Read the Modern Pastor’s Version

After departing Athens, Paul arrived in Corinth. There he met Aquila, a Jewish tentmaker from Pontus, and his wife Priscilla, who had recently left Italy after being forced out of Rome by Claudius's decree to expel all Jews. Since they shared the same trade, Paul joined them and worked as a tentmaker.

Every Sabbath, Paul would reason with the synagogue crowd, trying to persuade both Jewish and Greek people that Jesus is the Messiah. When Silas and Timothy arrived from Macedonia, Paul felt compelled by the Spirit to focus on sharing his faith with the Jews in Corinth. However, when they resisted and insulted him, he shook out his garments and warned them, "Your own blood will be on your heads; I'm clean. From now on, I'll turn my attention to the Gentiles."

Paul left the synagogue and went into the home of Justus, a man who worshiped God and lived near the synagogue. Crispus, the leader of the synagogue, along with his entire household, believed in the Lord Jesus. Many Corinthians were persuaded by Paul's message and were baptized.

That night, the Lord appeared to Paul in a vision and encouraged him, "Don't be afraid; keep sharing your message without holding back." The Lord also assured Paul that He was with him and that no one would harm him because He had many people in Corinth who believed. Paul spent nearly two years teaching God's word to the Corinthians.

When Gallio became the deputy of Achaia, a group of Jews from Corinth made a unified effort to bring Paul before the judgment seat, accusing him of leading people astray by teaching against Jewish law. However, when Paul was about to defend himself, Gallio dismissed the case, stating that if it were a matter of wrongdoing or wickedness, he would have tolerated them, but since it concerned matters of words and laws, the Jews themselves should settle these disputes.

Gallio then ejected the Jews from the judgment seat. The Greeks took Sosthenes, the leader of the synagogue, and publicly beat him in front of the judgment seat while Gallio chose to ignore this commotion.

Paul stayed in Corinth for a while before bidding farewell to his friends and setting sail for Syria with Priscilla and Aquila. He had shaved his head at Cenchrea because he was under a vow.

Upon arriving in Ephesus, Paul left them behind but entered the synagogue to engage in discussions with the Jewish people there. When they begged him to stay longer, he declined, saying that he needed to keep the upcoming festival in Jerusalem but promised to return if God allowed it. He then sailed from Ephesus.

After landing at Caesarea, Paul visited the church and traveled on to Antioch. From there, he continued his journey through Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening all the local disciples as he went.

Meanwhile, a Jewish scholar named Apollos arrived in Ephesus, born in Alexandria and well-versed in scripture. He had been taught about the way of the Lord but only knew about John's baptism. When Apollos began to speak boldly in the synagogue, Aquila and Priscilla heard him and took him under their wing, explaining God's ways more accurately.

As Apollos prepared to travel into Achaia, the believers wrote a letter urging the disciples there to welcome him. Upon his arrival, he was instrumental in encouraging those who had come to believe through faith, powerfully convincing the Jews with his scriptural arguments that Jesus is indeed the Messiah.