Acts 18

After these things Paul departed from Athens, and came to Corinth;

1After this, Paul left the city of Athens. He went to the city of Corinth.

2And found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, lately come from Italy, with his wife Priscilla; (because that Claudius had commanded all Jews to depart from Rome:) and came unto them.

2There he met a Jew named Aquila, who was born in Pontus. Aquila had just come from Italy with his wife, Priscilla. They came because Claudius, the ruler of Rome, had ordered all Jews to leave that city. Paul went to see them.

3And because he was of the same craft, he abode with them, and wrought: for by their occupation they were tentmakers.

3Paul stayed with them and worked with them. They made tents for a living, and so did Paul.

4And he reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks.

4Every Sabbath, the Jewish day of rest, Paul talked with people in the synagogue, the place where Jews met to worship. He tried to help both Jews and Greeks believe.

5And when Silas and Timotheus were come from Macedonia, Paul was pressed in the spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus was Christ.

5Then Silas and Timothy came from Macedonia. After that, Paul spent all his time teaching. He told the Jews that Jesus is the Christ, the King God had promised to send.

6And when they opposed themselves, and blasphemed, he shook his raiment, and said unto them, Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean: from henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles.

6But they argued with him and said insulting things. So Paul shook out his clothes and said to them, "What happens to you is your own fault. I have done my part. From now on I will go to the Gentiles, people who are not Jews."

NoteShaking out your clothes was a way of saying, "I am finished here." "Your blood be on your own heads" meant: what happens to you is your own choice, not my fault.

7And he departed thence, and entered into a certain man’s house, named Justus, one that worshipped God, whose house joined hard to the synagogue.

7So Paul left there and went into the house of a man named Justus. Justus worshiped God. His house was right next door to the synagogue.

8And Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house; and many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized.

8Crispus was the leader of the synagogue. He believed in the Lord, and so did everyone in his house. Many other people in Corinth heard and believed too. They were baptized, washed in water to show they now followed Jesus.

9Then spake the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision, Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace:

9One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision, a picture God showed him. He said, "Do not be afraid. Keep speaking. Do not stay quiet."

10For I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city.

10"I am with you. No one will attack you and hurt you. Many people in this city belong to me."

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

11So Paul stayed there for a year and a half. He taught God's word to the people.

12And when Gallio was the deputy of Achaia, the Jews made insurrection with one accord against Paul, and brought him to the judgment seat,

12Gallio was the Roman ruler of the land called Achaia. In those days the Jews joined together against Paul. They took him to the judge's seat.

NoteThe old word "deputy" means the Roman governor, the man in charge of that whole area. The judge's seat was a raised platform where he heard people's complaints.

13Saying, This fellow persuadeth men to worship God contrary to the law.

13They said, "This man tells people to worship God in a way that goes against the law."

14And when Paul was now about to open his mouth, Gallio said unto the Jews, If it were a matter of wrong or wicked lewdness, O ye Jews, reason would that I should bear with you:

14Paul was just about to speak. But Gallio said to the Jews, "If this were a real crime or something truly evil, I would listen to you."

15But if it be a question of words and names, and of your law, look ye to it; for I will be no judge of such matters.

15"But this is only about words and names and your own law. Take care of it yourselves. I will not be the judge of such things."

16And he drave them from the judgment seat.

16Then Gallio made them leave the judge's seat.

17Then all the Greeks took Sosthenes, the chief ruler of the synagogue, and beat him before the judgment seat. And Gallio cared for none of those things.

17Then the Greeks grabbed Sosthenes, the leader of the synagogue. They beat him in front of the judge's seat. Gallio did not care at all.

18And Paul after this tarried there yet a good while, and then took his leave of the brethren, and sailed thence into Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila; having shorn his head in Cenchrea: for he had a vow.

18Paul stayed in Corinth a good while longer. Then he said goodbye to the believers there. In the town of Cenchrea he had his head shaved, because he had made a promise to God. Then he sailed for Syria, and Priscilla and Aquila went with him.

NoteShaving your head was part of keeping a special promise a person had made to God.

19And he came to Ephesus, and left them there: but he himself entered into the synagogue, and reasoned with the Jews.

19They came to the city of Ephesus, and Paul left them there. He himself went into the synagogue and talked with the Jews.

20When they desired him to tarry longer time with them, he consented not;

20They asked him to stay with them longer. But he said no.

21But bade them farewell, saying, I must by all means keep this feast that cometh in Jerusalem: but I will return again unto you, if God will. And he sailed from Ephesus.

21He said goodbye to them. He told them, "I must go to Jerusalem for this feast. But I will come back to you if God wants me to." Then he sailed away from Ephesus.

22And when he had landed at Caesarea, and gone up, and saluted the church, he went down to Antioch.

22His ship landed at Caesarea. He went up and greeted the church there. Then he went down to the city of Antioch.

23And after he had spent some time there, he departed, and went over all the country of Galatia and Phrygia in order, strengthening all the disciples.

23He spent some time in Antioch. Then he left and traveled through the lands of Galatia and Phrygia. He went from place to place, helping all the followers of Jesus grow strong.

24And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures, came to Ephesus.

24A Jew named Apollos came to Ephesus. He was born in the city of Alexandria. He spoke very well, and he knew the Scriptures well.

25This 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.

25Apollos had been taught about the way of the Lord. He was eager and full of life. He spoke and taught carefully about Jesus. But he knew only about the baptism that John had preached.

26And 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.

26Apollos began to speak bravely in the synagogue. Aquila and Priscilla heard him. So they took him aside and explained God's way to him more fully.

27And when he was disposed to pass into Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him: who, when he was come, helped them much which had believed through grace:

27Apollos wanted to sail over to Achaia. The believers wrote a letter asking the followers there to welcome him. When he arrived, he helped them very much. They had come to believe through God's kindness.

28For he mightily convinced the Jews, and that publickly, shewing by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ.

28In front of everyone, he showed the Jews that they were wrong. He used the Scriptures to prove that Jesus is the Christ.