In
Corinth
After
this, Paul left Athens and went to Corinth.
2There
he met 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
leave Rome.
Paul
went to see them,
3
And because he was a Tentmaker as they were,
He
stayed and worked with them.
4
EVERY SABBATH HE REASONED IN THE SYNAGOGUE,
TRYING
TO PERSUADE JEWS AND GREEKS.
5
When Silas and Timothy came from Macedonia,
PAUL
DEVOTED HIMSELF EXLUSIVELY TO PREACHING,
TESTIFYING
TO THE JEWS
THAT
JESUS WAS THE CHRIST.
6
BUT WHEN THE JEWS OPPOSED PAUL
AND
BECAME ABUSIIVE,
HE
SHOOK OUT HIS CLOTHES IN PROTEST
AND
SAID TO THEM,
'YOUR
BLOOD BE ON YOU OWN HEADS!
I
AM CLEAR OF MY RESPONSIBILITY.
FROM
NOW ON I WILL GO TO THE GENTILES.'
7
Then Paul left the Synagogue
And
went next door to the house of Titius Justus,
A
worshiper of God.
8
Crispus, the Synagogue Ruler,
And
his entire household Believed in the Lord;
And
many of the Corinthians
Who
heard him Believed and were Baptized.
9
ONE NIGHT THE LORD SPOKE TO PAUL IN A VISION:
'DO
NOT BE AFRAID; KEEP ON SPEAKING,
10
FOR I AM WITH YOU ,
AND
NO ONE IS GOING TO ATTACK AND HARM YOU,
BECAUSE
I HAVE MANY PEOPLE IN THIS CITY.'
11
So Paul stayed for a year and a half,
Teaching
them the Word of God.
12
While Gallio was Proconsul of Achaia,
The
Jews made a United Attack on Paul
And
brought him into Court.
13
'THIS MAN,' they charged,
'IS
PRESUADING THE PEOPLE TO WORSHIP GOD
IN
WAYS CONTRARY TO THE LAW.'
14
Just as Paul was bout to speak,
Gallio
said to the Jews,
'If
you Jews were making a complaint
About
some Misdemeanor or Serious Crime,
It
would be reasonable for me to listen to you.
15
But since it involves questions
About
words and names and your own Law--
Settle
the matter yourselves.
I
will not be a Judge of such things.'
16
So he had them Ejected from the Court.
17
Then they all turned on Sosthenes
The
Synagogue Ruler
And
beat him in front of the Court.
But
Gallio showed no concern what ever.
Priscilla,
Aquila and Apollos
18
Paul stayed on in Corinth for some time.
Then
he left the Brothers
And
sailed for Syria,
Accompanied
by Priscilla and Aquila.
Before
he sailed,
He
had his hair cut off at Cenchrea
Because
of a Vow he had taken.
19
They arrived at Ephesus,
Where
Paul left Priscilla and Aquila.
He
himself went into the Synagogue
And
Reasoned with the Jews.
20
When they asked him to spend more time with them,
He
Declined.
21
But as he left,
He
Promised,
'I
WILL COME BACK IF IT IS GOD'S WILL.'
Then
he set sail from Ephesus.
22
When he landed at Caesarea,
He
went up and greeted the Church
And
went down to Antioch.
23
After spending some time in Antioch,
Paul
set out from there
And
traveled from place to place
Throughout
the region of Galatia and Phrygia,
STRENGTHENING
ALL THE DISCIPLES.
24
Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos,
A
native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus.
He
was a learned man,
With
a Thorough Knowledge of the Scriptures.
25
He had been Instructed in the Way of the Lord,
AND
HE SPOKE WITH GREAT FERVOR
AND
TAUGHT ABOUT JESUS ACCURATELY,
THOUGH
HE KNEW ONLY THE BAPTISM OF JOHN.
26
HE BEGAN TO SPEAK BOLDLY IN THE SYNAGOGUE.
When
Priscilla and Aquila heard him,
THEY
INVITED HIM TO THEIR HOME
AND
EXPLAINED THE WAY OF GOD MORE ADEQUATELY.
27
When Apollos wanted to go to Achaia,
The
Brothers encouraged him
And
wrote to the Disciples there to Welcome him.
On
arriving, he was a Great Help
To
those who by Grace had believed.
28
FOR HE VIGOROUSLY REFUTED THE JEWS
IN
PUBLIC DEBATE,
PROVING
FROM THE SCRIPTURES
THAT
JESUS WAS THE CHRIST.
(Acts
18)
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