ACT 18:1-11

Paul Ministers in Corinth

1After these things Paul departed from Athens and came to Corinth. [18:2] And he found a certain Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had commanded all Jews to leave Rome. He came to them, [18:3] and because he was of the same trade he stayed with them and they worked — for they were tentmakers by trade. [18:4] He reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath and persuaded both Jews and Greeks. [18:5] When both Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia, Paul was occupied by the word, earnestly testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ. [18:6] When they opposed and denigrated him, he shook out his garments and said to them: "Your blood be on your own heads — I am clean. From now on I will go to the Gentiles." [18:7] And departing from there he went to the house of a man named Titius Justus, a worshiper of God, whose house was next to the synagogue. [18:8] Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed in the Lord together with his entire household, and many of the Corinthians who heard were believing and being baptized. [18:9] And the Lord said to Paul in a vision during the night: "Do not be afraid, but keep speaking and do not be silent, [18:10] because I am with you, and no one will attack you to harm you, for I have many people in this city." [18:11] He settled there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.

In the world it was spoken into

In Acts 18:1-11, Paul arrives in Corinth, a bustling Roman colony known for its commerce and diverse population. Corinth was a hub for trade and craftsmanship, making it a strategic location for Paul’s ministry. Upon arrival, Paul encounters Aquila and Priscilla, Jewish tentmakers recently expelled from Rome under Emperor Claudius’s edict. This expulsion reflects the precarious status of Jews in the Roman Empire, often caught between imperial policies and local tensions. Paul’s shared trade with Aquila and Priscilla allows him to integrate into their household, a common practice among artisans who relied on mutual support. Paul’s reasoning in the synagogue every Sabbath aligns with Jewish custom, where proselytizing Gentiles (Greeks) was not uncommon. However, the opposition and blasphemy he faces highlight the volatile dynamics between Jewish factions and early Christian teachings. The vision Paul receives, assuring him of divine protection, underscores the perceived spiritual warfare in spreading the gospel in a city rife with idolatry and competing philosophies.

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How other translations render this

ACT 18:1

KJV: After these things Paul departed from Athens, and came to Corinth;
BSB: After this, Paul left Athens and went to Corinth.
Koinōnos: After these things Paul departed from Athens and came to Corinth.

ACT 18:2

KJV: And 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.
BSB: There he found 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 visit them,
Koinōnos: And he found a certain Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had commanded all Jews to leave Rome. He came to them,

ACT 18:3

KJV: And because he was of the same craft, he abode with them, and wrought: for by their occupation they were tentmakers.
BSB: and he stayed and worked with them because they were tentmakers by trade, just as he was.
Koinōnos: and because he was of the same trade he stayed with them and they worked — for they were tentmakers by trade.

ACT 18:4

KJV: And he reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks.
BSB: Every Sabbath he reasoned in the synagogue, trying to persuade Jews and Greeks alike.
Koinōnos: He reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath and persuaded both Jews and Greeks.

ACT 18:5

KJV: And when Silas and Timotheus were come from Macedonia, Paul was pressed in the spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus was Christ.
BSB: And when Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia, Paul devoted himself fully to the word, testifying to the Jews that Jesus is the Christ.
Koinōnos: When both Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia, Paul was occupied by the word, earnestly testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ.

ACT 18:6

KJV: And 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.
BSB: But when they opposed and insulted him, he shook out his garments and told them, “Your blood be on your own heads! I am innocent of it. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.”
Koinōnos: When they opposed and denigrated him, he shook out his garments and said to them: "Your blood be on your own heads — I am clean. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.

ACT 18:7

KJV: And he departed thence, and entered into a certain man’s house, named Justus, one that worshipped God, whose house joined hard to the synagogue.
BSB: So Paul left the synagogue and went next door to the house of Titus Justus, a worshiper of God.
Koinōnos: And departing from there he went to the house of a man named Titius Justus, a worshiper of God, whose house was next to the synagogue.

ACT 18:8

KJV: And 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.
BSB: Crispus, the synagogue leader, and his whole household believed in the Lord. And many of the Corinthians who heard the message believed and were baptized.
Koinōnos: Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed in the Lord together with his entire household, and many of the Corinthians who heard were believing and being baptized.

ACT 18:9

KJV: Then spake the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision, Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace:
BSB: One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: “Do not be afraid; keep on speaking; do not be silent.
Koinōnos: And the Lord said to Paul in a vision during the night: "Do not be afraid, but keep speaking and do not be silent,

ACT 18:10

KJV: For I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city.
BSB: For I am with you and no one will lay a hand on you, because I have many people in this city.”
Koinōnos: because I am with you, and no one will attack you to harm you, for I have many people in this city.

ACT 18:11

KJV: And he continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.
BSB: So Paul stayed for a year and a half, teaching the word of God among the Corinthians.
Koinōnos: He settled there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.

Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.

Translator's notes

ACT 18:3

same trade:The word translated 'same trade' indicates a shared profession or craft, highlighting a common bond and practical skill that allowed them to work together.

ACT 18:5

was occupied:The term translated 'was occupied' suggests being completely engrossed or constrained by something, indicating Paul was fully absorbed and perhaps even compelled by the message.
earnestly testifying:The word translated 'earnestly testifying' implies a solemn and emphatic declaration, often with an appeal to witnesses, underscoring the gravity and urgency of Paul's message.

ACT 18:6

denigrating [him],:The word translated 'denigrating' here means to speak in a blasphemous or slanderous way, often against sacred things or with malicious intent, indicating severe verbal abuse.