Acts 18: Paul at Corinth
1 After these things Paul departed from Athens and went to Corinth. 2 And he found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla (because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to depart from Rome); and he came to them. 3 So, because he was of the same trade, he stayed with them and worked; for by occupation they were tentmakers. 4 And he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and persuaded both Jews and Greeks.
This couple seems to have been believers before Paul arrived in Corinth. Perhaps the Gospel had made it to Italy by other means. “This edict of the Roman emperor is not mentioned by Josephus; but it is probably the same to which Suetonius refers in his life of Claudius; where he says, Judaeos, impulsore Chresto, assidue tumultuantes Roma expulit. ‘He expelled the Jews from Rome, as they were making continual insurrections, under their leader Chrestus.’ Who this Chrestus was we cannot tell; probably Suetonius means Christ; but this I confess does not appear to me likely. ” (Adam Clarke)
But others: “Suetonius records that Rome banished the Jews because they were never at rest, and that because of Christ.” (Geneva Study Bible)
"Thence note, that a wicked world is soon weary of the saints of God, and longs to worm them oft of their cities and societies, never considering that their own preservation from ruin is for the saints' sake; as the alleys in a garden are watered for the sake of the flowers, which otherwise would lie dry." (Burkitt's Notes)
Aquila and Priscilla were both Jews and tent-makers and proponents of the gospel in Corinth. Paul stayed with them, working both temporal and eternal jobs together. "It was the custom of the Jews to have their sons taught some mechanical art; that they might thus, in any emergency, be able to provide for themselves.” (Justin Edwards' Family Bible)
On Sabbaths, Paul reasoned with them "altogether on Old Testament ground, showing the divine predictions concerning Christ." (Arno Gaebelein) And he persuaded both Jews and Greeks.
5 When Silas and Timothy had come from Macedonia, Paul was compelled by the Spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus is the Christ. 6 But when they opposed him and blasphemed, he shook his garments and said to them, “Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.”
"When Silas and Timotheus arrived, then he was greatly pressed in spirit and testified to the Jews more fully that Jesus is the Christ.” (Arno Gaebelein)
But when the Jews opposed him, he finally said, "Your blood be upon your heads; I am clean." "This is a type of speech taken from the Hebrews, by which he means that the Jews are the cause of their own destruction, and as for him, that he is without fault in forsaking them and going to other nations.” (Geneva Study Bible) As in Asia, He shook the dust off his feet and went then primarily to the Gentiles.
7 And he departed from there and entered the house of a certain man named Justus, one who worshiped God, whose house was next door to the synagogue. 8 Then Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his household. And many of the Corinthians, hearing, believed and were baptized.
The worship of God by Justus is contrasted to the superstition and religion of the Jewish opposers to the Gospel. Paul went next-door. "Although we have tried all possible means, and yet in vain, we must not stop our work, but forsake the rebellious, and go to those that are more obedient." (Geneva Study Bible) This house was "joined hard” to the synagogue. “The Jews had, in some places, houses annexed to their synagogues, for the entertainment of strangers and travellers: the house of Justus was probably of this kind.” (Coke)
So though rejected by the Jews, the ruler of the synagogue inquired more diligently in the house of Justus and believed in Jesus. AND “When Crispus the chief ruler of the synagogue believed, many of the Corinthians believed also. Great men are the looking glasses of the country, according to which most men dress themselves. Alexander the Great naturally held his head aside, his courtiers did the like. When Francis the French king was polled for the better healing of a wound in his head, all about him, and many others, cut off their long hair, etc.” (John Trapp Commentary)
9 Now the Lord spoke to Paul in the night by a vision, “Do not be afraid, but speak, and do not keep silent; 10 for I am with you, and no one will attack you to hurt you; for I have many people in this city.” 11 And he continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.
“Ministers of the gospel are at times liable to great fear and depression of spirits. But God is able to encourage and protect them. He would have them remember, that among their opposers may be many who will be their warmest friends; and that by perseverance and fidelity in preaching the gospel, they may be instrumental in preparing them for an exceeding and eternal weight of glory.” (Justin Edwards' Family Bible New Testament)
Do not be afraid for I am with you. “As to behold thy behaviour…, so to support, defend, and deliver thee. If a child be in the dark, yet, having his father by the hand, he fears nothing. David feared not the ‘vale of the shadow of death,’ that is, death in its most horrid and hideous representations, and all because God was with him, Psalms 23:4.” (Trapp)
12 When Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews with one accord rose up against Paul and brought him to the judgment seat, 13 saying, “This fellow persuades men to worship God contrary to the law.” 14 And when Paul was about to open his mouth, Gallio said to the Jews, “If it were a matter of wrongdoing or wicked crimes, O Jews, there would be reason why I should bear with you. 15 But if it is a question of words and names and your own law, look to it yourselves; for I do not want to be a judge of such matters.” 16 And he drove them from the judgment seat. 17 Then all the Greeks took Sosthenes, the ruler of the synagogue, and beat him before the judgment seat. But Gallio took no notice of these things.
"PROCONSUL-- Governor (NLT; KJV 'deputy') appointed by the senate of Rome to govern a province." OF ACHAIA - "...entire Greek peninsula south of Thessalonica." (Tyndale Bible Dictionary)
This Gallio was a righteous man, “brother to that deservedly famous Seneca, (who was tutor to Nero), and hath great commendations given him, as being a man of excellent disposition, beloved by all men, an enemy to all vice, and especially a hater of flattery.” (Matthew Poole's English Annotations)
Gallio, as a just governor, would not condemn a man in civil court over religious matters. And so all the Greeks took Sosthene- "the successor of Crispus, and probably Paul's chief accuser" (Wesley)- and beat him. He got what he wanted to inflict on the Christians- but not by their hands! The Greek unbelieving populace, "ever ready to show their hatred to the Jews dwelling among them, took this opportunity, when the despised people were being driven ignominiously out of court, of venting their dislike upon the Jewish leader." (Schaff's Popular Commentary)
Acts 18: Paul Returns to the Mother Churches at Antioch and Jerusalem
18 So Paul still remained a good while. Then he took leave of the brethren and sailed for Syria, and Priscilla and Aquila were with him. He had his hair cut off at Cenchrea, for he had taken a vow. 19 And he came to Ephesus, and left them there; but he himself entered the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews. 20 When they asked him to stay a longer time with them, he did not consent, 21 but took leave of them, saying, “I must by all means keep this coming feast in Jerusalem; but I will return again to you, God willing.” And he sailed from Ephesus.
Paul ”was, in consequence of this decisive check imposed by the Roman power upon Jewish hostility, enabled to fill out the eighteen months of Acts 18:11 in building probably the most powerful Church in Europe. The experiment was now settled that Europe was a true predisposed field for the Gospel. Japheth was at length to enter and dwell in the tents of Shem. Hereby Paul’s initiatory mission seemed to him fulfilled, and he turns his heart and feet back toward his native East." (Whedon's Commentary)— towards Jerusalem.
“Silas and Timothy seem still to have continued at Corinth; but St. Paul, taking leave of the Christian brethren there, set out for Syria, and along with him Aquila and Priscilla. When they arrived at Cenchrea, the eastern part of the isthmus, St. Paul shaved his head, because he was under the Nazarite's vow (see ch. Acts 21:24. Numbers 6:18.);” (Coke Commentary)
He had his hair cut off at Cenchrea, for he had taken a vow.
Literally "had had a vow." "Unquestionably it was Paul who had the vow; and not, as some commentators maintain, Aquila. By the Nazarite vow, a Jew for a period consecrated himself to God, avoiding strong drink, and allowing his hair to grow unsheared. At the end of the period he was to go to the temple, make a somewhat liberal offering, shave his head and burn the hair in the sacrificial fire, and so absolve himself from his vow, (Numbers 6:1-21.) A vow of a less sacred nature could be made for various purposes. A Jew, as an act of devotion, would vow not to trim his hair until he had safely accomplished his journey...
....
Dr. Wordsworth notes the difference between κειραμενος, used here, which signifies to cut with shears, and ξυρησωνται, signifying to shave bare with a razor. It was the last of these which was done by the Nazarite at the temple to close his vow. Wordsworth suggests that Paul wore his hair long at Corinth, (where short hair was the sign of a slave,) trimmed his hair at Cenchrea for convenience, preparatory to shaving it at Jerusalem, for which purpose was his haste at Acts 18:21." (Whedon's Commentary)
Perhaps his vow had been along this manner. “If Lord, You are willing, I will make it through Europe preaching the Good News in the synagogues of the Jews and make it back to Jerusalem in time for this particular feast, which You have laid on my heart to keep.” He would use all of his means. He had not made a vow in the fashion of the OT law, but in the Spirit of the New Testament liberty for His Master had told him, "Nor shall you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black. But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one." (Matthew 5:36-37)
“Keep this feast - Probably the Passover is here referred to. Why he was so anxious to celebrate that feast at Jerusalem, the historian has not informed us. It is probable, however, that he wished to meet as many of his countrymen as possible, and to remove, if practicable, the prejudices which had everywhere been raised against him, Acts 21:20-21. Perhaps, also, he supposed that there would be many Christian converts present, whom he might meet also.” (Barnes Notes)
22 And when he had landed at Caesarea, and gone up and greeted the church, he went down to Antioch.
And when he had landed at Caesarea, and gone up and greeted the church- “the church at Jerusalem. This was Paul‘s main design; and though it is not distinctly specified, yet the whole narrative implies that he went there before returning to Antioch.” (Barnes) Thus Paul returned from Europe to Jerusalem and Antioch, closing his second missionary journey.
23 After he had spent some time there, he departed and went over the region of Galatia and Phrygia in order, strengthening all the disciples.
Paul tarried with the Spirit and then went over the regions of Galatia and Phrygia in order, “provinces which he had before visited, strengthening all the disciples; confirming their faith in the gospel and encouraging them to persevere in holy living.” (Justin Edwards' Family Bible New Testament) This was ever the business of that zealous apostle, “for as natural life needs nourishing, and young plants watering; so do the saints need confirmation, and Christ hath provided it for them... (Trapp)
Acts 18: The Ministry of Apollos Is Made Effective
24 Now a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man and mighty in the Scriptures, came to Ephesus. 25 This man had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things of the Lord, though he knew only the baptism of John. 26 So he began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Aquila and Priscilla heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately.
Apollos “comes quite abruptly on the stage of action, like Elijah, unannounced and unattended…”(C. S. Robinson, D. D.) In fact, Aquila and Priscilla had come in similar fashion.
But I believe that this couple’s faith and subsequent baptism had come after full knowledge of the spiritual import of Jesus’ life and death. In contrast, Apollos’ baptism had likely taken place prior to these things. People asked John why he baptized, if he was not the Christ. And John answered them, saying, “I baptize with water, but there stands One among you whom you do not know. It is He who, coming after me, is preferred before me, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose.” (John 1:26-27)
Apollos was an eloquent man, probably well instructed in the Greek art of speech with a natural gift of God. And he was also mighty in Scriptures. “A man may be mighty in linguistical attainments, in classic lore, in general literature, in the arts and sciences, but unless he is ‘mighty in the Scriptures,’ he will never be a great preacher.” (D. Thomas, D. D.) He was indeed “mighty in the Scriptures” - “thoroughly acquainted with the law and prophets; and well skilled in the Jewish method of interpreting them.
This man was instructed in the way of the Lord - Κατηχημενος ; He was catechized, initiated, in the way, the doctrine, of Jesus as the Christ.
Being fervent in the spirit - Being full of zeal to propagate the truth of God." (Adam Clarke) But he still lacked one thing- the Spirit of God.
Apollos spoke and taught accurately the things [he knew] of the Lord, "according to that skill he had." (Trapp) But he had a mere knowledge of the letter. He knew nothing of the Spirit. He had been baptized with water unto repentance only. When baptized, he knew that One was to come. Yes, he had subsequently come to a fuller knowledge of this One, but this teacher of Israel needed to be taught himself. So Aquila and Priscilla took him aside and explained the way of God to him more accurately.
Apollos knew of Christ, but Aquila and Priscilla knew Christ. ”He who knows Christ, is able to instruct even those that are mighty in the Scriptures." (John Wesley) I believe that they told him that he needed to be baptized again to receive the Power from on high- Acts 2:38.
Only thus could Apollos die to self effort and receive the Spirit of Christ. He “needed to know of the death, resurrection, and ascended power of Christ, and to experience the Pentecostal gift. Into all these he was led by Aquila and Priscilla. How wonderful is that holy wisdom which the Spirit of God gives to simple and humble believers, so that they can become teachers of men who are intellectually their superiors!” (F.B. Meyer)
On arriving in Ephesus, Paul met a group of twelve people who had repented and been baptized as taught by John the Baptist. “But they did not know that since the death and resurrection of Jesus, the form of baptism that John proclaimed was no longer in use. The one whom John announced had come, and the baptism with the Spirit that John promised had been given (on the Day of Pentecost; cf. Matthew 3:11; Acts 1:4-5; Acts 2:16-17; Acts 2:33). When they understood this they were baptized in water as disciples of Jesus Christ, and received the Holy Spirit as the original disciples had at Pentecost (19:1-7).” (Bridgeway Commentary)
27 And when he desired to cross to Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him; and when he arrived, he greatly helped those who had believed through grace; 28 for he vigorously refuted the Jews publicly, showing from the Scriptures that Jesus is the Christ.
Rebaptism was supplied here, but not the effects of submission to better instruction. Now, the Spirit led Apollos both to the right place- Achaia- and to his particular calling for only now are we told that “he greatly helped those who had believed through grace." "Apollos did not plant, but water. This was the peculiar gift which he had received." (John Wesley) He was trying to convert Jews but his gift was strengthen the brethren.
For Apollos “vigorously refuted the Jews publicly, showing from the Scriptures that Jesus is the Christ.” He did not convince the Jews, but refuted their teachings. He beat them at their own game. "In the schools of science, a mathematical demonstration is regarded as the most convincing of all; in the church of God, no demonstration is more worthy of confidence than one that is taken from the Holy Scriptures.” (Starke)
“A man’s verbal knowledge of the Scriptures may be extensive and correct, and yet he may be very ignorant of their spiritual import. True mightiness in the Scriptures includes a knowledge of the leading-- 1. Historical facts. These embody principles that have to do both with the procedure of God and the duty and destiny of man. 2. Principles. Facts are valuable only as they are the casket and mirror of principles. These principles are doctrinal and ethical--theoretic and regulative. 3. Aims. The grand aim of the Scriptures is not to build up creeds, to establish sects, to make man the creature of dogmas, rituals, and pietistic moods--such a use is a perversion--but to make men morally good. He who does not understand this to be its grand purpose, however conversant he may be with its leading facts and principles.” (D. Thomas, D. D.)
Before Apollos did what he thought proper to do, now Christ was working through him both to will and to do His good pleasure. And "he greatly helped those who had believed through grace." Without the Spirit, you may be eloquent in speech; mighty in the Scriptures; instructed in the Lord and even fervent in spirit, but unless you submit to baptism in Jesus’ name, you have no promise of the Spirit of Christ. And without Him, you will be unable to answer your particular calling, helping noone eternally.
Lord Jesus, I was baptized in Your name; now, guide me to my own spiritual Achaia-- by your Eternal Spirit.