AND WENT ON TO CORINTH. This distance is forty-five miles by sea. The Romans had destroyed this city in 146 B.C., and it had been rebuilt by Julius Caesar in 46 B.C. It was a _gateway_ for commerce between Italy and Asia. Its _moral climate_ was demonstrated by the Temple of Venus Pandemos, which ut... [ Continue Reading ]
A JEW NAMED AQUILA. Some think the term "Jew" shows he was not yet a Christian. _Johnson_ thinks both Aquila and Priscilla became Christians at Corinth. Yet Paul may mention that this man was a Jew, only to account for the fact he had just come from Italy.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND STAYED AND WORKED WITH THEM. They both made tents. Every Jewish boy was taught a manual trade, no matter what future had been planned for him. They said: _"Whoever does not teach his son to work, teaches him to steal "_ Paul sometimes worked at his trade to support himself. See Acts 20:34; 1 The... [ Continue Reading ]
HE ARGUED IN THE SYNAGOGUE. After working six days making tents, he spent the seventh day proclaiming the Good News of Christ.... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN SILAS AND TIMOTHY ARRIVED. They had stayed at Berea (Acts 17:14), but Paul had sent for them to join him. Timothy must have joined him at Athens, and been immediately sent back to Thessalonica (1 Thessalonians 3:1). He would now be returning from there to be with Paul. Some, however, think Timo... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN THEY OPPOSED HIM. They became hostile and said evil things against both him and the Christ he preached. HE PROTESTED. Shaking the dust off was symbolic (_see_ Luke 9:5_ and note)._ I AM NOT RESPONSIBLE. The choice was their own. Paul had fulfilled his mission. He would now go to the Gentiles in... [ Continue Reading ]
SO HE LEFT THEM. Paul now makes the house of a Gentile into his own synagogue, next door to the Jewish synagogue! TITUS JUSTUS may be the Titus to whom Paul wrote a letter. See introduction to _Titus._ CRISPAS. Paul baptized the leader of the synagogue with his own hands (1 Corinthians 1:14). ONE NI... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN GALLIO WAS MADE. Ramsay thinks this was in the summer of 52 A.D. Gallio's brother, Seneca, was the teacher of Nero. SEIZED PAUL AND TOOK HIM INTO COURT. This implies they could not stir up a mob against him, as had been done at other places. IN A WAY THAT IS AGAINST THE LAW. Rome permitted many... [ Continue Reading ]
PAUL STAYED ON IN CORINTH. This may be included in the year and a half (Acts 18:11). The point is that he was not forced to leave the area by what the Jews were doing. THEN LEFT THEM AND SAILED OFF. Heading back to Antioch in Syria, to the "parent church" that sent him out. BEFORE SAILING HE MADE A... [ Continue Reading ]
A CERTAIN JEW NAMED APOLLOS. Alexandria was the cultural center of the Greek-speaking Jews. The Septuagint [Greek translation of the Old Testament] was written there; and the most magnificent synagogue was there. _Johnson_ thinks this man was a teacher of the Law. AND TAUGHT CORRECTLY THE FACTS ABOU... [ Continue Reading ]