"ACTS OF THE APOSTLES"
Chapter Eighteen
OBJECTIVES IN STUDYING THIS CHAPTER
1) Examine the final travels of Paul's 2nd Journey, from Corinth back to
Antioch of Syria
2) Review the work of Aquila and Priscilla, and Apollos
3) Observe the beginning of Paul's 3rd Journey
SUMMARY
Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. He found Aquila and Priscilla.
He stayed with them, as they were of the same trade, tentmakers. Aquila
and Priscilla had left Rome because of the command by Claudius.
During this time, Paul taught in the synagogue and "persuaded both Jews
and Greeks." Silas and Timothy then joined Paul at Corinth, coming from
Macedonia. Paul taught the Jews that "Jesus is the Christ." They
opposed him. Paul told them, "Your blood be on your own heads; I am
clean. From now on I will go to the Gentiles." Paul then went to
Justus' house, which was next to the synagogue. Crispus, the ruler of
the synagogue, and his household believed. Many Corinthians believed
and were baptized. The Lord spoke to Paul in a vision, encouraging him
to be bold and to continue to speak; for the Lord would be with him.
Paul continued teaching there another year and a half. The Jews then
took Paul before the proconsul of Achaia, Gallio, charging that he
"persuades men to worship God contrary to the law." Gallio refused to be
a "judge of such matters" and drove them away from the judgment seat. [I
and II Thessalonians may have been written.] (1-17)
Paul remained there a while longer. Next, Paul, Aquila and Priscilla
set sail for Syria. As they were departing, Paul had his hair cut off at
Cenchrea as part of a vow. Paul left Aquila and Priscilla in
Ephesus, as they were traveling. Paul did not remain in Ephesus, as he
wanted to keep the feast in Jerusalem. He sailed on to Caesarea,
greeted the church there, and went on to Antioch. (18-22)
Paul departed from Antioch of Syria to begin the 3rd journey. He
traveled through Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening the disciples.
Apollos of Alexandria is then introduced as an "eloquent man and mighty
in the Scriptures." Apollos traveled to Ephesus and spoke boldly in the
synagogue. He taught the way of the Lord, but he only knew the baptism
of John. When Aquila and Priscilla heard him, they took him
aside and "explained to him the way of God more accurately." Apollos
then traveled to Achaia and "greatly helped" the believers. "He
vigorously refuted the Jews publicly, showing from the Scriptures that
Jesus is the Christ." (23-28)
OUTLINE
I. THE APOSTLE PAUL IN CORINTH (continuing the 2nd Journey) (1-17)
A. PAUL TAUGHT IN CORINTH (1-17)
1. Found Aquila and Priscilla
a. Worked and stayed with Aquila and Priscilla
b. They were tentmakers by trade
2. Paul taught in the synagogue every Sabbath
a. He persuaded by Jews and Greeks
3. Paul preached that Jesus is the Christ
a. Silas and Timothy join Paul, arriving from Macedonia
b. Jews opposed Paul and blasphemed
c. Paul decided to go to the Gentiles
4. Paul went to Justus' house (by synagogue) and taught
a. Crispus, ruler of the synagogue, believed (and his house)
b. Many Corinthians believed and were baptized
c. The Lord spoke to Paul, "Do not be afraid, but speak..."
d. Paul continued teaching the Word of God there 18 months
5. Jews brought Paul before Gallio, proconsul of Achaia
a. Charged that Paul persuaded men to worship God "contrary to
the law"
b. Gallio refused to hear the case, as it was not a "matter of
wrongdoing or wicked crimes"
c. Gallio drove them from the judgment seat and ignored them
II. PAUL RETURNED TO ANTIOCH OF SYRIA (18-22)
A. PAUL DEPARTED CORINTH, AND SAILED FOR SYRIA (18)
1. After the encounter before Gallio, Paul remained a good while
2. Paul, with Aquila and Priscilla, sailed for Syria
3. Paul had taken a vow; at the end, he cut his hair at Cenchrea
a. Cenchrea was a port that served Corinth (approx. 8-9 miles)
b. Upon expiration of the vow, the hair was cut off
B. PAUL ARRIVED AT EPHESUS, WITH AQUILA AND PRISCILLA (19-22)
1. Paul leaves Aquila and Priscilla in Ephesus
2. Paul entered the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews
a. The Jews asked him to stay longer
b. Paul declined, as he wanted to keep the feast in Jerusalem
c. Paul indicated he would return; thus he departed
3. Paul landed at Caesarea, greeted the church, and went to
Antioch
a. Recall Cornelius and his household/friends' conversion
b. Paul arrived in Antioch in completion of the 2nd journey
III. PAUL BEGAN THE 3rd JOURNEY (23-28)
A. PAUL RETURNED TO THE REGIONS OF GALATIA AND PHRYGIA (23)
1. Paul departs Antioch, beginning the 3rd journey
2. He travels through Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening the
disciples
B. APOLLOS IN EPHESUS AND ACHAIA (24-28)
1. Apollos of Alexandria was "eloquent and mighty in the
Scriptures"
2. Apollos arrived in Ephesus and taught the "way of the Lord"
a. He knew only the baptism of John
b. Aquila and Priscilla took him aside
c. They explained "more accurately" the way of God to Apollos
3. Apollos desired to go to Achaia
a. The brethren wrote a letter to those in Achaia to receive
him
b. Apollos helped the believers there
c. He vigorously showed that "Jesus is the Christ" from the
Scriptures and "refuted the Jews publicly"
REVIEW QUESTIONS FOR THE CHAPTER
1) What are the main events in this chapter?
- Paul teaches in Corinth (1-17)
- Paul returns to Antioch of Syria (18-22)
- Paul begins the 3rd journey (23)
- Apollos taught more "accurately" by Aquila and Priscilla (24-28)
2) Why were Aquila and Priscilla in Corinth rather than Rome? (2)
- Claudius had commanded all Jews to depart Rome (2)
3) What was the common occupation of Paul and Aquila and Priscilla? (3)
- Tentmakers (3)
4) What did Paul do every Sabbath? (4)
- Reasoned in the synagogue (4)
- Persuaded both Jews and Greeks (4)
5) When Silas and Timothy joined Paul, what was he compelled to testify
by the Spirit and to whom? (5)
- That Jesus is the Christ; to the Jews (5)
6) What was the reaction of the Jews? (6)
- They opposed him and blasphemed (6)
7) How did Paul respond and to whom was he going next? (6)
- "Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean." (6)
- "From now on I will go to the Gentiles." (6)
8) Whose house did Paul enter and where was it located? (7)
- Justus' house (he worshipped God) (7)
- Next door to the synagogue (7)
9) What resulted with the people of Corinth? (8)
- Crispus, ruler of the synagogue believed with his household (8)
- Many Corinthians believed and were baptized (8)
10) After the vision from the Lord, how long did Paul remain there? (11)
- A year and six months, teaching among them (11)
11) What was Gallio not willing to be a judge over? (15)
- Question of words and names and your own [Jewish] law (15)
12) After a good while, Paul departed. Who accompanied him and where
did they go? (18-19)
- Aquila and Priscilla accompanied Paul (18)
- They sailed for Syria (18)
- Paul left Aquila and Priscilla in Ephesus (19)
13) Why did Paul not stay longer in Ephesus? (21)
- He was intent on keeping the feast in Jerusalem (21)
14) After his arrival in Antioch of Syria, where did Paul go? What did
he do? (23)
- He went over the region of Galatia and Phrygia (23)
- He strengthened all the disciples (23)
15) In Ephesus, when Aquila and Priscilla heard Apollos speak, what did
they do? (25-26)
- They took him aside and explained to him more accurately the way of
God (26)
- He only knew the baptism of John (25)
16) What did Apollos do in Achaia? (27-28)
- He greatly helped those who had believed (27)
- He vigorously refuted the Jews publicly, showing from the
Scriptures that Jesus is the Christ (28)
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Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2009
