ACT 18:18-22

Paul Returns to Antioch

18Paul, having stayed on for many days more, having taken leave of the brothers, sailed away to Syria — and with him Priscilla and Aquila — having had his head shaved in Cenchrea, for he had a vow. [18:19] They arrived at Ephesus, and he left them there. He himself entered the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews. [18:20] When they asked him to stay for a longer time, he did not consent, [18:21] but took his leave of them, saying, "I will return to you again, God willing," and he put out to sea from Ephesus. [18:22] Having landed at Caesarea, he went up and greeted the assembly, then went down to Antioch.

In the world it was spoken into

In Acts 18:18-22, Paul’s actions reflect practices deeply rooted in 1st-century Jewish and Greco-Roman contexts. His shaving of his head in Cenchrea indicates the completion of a Nazirite vow , a Jewish practice involving temporary abstinence and dedication to God, often marked by hair-cutting. This act would have signaled piety to Jewish observers. Paul’s departure from Corinth was a formal farewell, a gesture of respect in Greco-Roman and Jewish social norms, emphasizing the significance of his relationships there. In Ephesus, Paul’s engagement in the synagogue reflects the Jewish custom of reasoned debate and teaching, a space where Jewish and Gentile God-fearers gathered. His refusal to stay longer, citing the necessity of observing a feast in Jerusalem, underscores the centrality of Jewish festivals in early Christian identity. His parting phrase, 'God willing,' aligns with Stoic and Jewish expressions of divine sovereignty over human plans. These details highlight the interplay of Jewish piety, Greco-Roman social conventions, and early Christian mission practices.

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How other translations render this

ACT 18:18

KJV: And Paul after this tarried there yet a good while, and then took his leave of the brethren, and sailed thence into Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila; having shorn his head in Cenchrea: for he had a vow.
BSB: Paul remained in Corinth for quite some time before saying goodbye to the brothers. He had his head shaved in Cenchrea to keep a vow he had made, and then he sailed for Syria, accompanied by Priscilla and Aquila.
Koinōnos: Paul, having stayed on for many days more, having taken leave of the brothers, sailed away to Syria — and with him Priscilla and Aquila — having had his head shaved in Cenchrea, for he had a vow.

ACT 18:19

KJV: And he came to Ephesus, and left them there: but he himself entered into the synagogue, and reasoned with the Jews.
BSB: When they reached Ephesus, Paul left Priscilla and Aquila. He himself went into the synagogue there and reasoned with the Jews.
Koinōnos: They arrived at Ephesus, and he left them there. He himself entered the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews.

ACT 18:20

KJV: When they desired him to tarry longer time with them, he consented not;
BSB: When they asked him to stay for a while longer, he declined.
Koinōnos: When they asked him to stay for a longer time, he did not consent,

ACT 18:21

KJV: But bade them farewell, saying, I must by all means keep this feast that cometh in Jerusalem: but I will return again unto you, if God will. And he sailed from Ephesus.
BSB: But as he left, he said, “I will come back to you if God is willing.” And he set sail from Ephesus.
Koinōnos: but took his leave of them, saying, "I will return to you again, God willing," and he put out to sea from Ephesus.

ACT 18:22

KJV: And when he had landed at Caesarea, and gone up, and saluted the church, he went down to Antioch.
BSB: When Paul had landed at Caesarea, he went up and greeted the church at Jerusalem. Then he went down to Antioch.
Koinōnos: Having landed at Caesarea, he went up and greeted the assembly, then went down to Antioch.

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

Translator's notes

ACT 18:18

having taken leave:The word translated 'having taken leave' implies a formal, deliberate separation or detachment, often used in military contexts for soldiers being assigned or dismissed.
a vow.:The term used here for 'a vow' refers to a solemn promise made to a deity, often involving a commitment to perform a specific act or offering.

ACT 18:19

he reasoned:The word translated 'he reasoned' suggests an interactive discussion or debate, where ideas are exchanged and arguments are presented, rather than a simple monologue.

ACT 18:22

church:The word translated 'church' originally referred to a summoned assembly of citizens for public business, highlighting its communal and organized nature.