Acts Chapter 18
Showing all 28 verses for Acts Chapter 18.
The People's Bible is written by people, for the people. Each verse below shows:
"After these things Paul departed from Athens, and came to Corinth; "
"After this, Paul left Athens and travelled to Corinth."
Even after a mixed reception in one place, keep moving forward to the next opportunity - setbacks in one city don't have to define what happens in the next.
"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 a Jewish man named Aquila, originally from Pontus, who had recently arrived from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because the Roman emperor Claudius had ordered all Jews to leave Rome."
When circumstances outside your control uproot your life, stay open to the new connections and opportunities that can grow from that disruption rather than only seeing what was lost.
"And because he was of the same craft, he abode with them, and wrought: for by their occupation they were tentmakers. "
"Since Paul was in the same trade, he stayed and worked with them - they were all tentmakers by occupation."
You don't need a special or elevated position to live out your values - honest, ordinary work done well alongside real relationships can be just as meaningful as any grand calling.
"And he reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks. "
"Every Sabbath he debated in the synagogue, trying to persuade both Jews and Greeks."
Meaningful change in people's minds and lives usually comes from steady, repeated effort rather than a single big moment - show up consistently for what matters to you.
"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 was compelled by a strong inner urgency and devoted himself fully to declaring that Jesus was the Messiah."
Don't underestimate what having the right people around you can unlock - real support from people you trust can free you to give your full energy to what matters most.
"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 insulted him, Paul shook the dust from his clothes and said, "Whatever happens to you is now your own responsibility - my conscience is clear. From now on I'm going to the non-Jewish people instead.""
You can offer people the truth as clearly and patiently as you can, but you can't force anyone to accept it - at some point, let go of guilt over choices that were never yours to make for someone else.
"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 and went to stay at the house of a man named Justus, who was a worshipper of God and whose house was right next door to the synagogue."
Rejection in one place doesn't mean you have to give up on the wider community - sometimes staying close, patiently and without pressure, keeps the door open for others who are still watching and thinking.
"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 leader of the synagogue, became a believer along with his whole household, and many other Corinthians who heard the message believed too and were baptised."
Don't write off a whole group of people because of how some of them reacted to you - individuals can still surprise you, sometimes the very people you'd least expect.
"Then spake the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision, Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace: "
"One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: "Don't be afraid. Keep speaking, and don't stay silent.""
It's normal to feel afraid or discouraged even while doing something you believe in deeply - what matters is finding the courage to keep going and keep speaking your truth rather than falling silent.
"For I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city. "
""I am with you, and no one will attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city.""
When a place or task feels hostile and discouraging, remember there may be more good waiting to happen there than you can currently see - don't give up on people or places too soon.
"And he continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them. "
"So Paul stayed there for a year and a half, teaching people the message of God."
Meaningful change in people's lives, and in your own, usually takes sustained commitment over time, not a single dramatic gesture - be willing to stay the course when something truly matters.
"And when Gallio was the deputy of Achaia, the Jews made insurrection with one accord against Paul, and brought him to the judgment seat, "
"While Gallio was the Roman governor of Achaia, the Jews united together against Paul and hauled him before the court."
Sometimes doing what's right will provoke people to use whatever official power or system they can find against you - stay steady and trust that fair process, when it exists, can work in your favour.
"Saying, This fellow persuadeth men to worship God contrary to the law. "
"They accused him: "This man is persuading people to worship God in ways that go against the law.""
Watch out for using official-sounding language to disguise what's really just personal disagreement or disapproval - be honest about what's actually bothering you rather than dressing it up as something bigger.
"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: "
"Just as Paul was about to defend himself, Gallio cut in and told the Jews, "If this were a case of a real crime or serious wrongdoing, it would make sense for me to hear you out.""
Sometimes you don't need to argue your own case if the situation is clearly unjust or misdirected - a fair-minded observer will often see through baseless accusations without you needing to defend every point yourself.
"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. "
""But since this is just a dispute over words, names, and your own religious law, you sort it out yourselves - I won't act as judge over that kind of thing.""
Be wary of trying to use force, authority, or legal pressure to win an argument about belief or values - genuine conviction has to be won through honest persuasion, not compulsion.
"And he drave them from the judgment seat. "
"And he had them thrown out of the court."
When you're in a position to protect someone from an unfair process, decisive fairness matters more than polite neutrality - don't be afraid to act firmly against injustice when you have the power to.
"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. "
"Then the crowd grabbed Sosthenes, the synagogue leader, and beat him right there in front of the court, but Gallio didn't concern himself with any of it."
Don't assume that because the "big" injustice was addressed, everything is now fine - stay alert to smaller cruelties happening around you that others might overlook or ignore.
"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. "
"Paul stayed on for quite a while longer, then said goodbye to the believers and sailed for Syria, taking Priscilla and Aquila with him. Before leaving, he had his hair cut off at Cenchrea because of a vow he'd made."
You can hold onto meaningful personal practices and traditions from your own background while still genuinely welcoming and including people who are different from you - one doesn't have to cancel out the other.
"And he came to Ephesus, and left them there: but he himself entered into the synagogue, and reasoned with the Jews. "
"They arrived at Ephesus, where he left Priscilla and Aquila, while he himself went into the synagogue to debate with the Jews there."
Don't dismiss brief moments or short encounters as unimportant - even a short stop can plant something that grows into much more later, so make the most of whatever time you have.
"When they desired him to tarry longer time with them, he consented not; "
"They asked him to stay longer, but he wouldn't agree to it."
It's alright to say no to good opportunities, even ones that come with genuine warmth and welcome, when you have other commitments or a clear sense of what you need to do next.
"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 said goodbye, explaining, "I must go and keep this upcoming festival in Jerusalem, but I'll come back to you if it's God's will." Then he sailed away from Ephesus."
Make plans and set real intentions for your life, but hold them with open hands - be ready to adapt when circumstances change rather than being rigidly attached to your own schedule.
"And when he had landed at Caesarea, and gone up, and saluted the church, he went down to Antioch. "
"After landing at Caesarea, he went up to greet the church there, and then travelled on down to Antioch."
Stay connected and accountable to the people and communities who supported you at the start of your journey - success or growth doesn't mean you outgrow the relationships that helped get you there.
"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 some time there, he set off again, travelling through the region of Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening the believers as he went."
Real relationships and commitments need maintenance, not just a single good start - make time to check back in on people and things you've invested in, to help them keep growing.
"And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures, came to Ephesus. "
"Meanwhile, a Jewish man named Apollos, from Alexandria, a gifted speaker with a deep knowledge of the scriptures, arrived in Ephesus."
You don't need to be the sole founder or hero of something to make a real, valuable contribution - use whatever particular gifts you have, even if you're joining something someone else started.
"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. "
"He had been taught about the way of the Lord and, being passionate and enthusiastic, he taught accurately about Jesus - but he only knew about the baptism John the Baptist had performed."
It's fine to be enthusiastic and genuinely helpful even while you're still learning and growing - don't wait until you know everything before using what you already understand to help others.
"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 began speaking boldly in the synagogue, and when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained the way of God to him more accurately."
When you see someone doing good but incomplete work, offer honest, private, respectful help rather than public criticism - and never assume someone can't teach or lead well just because of who they are.
"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 Apollos wanted to travel on to Achaia, the believers in Ephesus wrote ahead encouraging the church there to welcome him, and once he arrived he was a great help to those who had come to believe through God's grace."
Use whatever influence or connections you have to open doors for other people doing good work, rather than guarding opportunities only for yourself - genuine support multiplies good far beyond what one person can do alone.
"For he mightily convinced the Jews, and that publickly, shewing by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ. "
"He forcefully refuted the Jews in public debate, using the scriptures to demonstrate that Jesus was the Messiah."
When someone invests in helping you grow, let that investment show through your own effective, confident contribution to good in the world - pass on what you've been given rather than keeping it for yourself.