Acts 18
Acts 18 | |
---|---|
Book | Acts of the Apostles |
Category | Church history |
Christian Bible part | New Testament |
Order in the Christian part | 5 |
Acts 18 is the eighteenth chapter of the Acts of the Apostles in the New Testament of the Christian Bible. It records the final part of the second missionary journey of Paul, together with Silas and Timothy, and the beginning of the third missionary journey. The book containing this chapter is anonymous, but early Christian tradition uniformly affirmed that Luke composed this book as well as the Gospel of Luke.[1]
Text
The original text was written in Koine Greek and is divided into 28 verses.
Textual witnesses
Some early manuscripts containing the text of this chapter are:
- Papyrus 38 (c. AD 250)
- Codex Vaticanus (325–350)
- Codex Sinaiticus (330–360)
- Codex Bezae (c. 400)
- Codex Alexandrinus (400–440)
- Codex Laudianus (c. 550)
Locations
Places mentioned in (blue) and related to (black) this chapter.This chapter mentions the following places (in order of appearance):
- Athens
- Corinth
- Pontus
- Italy
- Rome
- Macedonia
- Achaia
- Cenchrea
- Ephesus
- Caesarea
- Antioch
- Galatia
- Phrygia
- Alexandria
Timeline
This part of the second missionary journey of Paul took place in c. AD 50–52, based on the time when
Corinth (18:1–11)
This part records the founding of the church in Corinth, which was administrative center of the Roman province of Achaea and to become an important center for the Paul's mission.[3] Luke notes the first meeting of Paul with Aquila and Priscilla (verse 2), who are to become his important associates, well known to the Corinthian church (1 Corinthians 16:19; cf. Romans 16:3-4).[3]
Verse 1
- After these things Paul departed from Athens and went to Corinth.[4]
Paul traveled from Athens to Corinth, a distance of about 82 km on modern roads.
Verse 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.[5]
References to the action of Roman Emperor
Verse 5
- When Silas and Timothy had come from Macedonia, Paul was compelled by the Spirit, and testified to the Jews that Christ.[8]
Luke simplified the story of Paul's mission in Corinth as it follows a familiar sequence (verses 4–5).[9]
- "Silas and Timothy": see 1 Thessalonians 3:1, 6.[9]
Verses 9–10
- And the Lord said to Paul one night in a vision, "Do not be afraid, but go on speaking and do not be silent, 10 for I am with you, and no one will attack you to harm you, for I have many in this city who are my people."[10]
- "Vision": In the whole book, a vision will indicate where events are headed (cf. Acts 10:9–16 and 16:9–10).[11]
- "Attack": or “to set upon, lay a hand on”; “assault” is a contemporary English equivalent very close to the meaning of the original.[12]
Gallio (18:12–17)
Following a relatively quiet period of church growth, opposition flares up again and Paul is brought before the proconsul Gallio.[9] Proconsuls were in office only for one year, so this name provides an important chronological indicator for Luke's narrative, one of the key dates for New Testament chronology.[9]
Verse 12
- When Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews with one accord rose up against Paul and brought him to the judgment seat,[13]
Matthew Henry claims that the crowd that beat up Sosthenes was enraged at Paul and Gallio. They demonstrated that if Gallio would not judge that they would. Gallio's indifference to the case against Paul could be commendable for its impartiality. However Gallio's indifference to the beating up of an innocent man, Sosthenes, carried indifference too far, not only showing a contempt for the case, but also for the people presenting the case.[21]
Return to Base (18:18-23)
At some point after a long and successful mission in Corinth, Paul decides to return to his base in Syria.[9]
Verse 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.[22]
- "Romans 16:1–2).[9]
Interlude: Apollos in Corinth (18:24-28)
In an interlude, Luke gives a rare glimpse of
Verse 26
- And 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.[26]
- "More perfectly": translated from Greek ἀκριβέστερον, akribesteron, "more accurately".[27]
See also
- Apollos
- Claudius
- Priscilla and Aquila
- Sosthenes
- Related Bible parts: Acts 14, Acts 15, Acts 16, Acts 17
Notes
- ^ Delphi inscription can be dated during the 26th acclamation of Claudius, sometime between January 51 and August 52.[16]
- ^ The reconstructed Delphi inscription reads:
- Tiber[ius Claudius Cae]sar Augustus Ge[rmanicus, invested with tribunician po]wer [for the 12th time, acclaimed Imperator for t]he 26th time, F[ather of the Fa]ther[land...]. For a l[ong time have I been not onl]y [well-disposed towards t]he ci[ty] of Delph[i, but also solicitous for its pro]sperity, and I have always guard[ed th]e cul[t of t]he [Pythian] Apol[lo. But] now [since] it is said to be desti[tu]te of [citi]zens, as [L. Jun]ius Gallio, my fri[end] an[d procon]sul, [recently reported to me, and being desirous that Delphi] should retain [inta]ct its for[mer rank, I] ord[er you (pl.) to in]vite well-born people also from [ot]her cities [to Delphi as new inhabitants....][17]
References
- ^ Holman Illustrated Bible Handbook. Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville, Tennessee. 2012.
- ISBN 978-1-57910-527-3
- ^ a b Alexander 2007, p. 1050.
- ^ Acts 18:1 NKJV
- ^ Acts 18:2 NKJV
- ISBN 1405188448pp.13-14
- ISBN 978-0-8054-4365-3p. 110, 400
- ^ Acts 18:5 NKJV
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Alexander 2007, p. 1051.
- ^ Acts 18:9–10 ESV
- ^ Note [a] on Acts 18:9 in NET Bible
- ^ Note [a] on Acts 18:10 in NET Bible
- ^ Acts 18:12 NKJV
- ^ John Drane,"An Introduction to the Bible",Lion, 1990, p.634-635
- ^ The Gallio Inscription Archived 2013-12-19 at the Wayback Machine at http://users.wfu.edu
- ISBN 9780805410976, p.78.
- ISBN 9780814653036p.161.
- ISBN 978-0-8054-4365-3page 400
- ISBN 0521786940page 20
- ^ Pauline Chronology: His Life and Missionary Work, from Catholic Resources by Felix Just, S.J.
- ^ ISBN 0340191384.
- ^ Acts 18:18 NKJV
- ^ J. L. Rife, "Religion and Society at Roman Kenchreai" in S. J. Friesen, D. N. Schowalter, J. C. Walters (ed.), Corinth in Context: Comparative Studies on Religion and Society (Supplements to Novum Testamentum, 134), Leiden & Boston: Brill 2010
- ^ Alexander 2007, pp. 1051–1052.
- ^ Alexander 2007, p. 1052.
- ^ Acts 18:26 KJV
- ^ Greek Text Analysis: Acts 18:26. Biblehub
Sources
- Alexander, Loveday (2007). "62. Acts". In Barton, John; Muddiman, John (eds.). The Oxford Bible Commentary (first (paperback) ed.). Oxford University Press. pp. 1028–1061. ISBN 978-0199277186. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
External links
- Acts 18 King James Bible - Wikisource
- English Translation with Parallel Latin Vulgate
- Online Bible at GospelHall.org (ESV, KJV, Darby, American Standard Version, Bible in Basic English)
- Multiple bible versions at Bible Gateway (NKJV, NIV, NRSV etc.)