Acts 18

After these things Paul departed from Athens, and came to Corinth;

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.

And because he was of the same craft, he abode with them, and wrought: for by their occupation they were tentmakers.

And he reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks.

And when Silas and Timotheus were come from Macedonia, Paul was pressed in the spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus was Christ.

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.

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.

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.

Then spake the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision, Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace:

For I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city.

And he continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.

And when Gallio was the deputy of Achaia, the Jews made insurrection with one accord against Paul, and brought him to the judgment seat,

Saying, This fellow persuadeth men to worship God contrary to the law.

And when Paul was now about to open his mouth, Gallio said unto the Jews, If it were a matter of wrong or wicked lewdness, O ye Jews, reason would that I should bear with you:

But if it be a question of words and names, and of your law, look ye to it; for I will be no judge of such matters.

And he drave them from the judgment seat.

Then all the Greeks took Sosthenes, the chief ruler of the synagogue, and beat him before the judgment seat. And Gallio cared for none of those things.

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.

And he came to Ephesus, and left them there: but he himself entered into the synagogue, and reasoned with the Jews.

When they desired him to tarry longer time with them, he consented not;

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.

And when he had landed at Caesarea, and gone up, and saluted the church, he went down to Antioch.

And after he had spent some time there, he departed, and went over all the country of Galatia and Phrygia in order, strengthening all the disciples.

And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures, came to Ephesus.

This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John.

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.

And when he was disposed to pass into Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him: who, when he was come, helped them much which had believed through grace:

For he mightily convinced the Jews, and that publickly, shewing by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ.

What does Acts 18:4 mean?

Explanation

[Acts 18:4](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+18%3A4&version=KJV) describes the apostle Paul's practice of engaging in theological and philosophical discussions with both Jews and Greeks in the synagogues on the Sabbath, the Jewish day of rest and worship.

This verse underlines Paul's dedication to his mission of spreading the teachings of Jesus Christ and his efforts to persuade diverse audiences of the validity of the Christian message.

The phrase "reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath" shows that Paul used logical argumentation and dialogue, rather than just preaching, to communicate his message. This indicates that his approach was interactive and sought to engage others in discussion.

The latter part of the verse, "and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks," signifies that Paul's efforts were ecumenical; he addressed not just the Jewish community but also the Greeks, who may have been either Hellenistic Jews, God-fearing Gentiles who were drawn to Judaism, or possibly even Gentiles with an interest in the new Christian faith.

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

The Acts of the Apostles, commonly referred to as Acts, is a New Testament book that tells the story of the Early Christian church following the resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ.

Acts 18 relates to Paul's second missionary journey, during which he traveled to various Hellenistic cities, including Corinth where this verse is set.

Corinth was a significant city in ancient Greece, known for its cultural diversity and as a center of trade. The presence of both Jews and Greeks in the city made it a strategic location for Paul's missionary activities.

During this time, synagogues were not only places of worship but also served as community centers and places for intellectual discourse. This setting provided Paul with an audience that was familiar with scriptural discussions and debates.

Theological Insights

The verse suggests several theological insights:

Missionary Zeal: Paul’s commitment to preaching reflects the early Christian emphasis on missionary work and the spreading of the gospel. 2.

Inclusivity: Paul’s engagement with both Jews and Greeks indicates an inclusive approach to sharing the Christian message. 3.

Sabbath Preaching: By choosing the Sabbath for his discussions, Paul respected Jewish customs while introducing the message of Jesus. 4.

Apologetics: The term "reasoned" implies that Paul provided a defense (apologetics) for his beliefs, implying that faith and reason are not necessarily at odds.

Different Christian denominations may focus on these themes to varying extents, with some emphasizing Paul's role as the apostle to the Gentiles, while others may highlight his strategies for interfaith dialogue and evangelism.

Practical Applications

The verse suggests practical applications in daily life including:

Dedication to Mission: Christians may feel inspired to be consistent and persistent in their religious or life missions. 2.

Dialogue and Respect: Engaging with others respectfully through reasoned discourse, not merely preaching, can be a more effective means of communication. 3.

Inclusivity: Embracing diversity and inclusivity in spreading messages and engaging with a broad audience.

Cross-References

[Acts 17:2](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+17%3A2&version=KJV): "And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures,"
[1 Corinthians 9:20-22](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Corinthians+9%3A20-22&version=KJV): "And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law; [...] I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some."
[2 Timothy 4:2](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Timothy+4%3A2&version=KJV): "Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine."

Language Study

In the original Greek, specific words are noteworthy:

"Reasoned" (διελέγετο, dielegeto) reflects a method of communication that involves discussion and argumentation, not just one-sided proclamation.
"Persuaded" (πείθων, peithon) shows an attempt to convince through logical argument rather than coercion.

Understanding these words gives insight into Paul's approaches: he engages in mutual conversation and uses reasoned arguments to persuade rather than dictate his message.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

During Paul's time, the Greco-Roman world was rife with philosophical discussions and religious syncretism. In this context, Paul's method of preaching closely resembles the Socratic method of questioning and dialogue prevalent in Greek philosophical traditions.

Furthermore, Hellenistic Judaism itself was an amalgamation of Jewish religious traditions with Hellenistic culture, which could have influenced Paul's approach to bridging cultural divides.

Scientific Perspectives

Scientific perspectives might not directly engage with the specific actions of Paul in the synagogue, but they can shed light on the effectiveness of discourse in persuasion and education.

Psychological studies on cognitive dissonance and belief change suggest that engaging people in open, respectful discussions where they can reason through their beliefs can be more successful in persuasion than confrontational methods.

Commentaries

Biblical scholars and theologians have provided varied insights on Acts 18:4:

William Barclay notes that Paul effectively uses the synagogue as his pulpit, recognizing its strategic importance in reaching both Jews and Gentiles.
John Calvin points out Paul's endurance in his ministry, preaching the gospel with patience and commitment.
The ESV Study Bible remarks that Paul's discussions likely involved showing how the Old Testament scriptures pointed towards Jesus as the Messiah, which was a central aspect of early Christian preaching.

These commentaries reflect a general agreement on Paul's strategic and persistent approach in engaging with diverse audiences and his skilled use of scripture to point to Jesus Christ.

Acts 18

Acts 18

What does Acts 18:4 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Acts 18:4 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?