Bullet Point Bible

Paul Arrives in Corinth, Meets Aquila and Priscilla

¹ After this Paul departed from Athens and went to Corinth.² There he found a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had ordered all the Jews to depart from Rome. Paul approached them,³ and because he worked at the same trade, he stayed with them and worked with them (for they were tent makers by trade).⁴ He addressed both Jews and Greeks in the synagogue every Sabbath, attempting to persuade them.

Paul moves from the intellectual center of Athens to the bustling commercial hub of Corinth, the capital of the Roman province of Achaia.
The expulsion of Jews from Rome under Emperor Claudius (c. AD 49) provides a key historical marker and explains the presence of Aquila and Priscilla in Corinth. Suetonius mentions disturbances among Jews concerning "Chrestus," likely referring to Christ.
Paul finds fellow believers and fellow tradespeople in Aquila and Priscilla, highlighting the importance of community and practical support in ministry. Their partnership becomes significant (Romans 16:3-4).
Paul's trade as a tentmaker (or leatherworker) allowed him financial independence, enabling him to preach without being a burden (1 Corinthians 9:1-18, 1 Thessalonians 2:9). This was common for rabbis and artisans.
Following his usual pattern, Paul begins his ministry in the local synagogue, engaging both Jews and God-fearing Gentiles ("Greeks") with the gospel message.
"Reasoned" (dielegeto) implies dialogue and persuasive argumentation based on the Scriptures, aiming to convince his listeners of Jesus' messiahship.

Ministry Focus Shifts, Opposition and Encouragement

⁵ Now when Silas and Timothy arrived from Macedonia, Paul became wholly absorbed with proclaiming the word, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ.⁶ When they opposed him and reviled him, he protested by shaking out his clothes and said to them, "Your blood be on your own heads! I am guiltless! From now on I will go to the Gentiles!"⁷ Then Paul left the synagogue and went to the house of a person named Titius Justus, a Gentile who worshiped God, whose house was next door to the synagogue.⁸ Crispus, the president of the synagogue, believed in the Lord together with his entire household, and many of the Corinthians who heard about it believed and were baptized.

The arrival of Silas and Timothy, likely bringing financial support from Macedonia (Philippians 4:15, 2 Corinthians 11:9), allows Paul to dedicate himself fully to preaching.
Paul's core message was testifying that Jesus is the promised Messiah (Christ), the fulfillment of Jewish hope based on the Old Testament.
Facing rejection and verbal abuse ("reviled") from the synagogue leadership, Paul makes a symbolic gesture ("shook out his garments") signifying his release from responsibility for their unbelief (cf. Nehemiah 5:13, Acts 13:51).
Paul declares his intention to shift his primary focus to the Gentiles in Corinth, a pattern seen elsewhere when Jewish opposition became entrenched (Acts 13:46).
Moving his base of operations next door to the home of Titius Justus, a God-fearer, strategically placed him near the synagogue while signaling his outreach to Gentiles.
Despite the official opposition, a significant conversion occurs: Crispus, the synagogue ruler, believes along with his household. This high-profile conversion likely encouraged Paul and angered his opponents. Paul later mentions baptizing Crispus himself (1 Corinthians 1:14).
Many other Corinthians, presumably both Jews and Gentiles who had been attending the synagogue, also believed and were baptized, indicating the start of the Corinthian church.

The Lord's Vision and Extended Ministry

⁹ The Lord said to Paul by a vision in the night, "Do not be afraid, but speak and do not be silent,¹⁰ because I am with you, and no one will assault you to harm you, because I have many people in this city."¹¹ So he stayed there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.

Amidst growing opposition (Acts 18:6) and perhaps Paul's own apprehension, Jesus directly encourages him through a vision. This divine intervention underscores the strategic importance of the Corinthian mission.
The command "{{Do not be afraid... speak and do not be silent}}" addresses Paul's potential fear of the hostile reaction he was experiencing.
The Lord assures Paul of His presence ("{{I am with you}}") and protection ("{{no one will attack you to harm you}}"), promising divine safeguarding despite the threats. This echoes God's promises to Old Testament prophets like Jeremiah (Jeremiah 1:8, 19).
The reason given for perseverance is God's sovereign purpose: "{{for I have many people in this city}}." This refers to those God had chosen who would yet respond to the gospel in Corinth.
This divine reassurance leads Paul to remain in Corinth for an extended period—eighteen months—establishing and strengthening the church. This became one of Paul's longest stays in any city during his missionary journeys.
Paul's primary activity during this time was "teaching the word of God," indicating systematic instruction foundational for the new believers.

Paul Before the Proconsul Gallio

¹² Now while Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews attacked Paul together and brought him before the judgment seat,¹³ saying, "This man is persuading people to worship God in a way contrary to the law!"¹⁴ But just as Paul was about to speak, Gallio said to the Jews, "If it were a matter of some crime or serious piece of villainy, I would have been justified in accepting the complaint of you Jews,¹⁵ but since it concerns points of disagreement about words and names and your own law, settle it yourselves. I will not be a judge of these things!"¹⁶ Then he had them forced away from the judgment seat.¹⁷ So they all seized Sosthenes, the president of the synagogue, and began to beat him in front of the judgment seat. Yet none of these things were of any concern to Gallio.

The mention of Gallio as proconsul is historically significant. An inscription found at Delphi helps date his term to approximately AD 51-52, providing a crucial anchor for Pauline chronology.
Jewish opponents escalate their attack, bringing Paul before the Roman provincial governor, accusing him of promoting an illegal religion ("contrary to the law"). They likely hoped Gallio would view Christianity as distinct from Judaism, which was a legally recognized religion (religio licita).
Gallio, however, dismisses the case before Paul even defends himself. He perceives the dispute as an internal Jewish theological matter concerning "words and names" (like 'Christ') and "your own law," not a violation of Roman law.
Gallio's refusal to judge demonstrates Roman legal practice, which generally did not interfere in the religious disputes of subject peoples unless public order or Roman law was breached.
His dismissal ("drove them from the judgment seat") effectively, though unintentionally, provided a measure of legal precedent or tolerance for Christian preaching within the province, fulfilling the Lord's promise of protection (Acts 18:10).
Frustrated, the crowd (likely Greeks, or perhaps even Jews angry at their leader's failure) seize Sosthenes, who had presumably replaced Crispus as synagogue ruler, and beat him. Sosthenes may later have become a believer (cf. 1 Corinthians 1:1).
Gallio's indifference ("paid no attention") to the beating highlights his detachment from the local religious conflicts, as long as they didn't disrupt Roman peace significantly.

Paul Departs Corinth, Travels to Ephesus and Syria

¹⁸ Paul, after staying many more days in Corinth, said farewell to the brothers and sailed away to Syria accompanied by Priscilla and Aquila. He had his hair cut off at Cenchrea because he had made a vow.¹⁹ When they reached Ephesus, Paul left Priscilla and Aquila behind there, but he himself went into the synagogue and addressed the Jews.²⁰ When they asked him to stay longer, he would not consent,²¹ but said farewell to them and added, "I will come back to you again if God wills." Then he set sail from Ephesus,²² and when he arrived at Caesarea, he went up and greeted the church at Jerusalem and then went down to Antioch.

Paul eventually leaves Corinth after a successful, lengthy ministry, taking Priscilla and Aquila with him.
At Cenchrea, the eastern port of Corinth, Paul cuts his hair due to a vow. This was likely a personal Nazirite-like vow (cf. Numbers 6:1-21), possibly made in gratitude for God's protection or guidance. Completing it required rituals at the Jerusalem Temple.
They sail across the Aegean Sea to Ephesus, a major city in the Roman province of Asia (modern-day Turkey). Paul leaves Priscilla and Aquila there, perhaps to begin establishing a Christian presence.
Paul briefly ministers in the Ephesian synagogue, finding an openness ("they asked him to stay longer") that contrasts with the initial reception in some other cities.
Despite the invitation, Paul feels compelled to continue his journey, likely towards Jerusalem to fulfill his vow and report to the church leadership. His departure includes a promise to return "if God wills," acknowledging divine sovereignty over his plans (cf. James 4:15). This sets the stage for his later extended ministry in Ephesus (Acts 19).
Landing at Caesarea Maritima, the main port of Judea, Paul "went up" (likely referring to Jerusalem) to greet the church there, before finally returning "down" to his home base in Antioch, Syria, concluding his second missionary journey.

Beginning the Third Missionary Journey

²³ After he spent some time there, Paul left and went through the region of Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples.

After a period of rest and reporting in Antioch, Paul embarks on his third missionary journey.
His initial route revisits churches established on his first journey, traveling overland through the regions of Galatia and Phrygia (parts of modern central Turkey).
The purpose of this part of the journey was pastoral: "strengthening all the disciples," encouraging and building up the believers in these existing congregations (cf. Acts 14:22, 15:41). This highlights the importance Paul placed on follow-up and discipleship.

Apollos Instructed in Ephesus

²⁴ Now a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, arrived in Ephesus. He was an eloquent speaker, well-versed in the scriptures.²⁵ He had been instructed in the way of the Lord, and with great enthusiasm he spoke and taught accurately the facts about Jesus, although he knew only the baptism of John.²⁶ He began to speak out fearlessly in the synagogue, but when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained the way of God to him more accurately.

Luke introduces Apollos, a significant figure in the early church. His background is notable: Jewish, from Alexandria (a major center of Hellenistic learning and biblical scholarship, home of Philo), eloquent, and deeply knowledgeable in the Old Testament Scriptures ("well-versed").
Apollos was already "instructed in the way of the Lord" and taught "accurately about Jesus" with passion ("spoke fervently"). This suggests he knew about Jesus' life, teachings, death, and possibly resurrection.
However, his understanding was incomplete: "he knew only the baptism of John." This likely means his knowledge predated Pentecost and the full understanding of the Holy Spirit's coming and baptism in Jesus' name. John's baptism was one of repentance in preparation for the Messiah.
Priscilla and Aquila, whom Paul had left in Ephesus (Acts 18:19), hear Apollos teaching boldly. Recognizing both his gifting and his theological gap, they privately ("took him aside") provide further instruction.
Their action demonstrates theological discernment, humility (privately correcting a gifted teacher), and the valuable ministry contribution of women like Priscilla alongside her husband. They explained "the way of God... more accurately," likely including teaching about the Holy Spirit and Christian baptism.

Apollos Ministers in Achaia

²⁷ When Apollos wanted to cross over to Achaia, the brothers encouraged him and wrote to the disciples to welcome him. When he arrived, he assisted greatly those who had believed by grace,²⁸ for he refuted the Jews vigorously in public debate, demonstrating from the scriptures that the Christ was Jesus.

Equipped with a fuller understanding, Apollos desires to minister in Achaia (the region including Corinth). The Ephesian believers support his plan, providing letters of recommendation to the churches there (a common practice, cf. 2 Corinthians 3:1).
Upon arriving in Achaia (likely Corinth), Apollos proves to be a great help ("assisted greatly") to the believers, specifically identified as those who had believed "by grace," emphasizing God's initiative in salvation.
His specific contribution highlighted here is his powerful public defense of the gospel against Jewish objections. His Alexandrian training and scriptural knowledge enabled him to "vigorously refute" opponents.
Apollos effectively used the Old Testament Scriptures ("demonstrating from the Scriptures") to prove that Jesus was indeed the promised Messiah (Christ), reinforcing the faith of believers and challenging unbelievers. His ministry complemented Paul's foundational work in Corinth (1 Corinthians 3:5-9).

The Bullet Point Bible

Acts 18