Acts 18

1Later, Paul left Athens and went to the city of Corinth

2There he met a Jewish man named Aquila, who was born in the country of Pontus. But he and his wife, Priscilla, had recently moved to Corinth from Italy. They left Italy because Claudius had given an order for all Jews to leave Rome. Paul went to Aquila and Priscilla

3They were tentmakers, the same as Paul, so he stayed with them and worked with them.

4Every Sabbath day Paul went to the synagogue and talked with both Jews and Greeks, because he wanted them all to believe in Jesus.

6When they disagreed with what they were teaching and said that they were cursing God. Paul then shook the dust from his clothes. He said to them, if you are not saved, it will be your own fault! I have done all I can do. After this I will go only to the non-Jewish people.

7Then Paul went, and he stayed in the house of a man named Titius Justus, who also worshipped the true God. His house was next to the synagogue.

8Crispus was the leader of that synagogue. He and all the people living in his house believed in the Jesus. Many other people in Corinth listen to Paul. They, too, believed and were baptized.

9That night, Paul had a vision. The Lord said to him, be not afraid. You must keep on telling the people about Me. You must not stop.

10I am with you, and no one will be able to hurt you. Many of my people are in this city.”

11Paul stayed there for a year and a half teaching God’s message to the people.

12During the time that Gallio was the governor of Achaia, they grabbed Paul and took him to court.

13They said to Gallio, this man Paul, is teaching people to worship God in a way that is against our law!

14Paul was ready to say something, but Gallio spoke to the Jews. He said, I would listen to you if your complaint was about a crime or other wrong.

15But you argue with each other about words and names and about your own laws. You must decide what is right and what is wrong. I will not judge things like this.

16So Gallio made them leave the court.

17Then they all grabbed Sosthenes, the leader of the synagogue. They beat him before the court. But Gallio did not worry about that.

18Paul stayed with the believers for long time. Then he left and sailed for Syria. Priscilla and Aquila were also with him. In Cenchrea Paul cut off his hair, because he had made a promise to God.

19Then they went to the city of Ephesus, where Paul left Priscilla and Aquila. While Paul was in Ephesus, he went into the synagogue and talked with the Jews.

20They asked him to stay longer, but he refused.

21He left them and said, I must go to Jerusalem for the feast. I will come back to you again if God wants me to. And he sailed away from Ephesus.

22When Paul arrived at Caesarea, he went to Jerusalem and visited the church there. After that he went to Antioch.

23Paul stayed in Antioch for a while. Then he left there and went through the countries of Galatia and Phrygia. He traveled from town to town in these countries, helping the followers of Jesus grow stronger in their faith.

24There was a Jew who came to the city of Ephesus. His name was Apollos, born in the city of Alexandria, he was an educated man who knew the Scriptures well.

25He had been taught about the Lord and was always excited to talk to people about Jesus. But he only knew about the baptism that John taught.

26Apollos started to preach in the church. He was not afraid of people church. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him speak, they took him to their home and helped him understand the way of God.

27Apollos was sent to go to Achaia. So, the believers in Ephesus wrote a letter to the believers in Achaia and asked them to accept Apollos. When he arrived there, he was a great help to those who had believed in Jesus because of God’s grace.

28He argued very strongly against the Jews before all the people. He clearly proved that the Jews were wrong. He used the Scriptures and showed that Jesus is the Messiah.