Catholic Commentary on Acts 18

"Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. For I am with you." (Acts 18:9-10)

Corinth

Paul arrives in Corinth and meets Aquila and Priscilla, Jewish tentmakers recently expelled from Rome by the edict of Claudius. He stays and works with them, and reasons in the synagogue every Sabbath. When Silas and Timothy arrive from Macedonia, Paul devotes himself exclusively to preaching, testifying to the Jews that Jesus is the Messiah. When they oppose him and become abusive, he shakes out his clothes and says: your blood be on your own heads. I am innocent of it. From now on I will go to the Gentiles. He moves next door to the synagogue, to the house of Titius Justus, a worshipper of God. Crispus, the synagogue leader, and his entire household believe in the Lord, along with many Corinthians who hear, believe, and are baptised.

One night the Lord speaks to Paul in a vision: Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city. The divine initiative precedes the human harvest: God already knows who his people are in Corinth before Paul meets them. Paul stays in Corinth for a year and a half, teaching them the word of God. The Gallio incident, in which the proconsul refuses to adjudicate a religious dispute, gives Paul legal protection. When Aquila and Priscilla sail with Paul to Syria, they stop at Ephesus. There they meet Apollos, an eloquent man with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures, who knows only the baptism of John. They take him aside and explain to him the way of God more accurately. He goes on to be a powerful apologist for the faith.

Living the Word

Brothers and sisters, the Lord told Paul: I have many people in this city. God already knows who he is calling in every place before we arrive. We are not creating his work from scratch; we are joining what he is already doing. Go to your city knowing this: God has already prepared people to receive what you carry. Your task is to find them, not to manufacture them.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, you told Paul not to be afraid and promised your presence and protection. Say the same to us in the cities where you have sent us. Remind us that you have many people there already, waiting for the word you send through us. Give us a year and a half of faithful staying, however long it takes. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

18
Paul Ministers in Corinth
(1 Corinthians 1:1–3; 2 Corinthians 1:1–2)
1 After this, Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. 2 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, 3 and he stayed and worked with them because they were tentmakers by trade, just as he was.
 
4 Every Sabbath he reasoned in the synagogue, trying to persuade Jews and Greeks alike. 5 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. 6 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.”
 
7 So Paul left the synagogue and went next door to the house of Titus Justus,* 18:7 ECM; NA, SBL, NE, and WH Titius Justus; BYZ and TR Justus a worshiper of God. 8 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.
 
9 One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: “Do not be afraid; keep on speaking; do not be silent. 10 For I am with you and no one will lay a hand on you, because I have many people in this city.” 11 So Paul stayed for a year and a half, teaching the word of God among the Corinthians.
Paul before Gallio
 
12 While Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews coordinated an attack on Paul and brought him before the judgment seat. 13 “This man is persuading the people to worship God in ways contrary to the law,” they said.
 
14 But just as Paul was about to speak, Gallio told the Jews, “If this matter involved a wrongdoing or vicious crime, O Jews, it would be reasonable for me to hear your complaint. 15 But since it is a dispute about words and names and your own law, settle it yourselves. I refuse to be a judge of such things.” 16 And he drove them away from the judgment seat.
 
17 At this, the crowd† 18:17 Literally they all; BYZ and TR all the Greeks seized Sosthenes the synagogue leader and beat him in front of the judgment seat. But none of this was of concern to Gallio.
Paul Returns to Antioch
 
18 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.
 
19 When they reached Ephesus, Paul parted ways with Priscilla and Aquila. He himself went into the synagogue there and reasoned with the Jews. 20 When they asked him to stay for a while longer, he declined. 21 But as he left, he said, “I will come back ‡ 18:21 BYZ and TR I must by all means keep this feast that comes in Jerusalem, but I will come back to you if God is willing.” And he set sail from Ephesus.
 
22 When Paul had landed at Caesarea, he went up and greeted the church at Jerusalem.§ 18:22 Literally he went up and greeted the church Then he went down to Antioch.
Paul’s Third Missionary Journey Begins
(Acts 13:1–3; Acts 15:36–41)
 
23 After Paul had spent some time in Antioch, he traveled from place to place throughout the region of Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples.
 
24 Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was an eloquent man, well versed in the Scriptures. 25 He had been instructed in the way of the Lord and was fervent in spirit. He spoke and taught accurately about Jesus,* 18:25 BYZ and TR about the Lord though he knew only the baptism of John. 26 And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him in and explained to him the way of God more accurately.
 
27 When Apollos resolved to cross over to Achaia, the brothers encouraged him and wrote to the disciples there to welcome him. On his arrival, he was a great help to those who by grace had believed. 28 For he powerfully refuted the Jews in public debate, proving from the Scriptures that Jesus is the Christ.

*18:7 18:7 ECM; NA, SBL, NE, and WH Titius Justus; BYZ and TR Justus

†18:17 18:17 Literally they all; BYZ and TR all the Greeks

‡18:21 18:21 BYZ and TR I must by all means keep this feast that comes in Jerusalem, but I will come back

§18:22 18:22 Literally he went up and greeted the church

*18:25 18:25 BYZ and TR about the Lord

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