Acts 18:4

And he reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks. AND HE REASONED ('OR DISCOURSED') IN THE SYNAGOGUE OVERT SABBATH, AND PERSUADED, [ epeithen (G3982)] - 'sought to persuade' THE JEWS AND THE GREEKS, [ te (G5037) Ioudaious (G2453) kai (G2532) Helleenas (G1672)] - 'both Jews and Greeks;' that is, proselyte Gentiles, who attended the synagogue....

− 4._He disputed in the synagogue _It is a wonder how that crept in which is in the Latin books, − (317) that Paul put in the name of Christ: unless it were because some reader would supply the want of the general sentence. For Luke setteth down two things in this place: to wit, that Paul disputed among the Jews; secondly, that he began more plainly to profess Christ after that Silas and Timotheus were come. And though it be likely that he began to speak of Christ even at the first entrance, because he could not omit the principal point of the heavenly doctrine, yet that doth not hinder but that he might use some other manner of disputation. Therefore I take [ πειθειν ] that is, to _persuade, _for _to induce by little and little. _For, in my judgment, Luke doth signify, that forasmuch as the Jews did handle the law coldly and foolishly, Paul spake of the corr

1-6 Though Paul was entitled to support from the churches he planted, and from the people to whom he preached, yet he worked at his calling. An honest trade, by which a man may get his bread, is not to be looked upon with contempt by any. It was the custom of the Jews to bring up their children to some trade, though they gave them learning or estates. Paul was careful to prevent prejudices, even the most unreasonable. The love of Christ is the best bond of the saints; and the communings of the saints with each other, sweeten labour, contempt, and even persecution. Most of the Jews persisted in contradicting the gospel of Christ, and blasphemed. They would not believe themselves, and did all they could to keep others from believing. Paul hereupon left them. He did not give over his work; for though Israel be not gathered, Christ and his gospel shall be glorious. The Jews could not compla...

Verse Acts 18:4. _HE REASONED IN THE SYNAGOGUE EVERY SABBATH_] Discoursed at large concerning Jesus as the Messiah, proving this point from their own Scriptures, collated with the facts of our Lord's life, c. _AND PERSUADED THE JEWS AND THE GREEKS._] Many, both Jews and proselytes, were convinced of the truth of his doctrine. Among his converts was _Epenetus_, the first fruit of his labour in Achaia, Romans 16:5 and the family of _Stephanas_ was the next; and then _Crispus_ and _Caius_, or _Gaius_; all of whom the apostle himself baptized, 1 Corinthians 1:14. Acts 18:8....

AND HE REASONED ... - See the notes on Acts 17:2....

EXPOSITION ACTS 18:1 _He _for _Paul, _A.V. and T.R. AFTER THESE THINGS, etc. No hint is given by St. Luke as to the length of Paul's sojourn at Athens. But as the double journey of the Beroeans, who accompanied him to Athens, back to Beraea, and of Timothy from Beraea to Athens, amounted to above five hundred miles, we cannot suppose it to have been less than a month; and it may have been a good deal more. His reasonings in the synagogue with the Jews and devout Greeks, apparently on successive sabbaths, his daily disputations in the Agora, apparently not begun till after he had "waited" some time for Silas and Timothy, the knowledge he had acquired of the numerous temples and altars at Athens, and the phrase with which this chapter begins, all indicate a stay of some length. CAME TO CORINTH. If by land, a forty

AND HE REASONED IN THE SYNAGOGUE EVERY SABBATH,.... In Corinth there was a synagogue of the Jews, in which they met together for worship on the seventh day of the week, which was their sabbath; and hither Paul went, and took the opportunity of reasoning with them out of the Scriptures, concerning Christ, his person, and offices, his incarnation, obedience, sufferings, and death, and about redemption and salvation by him: we may observe the diligence, industry, and indefatigableness of the apostle; on the sabbath day he went to the synagogue, and preached Christ to those who there attended; and on the weekdays he laboured with his own hands. Beza's most ancient copy, and the Vulgate Latin version add here, "interposing the name of the Lord Jesus"; frequently making mention of his name, or calling upon it, and doing miracles in it. AND PERSUADED THE JEWS AND THE GREEKS; this was the effec...

Paul had been preaching the gospel at Athens to the most famous men of that city gathered at Areopagus. Acts 18:1. _After these things Paul departed from Athens, and came to Corinth:_ Another most important city of Greece, where he struck at the very center of the country by preaching the gospel, since these were the centers of commerce, and also of literature. Acts 18:2. _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._ Lodged with them. Acts 18:3. And because he was of the same craft, he abode with them, and wrought: for by their

ACTS 18:2-4 The original form of the Western text, which in verses Acts 18:2 and Acts 18:3 codex Bezae presents in a form somewhat accommodated to the Alexandrian text, appears to have been the following (reconstructed by Ropes, chiefly on the basis of ith and syrhmg): kai. eu-ren VAku,lan( Pontiko.n tw|/ ge,nei( VIoudai/on( prosfa,twj evlhluqo,ta avpo. th/j VItali,aj su.n Priski,llh| gunaiki. auvtou/( kai. prosh/lqen auvtoi/j\ ou-toi de. evxh/lqon avpo. th/j ~Rw,mhj dia. to. tetace,nai Klau,dion Kai,sara cwri,zesqai pa,ntaj VIoudai,ouj avpo. th/j ~Rw,mhj\ oi] kai. katw,|khsan eivj th.n VAca...

CHAPTER 18 _ 1. In Corinth with Aquila and Priscilla. His Testimony and Separation from the Jews (Acts 18:1)._ 2. Encouragement from the Lord in a vision (Acts 18:9). 3. Paul and Gallio (Acts 18:12). 4. From Corinth to Ephesus and Antioch. The second journey ended (Acts 18:18). 5. Establishing disciples in Galatia and Phrygia (Acts 18:23). 6. Apollos, the Alexandrian (Acts 18:24). Aquila and Priscilla are mentioned here for the first time.