Acts 18:1-11 Meaning: Paul in Corinth
1After these things Paul departed from Athens and came to Corinth.
2He found a certain Jew named Aquila, a man of Pontus by race, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to depart from Rome. He came to them,
3and because he practiced the same trade, he lived with them and worked, for by trade they were tent makers.
4He reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath and persuaded Jews and Greeks.
5When Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia, Paul was compelled by the Spirit, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ.
6When they opposed him and blasphemed, he shook out his clothing and said to them, “Your blood be on your own heads! I am clean. From now on, I will go to the Gentiles!”
7He departed there and went into the house of a certain man named Justus, one who worshiped God, whose house was next door to the synagogue.
8Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed in the Lord with all his house. Many of the Corinthians, when they heard, believed and were baptized.
9The Lord said to Paul in the night by a vision, “Don’t be afraid, but speak and don’t be silent;
10for I am with you, and no one will attack you to harm you, for I have many people in this city.”
11He lived there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.
1After these things Paul departed from Athens, and came to Corinth;
2And 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.
3And because he was of the same craft, he abode with them, and wrought: for by their occupation they were tentmakers.
4And he reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks.
5And when Silas and Timotheus were come from Macedonia, Paul was pressed in the spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus was Christ.
6And 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.
7And he departed thence, and entered into a certain man’s house, named Justus, one that worshipped God, whose house joined hard to the synagogue.
8And 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.
9Then spake the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision, Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace:
10For I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city.
11And he continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.
1After these things he departed from Athens, and came to Corinth.
2And he found a certain Jew named Aquila, a man of Pontus by race, lately come from Italy, with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to depart from Rome: and he came unto them;
3and because he was of the same trade, he abode with them, and they wrought; for by their trade they were tentmakers.
4And he reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath, and persuaded Jews and Greeks.
5But when Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia, Paul was constrained by the word, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ.
6And when they opposed themselves and blasphemed, he shook out his raiment and said unto them, Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean: from henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles.
7And he departed thence, and went into the house of a certain man named Titus Justus, one that worshipped God, whose house joined hard to the synagogue.
8And Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed in the Lord with all his house; and many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized.
9And the Lord said unto Paul in the night by a vision, Be not afraid, but speak and hold not thy peace:
10for I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to harm thee: for I have much people in this city.
11And he dwelt there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.
1And after these things, Paul having departed out of Athens, came to Corinth,
2and having found a certain Jew, by name Aquilas, of Pontus by birth, lately come from Italy, and Priscilla his wife--because of Claudius having directed all the Jews to depart out of Rome--he came to them,
3and because of being of the same craft, he did remain with them, and was working, for they were tent-makers as to craft;
4and he was reasoning in the synagogue every sabbath, persuading both Jews and Greeks.
5And when both Silas and Timotheus came down from Macedonia, Paul was pressed in the Spirit, testifying fully to the Jews Jesus the Christ;
6and on their resisting and speaking evil, having shaken his garments, he said unto them, `Your blood is upon your head--I am clean; henceforth to the nations I will go on.'
7And having departed thence, he went to the house of a certain one, by name Justus, a worshipper of God, whose house was adjoining the synagogue,
8and Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue did believe in the Lord with all his house, and many of the Corinthians hearing were believing, and they were being baptized.
9And the Lord said through a vision in the night to Paul, `Be not afraid, but be speaking and thou mayest be not silent;
10because I am with thee, and no one shall set on thee to do thee evil; because I have much people in this city;'
11and he continued a year and six months, teaching among them the word of God.
1And after these things, having left Athens, he came to Corinth;
2and finding a certain Jew by name Aquila, of Pontus by race, just come from Italy, and Priscilla his wife, (because Claudius had ordered all the Jews to leave Rome,) came to them,
3and because they were of the same trade abode with them, and wrought. For they were tent-makers by trade.
4And he reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath, and persuaded Jews and Greeks.
5And when both Silas and Timotheus came down from Macedonia, Paul was pressed in respect of the word, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ.
6But as they opposed and spoke injuriously, he shook his clothes, and said to them, Your blood be upon your own head: I [am] pure; from henceforth I will go to the nations.
7And departing thence he came to the house of a certain [man], by name Justus, who worshipped God, whose house adjoined the synagogue.
8But Crispus the ruler of the synagogue believed in the Lord with all his house; and many of the Corinthians hearing, believed, and were baptised.
9And the Lord said by vision in [the] night to Paul, Fear not, but speak and be not silent;
10because I am with thee, and no one shall set upon thee to injure thee; because I have much people in this city.
11And he remained [there] a year and six months, teaching among them the word of God.
Meaning in one sentence
Why did Paul leave Athens for Corinth? This passage shows his tentmaking, opposition, and a vision that gave him courage to stay for 18 months.
Context
After leaving Athens, Paul traveled alone to Corinth. There he met Aquila and Priscilla, Jewish tentmakers who had been expelled from Rome. Paul lived and worked with them. Every Sabbath he reasoned in the synagogue, persuading both Jews and Greeks. When Silas and Timothy arrived, Paul became even more focused, testifying that Jesus was the Christ. But the Jewish leaders strongly opposed him. So Paul shook out his clothes and declared he would go to the Gentiles. He moved his teaching next door to the house of Titius Justus. Many Corinthians believed, including Crispus the synagogue leader. Then the Lord appeared to Paul in a vision: Do not be afraid; keep speaking, for I have many people in this city. Paul stayed for a year and a half, teaching the word of God.
Key Words
The Greek word for same trade is homotechnos. It reminds us that Paul did not look down on physical work. He lived with Aquila and Priscilla and worked with his hands. That ordinary tentmaking became the setting where a church would be born.
The word for opposed is antitassomai, which implies drawing up in battle array. The Jewish leaders did not simply disagree with Paul. They organized against him. This explains why Paul shook out his garments and made a clear break.
And the Lord tells Paul, I have many people in this city. The word for people is laos, the same term used for Israel in the Greek Old Testament. God already considered these Corinthians as His own people, even though they had not yet believed. That promise changed everything for Paul.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christian interpreters have long seen in this passage God's sovereign call and human partnership. Reformed theologians point to the phrase I have many people as evidence of God's election. Wesleyan and Methodist commentators emphasize Paul's faithful labor and the encouragement he received when he felt discouraged. Catholic traditions highlight the role of Aquila and Priscilla as a married couple serving alongside Paul. Most agree that the vision gave Paul the confidence to remain in a difficult city.
A common misunderstanding
Some readers think Paul's statement From now on I will go to the Gentiles means he abandoned ministry to Jews forever. In fact, he continued to preach to Jews in later cities. The phrase marks a shift in strategy, not a rejection. Paul moves his teaching next door to the synagogue, and even the synagogue leader's family believes.
Living This Out
Think of a place where you feel discouraged: your workplace, a strained relationship, or a city that seems resistant to the Gospel. Paul could have left Corinth after strong opposition. Instead, he received a vision that God had people there, people not yet known to him. You can ask God to show you the people He has in your situation. Sometimes it takes staying long enough to see them. Paul's tentmaking also reminds you that your daily work matters. God can use ordinary tasks to build His church.
Main takeaway: God calls His people to stay and speak even in difficult places because He already has a people there.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
Paul was sad because people in Corinth did not listen. But God said, “Don't be afraid. I have many people in this city.” So Paul stayed and taught about Jesus.
For ages 9, 12
When Paul arrived in Corinth, he worked as a tentmaker with Aquila and Priscilla. He faced strong opposition from some Jewish leaders, but God gave him a vision telling him to keep speaking because God already had many people there who would become believers. Paul stayed for 18 months, and many people came to faith, including the leader of the synagogue. This story shows that even when we face difficulties, God has a plan for people we haven't met yet.
Questions People Ask
Why did Paul shake his garments in the synagogue?
Shaking out his garments was a symbolic act of protest. It showed that Paul considered himself innocent of their blood if they rejected the message. It also marked a turning point in his ministry in Corinth, as he declared he would go to the Gentiles.
Who were Aquila and Priscilla?
Aquila and Priscilla were a Jewish married couple who had been forced to leave Rome when Emperor Claudius expelled all Jews. They were tentmakers by trade. Paul lived and worked with them in Corinth, and they became his close friends and fellow workers in the Gospel.
What did Paul do for a living in Corinth?
Paul worked as a tentmaker. This was a common Jewish practice for rabbis to learn a trade. By working with his hands, Paul supported himself and did not burden the new believers in Corinth.
What does the Lord mean by 'I have many people in this city'?
This means that God already had a people who belonged to Him in Corinth, though they had not yet believed. It shows God's sovereign plan and assured Paul that his labor would bear fruit.
Why did Paul stay in Corinth for a year and a half?
After the vision, Paul was encouraged and confident that God was with him. The promise that no one would harm him and that God had many people in the city led him to remain and teach the word of God for an extended time.
For pastors & researchers
Greek interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study