The Powerful Preaching and Perseverance of Paul (Acts 18)

Scripture reading – Acts 18 

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Our two-year chronological reading of God’s Word returns to the Book of Acts, focusing today on Acts 18. In Acts 17, Paul teaches and preaches in Athens (Acts 17:15), the great and ancient city known as the center of academia. There, in Athens, Paul boldly debated the philosophers of the day (Acts 17:16-21). Standing on Mars’ Hill, he proclaimed God as the Creator, who, being “Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands” (Acts 17:24).

Paul concluded his message by declaring God’s judgment (Acts 17:30-31a) and the resurrection of Jesus Christ “from the dead” (Acts 17:31). Some Athenians mocked Paul for preaching “the resurrection of the dead.” Yet others wanted to hear more, and some believed (Acts 17:32-34).

Acts 18

Paul’s Ministry in Corinth (Acts 18:1-8)

Departing Athens, Paul journeyed to Corinth (Acts 18:1), a city about 50 miles west of Athens. Corinth was a significant, wealthy city located on a narrow isthmus with seaports on two seas, making it a major trade center. Ancient Corinth was notorious for both its learning and its wickedness.

In Corinth, the apostle joined Aquila and Priscilla, Jews who had recently come from Italy after Emperor Claudius ordered all Jews to leave Rome (Acts 18:2). They became lifelong friends, and Paul worked with them in tentmaking (perhaps for the Roman soldiers of the day, Acts 18:3). As was his custom, Paul “reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath, and persuaded [convinced] the Jews and the Greeks [Gentiles who worshipped the God of Israel]” (Acts 18:4).

When Silas and Timothy arrived from Macedonia, Paul was “pressed in the spirit” and testified that Jesus was the Christ, the Messiah foretold in the Old Testament Scriptures (Acts 18:5). Many in the synagogue resisted the Gospel and blasphemed (Acts 18:6a). The opposition grew so severe that Paul shook his raiment and declared, “Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean: from henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles” (Acts 18:6).

After leaving the synagogue, Paul went to the house of Justus, a Gentile “that worshipped God,” whose house was next door to the synagogue (Acts 18:7). Then “Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house,” and his public faith in Christ would certainly have shaken the Jews of the synagogue (Acts 18:8a). Indeed, we read that Crispus was joined by “many of the Corinthians [who] hearing believed, and were baptized” (Acts 18:8).

A Heavenly Assurance (Acts 18:9-12)

Though bold in speech, Paul was not immune to fear. He later reminded the Corinthians, “I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling” (1 Corinthians 2:3). Knowing that Paul had suffered afflictions and persecution, the Lord addressed his fear in a nighttime vision, saying, “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” (Acts 18:9-10).

How did Paul respond to God’s assurance? He “continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them” (Acts 18:11).

A Jewish Uprising and a Public Hearing Before Gallio (Acts 18:12-17)

Certain Jews opposed to Paul “made insurrection with one accord” against him. They brought the apostle before Gallio, the deputy or proconsul of Achaia (Acts 18:12). Achaia was one of two provinces Rome created from Greece (the other being Macedonia), and its capital was Corinth.

Paul’s adversaries were determined to silence him. They escorted him to Gallio’s “judgment seat,” where they accused him, saying, “This fellow persuadeth men to worship God contrary to the law” (Acts 18:13).

Gallio, however, had no interest in Jewish matters, their doctrines, or their laws (Acts 18:14-15). Before Paul could even answer, Gallio dismissed the charges and “drave them [the Jews] from the judgment seat” (Acts 18:16). Seeing the Jews rejected by the Roman authority, “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” (Acts 18:17). (This is likely the same Sosthenes whom Paul later numbered among the believers and called “our brother” (1 Corinthians 1:1).)

Paul’s Journey to Jerusalem and then to Antioch (Acts 18:21-22)

Some time later, Paul departed from Corinth with Priscilla and Aquila, sailing from the port of Cenchrea to Ephesus, where he left the couple (Acts 18:18-19). Though the Jews of Ephesus wanted him to stay, Paul pressed on, saying, “I must by all means keep this feast that cometh in Jerusalem” (perhaps the Passover or Pentecost, Acts 18:20-21). After landing at Caesarea and saluting the church, he returned to Antioch, concluding his second missionary journey (Acts 18:22).

Closing thoughts –  

Acts 18:23 marks the start of Paul’s third missionary journey, and Acts 18:24-28 introduces us to Apollos, an eloquent preacher whom Priscilla and Aquila instructed in “the way of God more perfectly” (Acts 18:26). Luke’s account of that journey later recounts a riot in Ephesus (Acts 19:23-41), an event I hope to discuss later.

Copyright © 2026 – Travis D. Smith 

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