.
Acts 18:1-8 After these things he departed from Athens and came to Corinth. And finding a certain Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had newly come from Italy, and Priscilla his wife (because Claudius had ordered all the Jews to depart from Rome), he came to them, and because they were of the same trade he stayed with them and worked; for they were tentmakers by trade. He reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and persuaded both Jews and Greeks. But when Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia, Paul was occupied with the word, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ. And when they opposed and blasphemed, he shook out his garments and said to them, “Your blood be upon your own head; I am clean. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.” And he left there and entered into the house of a certain man named Titius Justus, a worshiper of God, whose house was next to the synagogue. Crispus, the leader of the synagogue, believed in the Lord with all his household; and many of the Corinthians, hearing, believed and were baptized.
“ Your blood be on your own head .” This is what Paul says, casting off his garments, so that one should fear not only the word but the deed as well. Therefore, having said this more strongly, “ Your blood be on your own head ,” he departs from them. And he means this: each of those who apostatize from Christ, who is Life, seems to slay himself, passing from life into death, in a sense pouring out his own blood by the slaughter he brings upon himself. Therefore he says, “Instead of slaying yourselves through unbelief, you promise justice for this very thing, while I am innocent.” From this it is clear that the one who slays himself is punished as a murderer by God. [CHRYSOSTOM]
Acts 18:9-16 And the Lord spoke by night in a vision to Paul, “Do not be afraid, but speak and do not be silent; for I am with you, and no one will attack you to harm you, for there are many people in this city who belong to me.” He remained there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them. But when Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews rose up together against Paul and brought him before the tribunal, saying, “This man persuades people to worship God contrary to the law.” As Paul was about to open his mouth, Gallio said to the Jews, “If it were a matter of wrongdoing or wicked lawbreaking, O Jews, I would, according to reason, bear with you; but if it is questions about words and names and your own law, see to it yourselves; I do not wish to be a judge of these matters.” And he drove them away from the tribunal.
" by night in a vision ." It should be noted that Paul saw the Lord Jesus by a dream. Therefore, he himself said: Did I not see Jesus our Lord? Whether he saw Jesus in a dream, or saw him while awake, there is no difference; moreover he appeared to him also by day. [AMMONIUS]
Acts 18:17 Seizing Sosthenes the chief ruler of the synagogue, all the Greeks beat him before the judgment seat, and none of this mattered to Gallio.
Either for this reason they struck Sosthenes , since he too was more attached to Paul, as also Crispus the chief ruler of the synagogue; or they had been driven to such a degree of madness that, having failed in their purpose, instead of striking Paul they struck Sosthenes the chief ruler of the synagogue. Or: for this reason they struck him, because they were more eager to kill Paul, and Sosthenes prevented them. [AMMONIUS]
Acts 18:18 Paul, after remaining for several more days and taking leave of the brothers, sailed for Syria with Priscilla and Aquila; having his head shaved at Cenchreae, for he had a vow.
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]
Acts 18:19-21 They arrived at Ephesus, and he left those men there; he himself entered the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews. When they urged him to stay longer, he did not consent, but taking leave and saying, “If God wills, I shall return to you again,” he set sail from Ephesus.
He left Priscilla and Aquila in Ephesus, he said, [and did this with good reason], as if they were teaching there. For since they had been associated with him for so long, they had learned very many things; yet he had not been able to dissuade them from the Jewish custom. For this reason, when Paul was a prophet, and knew that he would return, he did not simply promise that he would return, but added, if God wills . Clearly teaching us not to promise anything about the future except by adding, if God wills . For no one knows what a coming day will bring forth. [CHRYSOSTOM]
Acts 18:22-28 And having gone down to Caesarea, and having gone up and greeted the church, he went down to Antioch, and after spending some time went out, passing successively through the region of Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples. Now there was a Jew named Apollos, of Alexandria by birth, an eloquent man, strong in the Scriptures. This man had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit he spoke and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus, though he only knew the baptism of John. He began to speak boldly in the synagogue; and when Priscilla and Aquila heard him they took him aside and explained the way to him more accurately. And when he was minded to pass over into Achaia, the brethren encouraged him and wrote to the disciples to receive him; who, on coming, greatly helped those who had believed through grace; for he vigorously refuted the Jews publicly, showing by the Scriptures that Jesus is the Christ.
Some say that this Apollo is the same as Apelles, the bishop of the Corinthians, about whom it is said elsewhere: “I planted, Apollos watered.” (1 Cor. 3:6) The man with the two names then either altered one of the names afterwards, or otherwise. [DIDYMUS]
“ 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. It therefore seems that this man is one of the one hundred and twenty who were baptized after the apostles. If not that, what happened in the case of Cornelius may have happened here as well. But he is not baptized. When this matter is examined precisely, it seems this is not the case, since he too ought to have been baptized. For the other twelve knew nothing precisely, not even about Jesus. It is plausible then that he was baptized. And if those of John, after the baptism, again baptized, then it was necessary for the disciples to do the same. [CHRYSOSTOM]
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Translator notes for Acts chapter 18.
1. Σεβομένους In biblical texts, this specific form often refers to "God-fearers" or "devout" individuals, specifically Gentiles who worshipped the God of Israel and frequented synagogues without fully converting to Judaism.
2. In history and administration, the word Pagarch refers to an important Byzantine office, primarily in Egypt.