Acts 18

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

Following these events, Paul left the intellectual hub of Athens, his heart heavy yet hopeful, and journeyed towards the bustling city of 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.

There he met Aquila, a Jew from Pontus, recently arrived from Italy with his wife Priscilla, forced to leave Rome by Claudius's decree expelling all Jews, and he went to see them.

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

Because they shared the same skill, he stayed and worked with them. Their shared profession was making tents.

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

Every Sabbath, he passionately debated in the synagogue, convincingly swaying both Jews and Greeks with his words.

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

When Silas and Timothy arrived from Macedonia, Paul felt a deep spiritual urgency. He passionately declared to the Jews that Jesus was indeed the Messiah.

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.

When they opposed him and spoke abusively, he shook out his clothes in protest and told them, "Your blood be on your own heads; I am innocent of it. From now on, I will go to the non-Jews."

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.

He left that place and went to the home of a man named Justus, a devout believer in God. His house was conveniently located next 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.

Crispus, the head of the synagogue, wholeheartedly embraced faith in the Lord, along with his entire family. His belief sparked a wave of faith among many Corinthians who, upon hearing, also 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:

In a dream, the Lord gently told Paul, "Don't be scared, speak up, don't stay silent."

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

Fear not, for I am by your side. No one can harm you here, for many in this city stand with us.

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

He stayed there for a year and a half, passionately sharing God's message with 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,

When Gallio was in charge of Achaia, the Jews united in their anger against Paul, dragging him before the court.

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

This man is leading people to honor God in ways that defy our laws.

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:

As Paul prepared to speak, Gallio interrupted the Jews, saying, "If this was about injustice or immoral behavior, I would listen patiently to 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.

If the issue is about semantics, names, or your own rules, then you handle it. I won't be the one to judge these things.

And he drave them from the judgment seat.

With a surge of righteous authority, he banished them from the seat of judgment.

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.

The Greeks, in their anger, seized Sosthenes, the synagogue's head, and publicly assaulted him. Gallio, however, remained indifferent, unbothered by the incident.

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.

After spending considerable time, Paul bid an emotional farewell to his brothers. He then embarked on a journey to Syria, accompanied by Priscilla and Aquila. In Cenchrea, he shaved his head, a symbol of a solemn promise he had made.

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

He arrived in Ephesus, leaving his companions behind. Alone, he stepped into the synagogue, engaging in heartfelt discussions with the Jews.

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

Though they yearned for him to stay longer, he could not agree.

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.

He bid them goodbye, expressing his need to honor the upcoming feast in Jerusalem. He promised to return, if God allowed. Then, he set sail from Ephesus.

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

Upon his arrival in Caesarea, he climbed up, warmly greeted the church, and then made his way 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.

After spending a while there, he left, journeying through the lands of Galatia and Phrygia. Along the way, he passionately encouraged and empowered all his followers.

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

A Jewish man named Apollos, born in Alexandria, known for his eloquence and deep understanding of the scriptures, arrived in Ephesus with a powerful presence.

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.

This man, deeply educated in God's ways and passionate in his faith, spoke and taught about God with great dedication. His understanding was rooted solely in John's baptism.

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.

He spoke with courage in the synagogue. Aquila and Priscilla, deeply moved by his words, took him under their wing and enlightened him further on the path of God.

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:

When he decided to journey to Achaia, his brothers sent letters urging the disciples to welcome him. Upon his arrival, he greatly supported those who had found faith through grace.

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

With great passion, he persuaded the Jews openly, using the scriptures to prove that Jesus was indeed the Messiah.