Verse-by-Verse Commentary
The Book of Acts
Chapter 18: I Have Much People in This City
Acts 18 follows Paul to Corinth and back, and shows God encouraging and establishing His work. At Corinth Paul joins the tentmakers Aquila and Priscilla, reasons in the synagogue, and, when the Jews oppose and blaspheme, turns to the Gentiles. Many believe and are baptized, including Crispus the synagogue ruler, and the Lord speaks to Paul in a vision: 'Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace: For I am with thee... for I have much people in this city.' So Paul stays a year and a half, teaching the word. When the Jews drag him before Gallio, the deputy refuses to judge a matter of their law and drives them away. Then Paul sails on, leaving Aquila and Priscilla at Ephesus, and returns through the churches, strengthening the disciples. At Ephesus the eloquent Apollos, mighty in the Scriptures but knowing only the baptism of John, is taken aside by Aquila and Priscilla, who 'expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly,' and he goes on to mightily prove from the Scriptures 'that Jesus was Christ.' The chapter shows us the Lord who assures His fearful servant, the elect He has in every city, and the grace by which even the gifted are taught the way of God more perfectly.
About This Commentary
This is a verse-by-verse study of Acts chapter 18. For each section you will find the KJV text, the Greek words that sharpen the meaning, plain explanation, and a Gospel Focus. Here Paul establishes the church at Corinth under the Lord's encouragement, and Apollos is taught the way of God more perfectly. Every Scripture quotation is from the King James Version.
Setting the Stage
Many Believed and Were Baptized
Paul labours as a tentmaker and plants a great church.
I Have Much People in This City
The Lord encourages His fearful servant to keep preaching.
No Judge of Such Matters
The deputy refuses to judge a question of their law.
The Way of God More Perfectly
A mighty preacher is taught more fully by a humble couple.
For I Have Much People in This City (Acts 18:1-17)
Paul plants the church at Corinth, encouraged by the Lord's promise of much people and protected before Gallio.
Be Not Afraid, but Speak, and Hold Not Thy Peace
"After these things Paul departed from Athens, and came to Corinth; 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. And because he was of the same craft, he abode with them, and wrought: for by their occupation they were tentmakers. And he reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks. And when Silas and Timotheus were come from Macedonia, Paul was pressed in the spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus was Christ. 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. 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. 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. Then spake the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision, Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace: For I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city. And he continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them. And when Gallio was the deputy of Achaia, the Jews made insurrection with one accord against Paul, and brought him to the judgment seat, Saying, This fellow persuadeth men to worship God contrary to the law. 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: 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. And he drave them from the judgment seat. 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."
Word Study
"people," Greek laos (λαός). The word means a people, a nation, and in Scripture especially the covenant people of God. The Lord tells Paul, "I have much people in this city." Remarkably, He speaks of them as already His, "much people," before they had yet believed; these were the elect of God in Corinth whom He would surely bring to faith through Paul's preaching. The word usually reserved for Israel, God's chosen people, is here applied to those in a pagan city whom God had chosen for Himself. This is a great encouragement for evangelism: God has His people in the darkest places, and He will call them through the preaching of the gospel. Paul was not casting the word into the void; the Lord had "much people" to be gathered there, and the promise nerved the fearful apostle to keep preaching without holding his peace.
Explanation
At Corinth Paul labors as a tentmaker with Aquila and Priscilla and preaches in the synagogue, and when opposition hardens he turns to the Gentiles. Fearful in that immoral city, he is encouraged by the Lord in a vision: "Be not afraid... for I have much people in this city." God's electing purpose sustains the discouraged evangelist -- there are people yet to be saved, so he must keep preaching. He stays a year and a half, and when the Jews haul him before Gallio, the proconsul refuses to judge a religious dispute. God's promise of protection holds, and a strong church is planted in Corinth.
Gospel Focus
Coming to Corinth, a great and corrupt commercial city, Paul finds the Jewish couple Aquila and Priscilla, tentmakers like himself, and works with them to support his ministry, an example of the labouring, self-supporting missionary. He reasons in the synagogue every sabbath, and when Silas and Timothy arrive, "Paul was pressed in the spirit," devoting himself fully to testifying "that Jesus was Christ." When the Jews oppose and blaspheme, Paul solemnly clears himself, "Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean," having faithfully warned them, and turns to the Gentiles. Yet the fruit is great: Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, "believed on the Lord with all his house," and "many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized", the Apostolic pattern of believing and being baptized. Then, at a moment when Paul may have been discouraged or fearful in this hostile, immoral city, the Lord Himself speaks to him in a night vision: "Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace: For I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city." Three precious assurances: do not fear, keep preaching; I am with you and will protect you; and I have "much people" here to be saved. God's presence, protection, and elect people were Paul's strength to press on, and he "continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of God." God's promise of much people was the engine of persevering evangelism. The Lord's protection is soon proven: when the Jews drag Paul before the Roman deputy Gallio, charging that he teaches worship "contrary to the law," Gallio refuses to be drawn into a religious dispute: "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," and drives them from the court. God used even a religiously indifferent Roman official to shield His servant, so that no man could set on Paul to hurt him, just as the Lord had promised. The section shows the God who assures His fearful servants, has His elect in every city, and sovereignly protects His work; and it calls us to keep speaking the gospel boldly, for God has much people yet to gather.
The Way of God More Perfectly (Acts 18:18-28)
Paul returns through the churches, and the eloquent Apollos is taught the way of God more fully by Aquila and Priscilla.
Shewing by the Scriptures That Jesus Was Christ
"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. And he came to Ephesus, and left them there: but he himself entered into the synagogue, and reasoned with the Jews. When they desired him to tarry longer time with them, he consented not; 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. And when he had landed at Caesarea, and gone up, and saluted the church, he went down to Antioch. 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. And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures, came to Ephesus. 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. 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. 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: For he mightily convinced the Jews, and that publickly, shewing by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ."
Word Study
"more perfectly," Greek akribesteron (ἀκριβέστερον). The word means more accurately, more exactly, more fully; it is the comparative of a word meaning precise and thorough. Aquila and Priscilla "expounded unto" Apollos "the way of God more perfectly." Apollos was already "eloquent" and "mighty in the scriptures," fervent and diligent, but he knew "only the baptism of John", his knowledge, though real, was incomplete, lacking the fuller truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ and the Spirit as fulfilled at Pentecost. So a humble tentmaking couple took this gifted preacher aside and taught him "more perfectly." Two lessons stand out: even the most gifted and sincere may need to be taught more accurately, and the way of God can be more fully known. Apollos's greatness was matched by his humility in receiving instruction; and Aquila and Priscilla's love did not correct him publicly but privately, building him up. Growing "more perfectly" in the truth is the path of every faithful servant.
Explanation
Passing through Ephesus, Paul leaves Priscilla and Aquila, who soon encounter Apollos -- an eloquent, fervent teacher "mighty in the scriptures," yet "knowing only the baptism of John." Rather than despise his zeal, the couple quietly take him aside and "expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly." Apollos, humbly receiving fuller truth, becomes a powerful help to the churches, "mightily convincing" the Jews that Jesus is the Christ. The episode models gracious correction: a gifted man is not rejected for incomplete understanding but lovingly taught the whole way -- including, as the next chapter shows, the baptism and Spirit that John's baptism only pointed toward.
Gospel Focus
Paul at last takes leave of Corinth, sailing with Aquila and Priscilla, having shorn his head at Cenchrea for a vow, a Jewish practice Paul kept, showing he did not despise his heritage even while preaching salvation by grace. He leaves the couple at Ephesus, briefly reasons in the synagogue there, and, unwilling to stay longer because of a feast, promises to return "if God will", the humble submission of all his plans to the will of God. He lands at Caesarea, greets the Jerusalem church, and returns to Antioch, closing the second missionary journey. Then, beginning what would be the third journey, he goes "over all the country of Galatia and Phrygia in order, strengthening all the disciples", again the pastoral concern not merely to win but to establish believers. Luke now introduces Apollos, "a certain Jew... born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures." He was "instructed in the way of the Lord," "fervent in the spirit," and taught "diligently the things of the Lord", a remarkable man, yet "knowing only the baptism of John." His understanding reached to John's message of repentance but not yet to the fullness of the gospel of the crucified, risen Christ and the outpouring of the Spirit. When Aquila and Priscilla hear him "speak boldly in the synagogue," they do not publicly humiliate this gifted teacher but "took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly." Here is a beautiful picture of the body of Christ: a humble tentmaking couple, taught by Paul, now teaching an eloquent scholar; and the scholar humbly receiving. Apollos's greatness lay not only in his eloquence and Scripture-knowledge but in his willingness to be taught more fully. So equipped, Apollos passes into Achaia (to Corinth), commended by the brethren, and there "helped them much which had believed through grace," for "he mightily convinced the Jews, and that publickly, shewing by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ." The very argument Paul used, proving from the Scriptures that Jesus is the Christ, Apollos now wields with power. The section shows the church strengthening its own: the experienced establishing the young churches, and the mature quietly teaching the gifted the way of God more perfectly, so that the whole work of the gospel goes forward. Let the gifted remain humble to learn, and the mature be ready to teach in love, that all may know the way of God more perfectly and prove that Jesus is the Christ.
Chapter 18 in Review
Acts 18 establishes the church at Corinth and strengthens the wider work. Paul labours as a tentmaker with Aquila and Priscilla, reasons in the synagogue, and, when opposed, turns to the Gentiles, yet many believe and are baptized. When Paul may have feared, the Lord assures him in a vision, "Be not afraid, but speak... for I have much people in this city," and he stays a year and a half. Gallio refuses to judge the Jews' charge, and God protects His servant. Then Paul returns through the churches, strengthening the disciples, and at Ephesus the eloquent Apollos, "mighty in the scriptures" but "knowing only the baptism of John," is taught by Aquila and Priscilla "the way of God more perfectly," and goes on to prove mightily "by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ."
For the Apostolic reader this chapter is full of encouragement and instruction. It shows God caring for His fearful servants: when the work is hard and the opposition fierce, the Lord assures us of His presence, His protection, and His purpose, "I have much people in this city." God has His elect in every place, even the darkest, and He will gather them through the faithful, persevering preaching of the gospel; this promise is the great engine of evangelism, freeing us to speak boldly and not hold our peace. It shows God's sovereign protection, using even an indifferent Roman official to shield His work, so that no man could harm Paul until God's purpose was done. And in Apollos it shows the humility that must accompany gifting: a mighty preacher, sincere and fervent, still needed to be taught the way of God more perfectly, and received it gladly from a humble couple who corrected him not to shame but to build him up. The way of God can always be known more fully, and the truest greatness is a teachable heart. So take courage to keep preaching, for God has much people yet to save; trust His presence and protection; strengthen one another in the faith; and, however gifted, remain humble to learn and ready to teach the way of God more perfectly, that all may know that Jesus is the Christ.
- Paul supports his ministry by labour, testifying that Jesus is Christ (18:3-5).
- Many believed and were baptized: the Apostolic pattern (18:8).
- The Lord assures His fearful servant: "I have much people in this city" (18:9-10).
- God has His elect in every place, gathered through faithful preaching (18:10).
- God sovereignly protects His work, even through indifferent officials (18:14-16).
- Even the gifted are taught "the way of God more perfectly" (18:26).
Questions for Reflection
- Does the promise that God has much people embolden you to keep witnessing?
- Do you trust God's presence and protection when the work is hard?
- Are you, however gifted, humble enough to be taught the way of God more perfectly?
- Are you ready, in love, to build others up in the fuller truth?
References & Sources
Scripture is quoted from the King James Version (KJV). Supporting passages are listed so every claim can be verified in its own setting. Paul's tentmaking and self-support: 1 Corinthians 9:6-18; 1 Thessalonians 2:9; 2 Thessalonians 3:8. Clearing oneself in faithful warning: Ezekiel 33:1-9; Acts 20:26-27. Believing and being baptized: Acts 2:41; 8:12; 16:33. God's elect people gathered by preaching: John 10:16; 2 Timothy 2:10; Romans 10:14-17. Submitting plans to God's will: James 4:13-15; Romans 1:10; 1 Corinthians 4:19. Growing more fully in the truth: 2 Peter 3:18; Hebrews 5:12-14; Colossians 1:9-10. Proving Jesus is the Christ from Scripture: Acts 17:2-3; 9:22; Luke 24:44-46. If anything here does not look right, a verse, a reference, or a wording, please tell us at info@FruitBearers.net. Thank you for helping us keep Bible Learning error free.
- Paul at Corinth: Acts 18:1-17; 1 Corinthians 9:6-18; John 10:16.
- The return and the instructing of Apollos: Acts 18:18-28; 2 Peter 3:18; Acts 17:2-3.