Acts 18 Discussion

A city famous for vice and ambition becomes ground zero for gritty, courageous ministry. We walk through Acts 18 with Paul stepping into Corinth as a tentmaker and preacher, joined by Aquila and Priscilla, and discover how a mix of humble work and bold truth can reshape a community. Rejection at the synagogue doesn’t end the mission; it redirects it next door, where the synagogue ruler himself believes. Then comes a midnight word from Jesus that steadies the heart: do not be afraid. What follows is eighteen months of planted presence and an unexpected legal victory when Gallio shrugs off the case, turning a public challenge into protection for the gospel.

We also zoom out to the wider network that makes ministry durable. Silas and Timothy reinforce the work. Paul honors a vow and keeps moving, strengthening disciples from Ephesus to Galatia and Phrygia with a clear sense that timing belongs to God. The arrival of Apollos, the eloquent Alexandrian, adds another layer: huge gifts, partial knowledge, and the beauty of correction done right. Priscilla and Aquila take him aside, fill in what’s missing, and send him out sharper and stronger. Soon Apollos is powerfully reasoning from Scripture that the Christ is Jesus, showing how teachability turns talent into lasting impact.

Across these scenes we draw living lessons: build trust through honest work, speak plainly about Jesus in public spaces, correct in private with grace, and welcome correction with humility. God knows the people in your city and can shield the mission at critical moments. If you’ve been timid, this is a nudge to step forward; if you’ve been weary, this is fuel to keep going. Subscribe for more daily journeys through Scripture, share this with someone who needs courage today, and leave a review to help others find the show.

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Chapters

• 0:00 Setting The Scene In Acts 18
• 0:25 Tentmaking And Ministry In Corinth
• 1:49 Pivot To Gentiles And A Synagogue Surprise
• 3:21 Night Vision And Divine Protection
• 4:33 Courtroom Showdown Before Gallio
• 6:24 Vow, Travel Circuit, And Strengthening Churches
• 8:19 Apollos Taught More Accurately
• 10:03 Observations On Humility And Teamwork
• 12:16 Courage, Encouragement, And God’s Care
• 15:07 The Vow And Cultural Tensions
• 17:08 Applications: Bold Truth And Teachable Hearts
• 18:07 Public Faith And Final Takeaways

Transcript

Pastor Plek: 0:10

And welcome back to a chapter a day. Keeps the devil away. I'm Pastor Pleck. That's Pastor Holland. We're talking Acts chapter 18. We're going to outline it. We're going to observe it. We're going to interpret it, and then we're going to apply it so that your day is filled up in the power of God's word. All right. So Acts 18 starts out with verses one through four, where Paul departs from Athens and heads to Corinth, which is a strategic but morally corrupt city. And that's where he meets Aquila and Priscilla, Jewish tent makers, and then they join part of his ministry, and they are all involved in bivocational ministry, displaying his humility, endurance, and steady gospel proclamation. Then in verses five through eight, you've got Silas and Timothy arriving in Macedonia, where Paul devotes himself fully to preaching, testifying that Jesus is the Christ. And then he announces that his mission mission to the Gentiles and moves uh from the synagogue where the Jews rejected him and goes next door to the house of Titius Justice, and Crispus, the synagogue ruler, believes in the Lord with his households, and many Corinthians hear, believe, and are baptized. Kind of a wild deal. Then you've got uh verses nine through eleven where Paul gets a vision at night of the Lord telling him not to be afraid that he will not be harmed during his preaching. Then in verses 12 through 17, you've got the legal accusation, but God's protection, which is sort of wild. The Jews bring Paul before uh Gallio and the pro-council of Achaia, which is southern Greece, and accuse of unlawful worship. And the guy's like, I don't care about words of your law. Get out of here. And they end up beating the very guy that brought the accusation. Then in verses 18 through 23, you got the departure from Corinth and then the continued ministry as he cuts his hair in centre, Paul does, and then because of the vow, and then travels to Ephesus, where he uh reasons briefly in the synagogue, uh, but doesn't remain, and then promises to return if God wills, sails to Caesarea, greets the church, goes to Antioch, and then travels through Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening disciples. Then finally, in verses 24 through 28, Apollos, who is an eloquent uh Alexandrian Jew, arrives in Ephesus and he's fervent in spirit and mighty in the scriptures, but he knows only about the baptism of John, and then Aquila and uh Priscilla, then take him aside and explain the way of God more accurately. And then he is then sent to Achaea, again, southern Greece, uh, where he powerfully refutes the Jews publicly. It's kind of a wild deal of watching more people come to do the Lord's work. What are some uh observations that you can make about this text?

Pastor Holland: 2:56

Okay, I I do think it's kind of funny that he's like, um, from now on, I'll go to the Gentiles. And then some Jews believe like right after that, and he's like back to ministering to some Jews in the synagogue again.

Pastor Plek: 3:08

Yeah, it is kind of funny. He's like, I'm out of here. Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. And then the guy that becomes a believer is the synagogue ruler. Right.

Pastor Holland: 3:16

I just think it's kind of funny. That's like uh God humor, right?

Pastor Plek: 3:19

Was that reverse psychology?

Pastor Holland: 3:21

I don't know. I or it's just Paul, you know, Luke being honest about Paul, you know, being honest and just going like, I'm I'm done with you guys, and then God and his, you know, irony and humor um leads a Jew to, you know, brings a Jew to Christ right next to the next thing.

Pastor Plek: 3:36

I I think it's wild that Paul, like this was so I don't want to say humiliating, but he is a white-collar guy. He has been trained, he's been to college, he is smart. For him to take on tent making is a wild thought, especially in a Grecian city where the people who are educated didn't do blue-collar work.

Pastor Holland: 4:02

Yeah. I think it's good. Uh, you know, um, it's good to have a backup trade. Yeah. It's good to have something that you can do. It really helped Paul, you know, and he made uh he told the Corinthians, he's ministering to them, and he later tells them when he writes to them in First Corinthians, I didn't accept anything from you. Um, I worked hard. You know, the whole time I was here, I worked hard. I didn't take any money from you to teach you the value of hard work. You know, like he he wanted to, he he made that sacrifice to be a model of what it looks like to work hard and be a provider.

Pastor Plek: 4:34

So yeah, how long did he stay? It said a year and six months. Yeah, so 18 months, he's there working and preaching, and they get to know him over that 18-month period. But what's really wild when you think about this, Paul doesn't stay anywhere very long. Yeah. And so it's hard to build trust, but when you're that awesome, filled with the power of God, you're preaching and proclaiming him, and then you're a missionary. Um, I I wonder what like for him to plant that church, be the pastor of that church essentially for 18 years, and then move on. Yeah. Um you can see why the Corinthians, when they got somebody new, like it only took them 18 months to kind of have a whole new way of life. And then when the super apostles, you know, that's that's talked about specifically in uh first and second Corinthians, like the new teaching comes in and he's not there to refute it, they get led astray a little bit. Yeah. It's it's kind of a wild thing how Paul is has to establish things in so fast a manner and then keep moving along the Mediterranean.

Pastor Holland: 5:35

Yeah, and I I do love, you know, he stayed, it says he stayed there a year and six months. Um, but yeah, it's right after saying that he got this dream from God um or a vision in the night where God says don't be afraid, go on speaking. And I just love that because like he already has scriptures, plenty of scriptures that say, Do not fear. You know, he he knows he's not supposed to be afraid, but God blesses him with like this above and beyond vision in the night, just to encourage him. And I think it's just really gracious and kind of God to have done that.

Pastor Plek: 6:06

Do you think that if we go do more crazy things for Jesus where you might be killed, then you get more visions?

Pastor Holland: 6:11

Maybe all right.

Pastor Plek: 6:14

What about I thought this was cool, Aquila and Priscilla? Yeah, it's interesting that when it comes to uh Apollos, Priscilla's name is mentioned first. Right. What is that all about? Because clearly the more dominant person is usually mentioned first, and mostly it's always the older brother listed first. Uh, but here Priscilla, the wife, is listed before Aquila.

Pastor Holland: 6:34

Yeah. Yeah. It and uh they correct him too. Um they verse 26. Um it's it does say they took him aside. So it's not just Priscilla doing this, but and it's also not, you know, Priscilla being like a public teacher. They took him aside. So this is a private correction with Priscilla and Aquila together. Um, but uh, you know, it appears that she's someone who is very, you know, theologically minded, who understands the scriptures very well, and that her and her husband were like a great ministry team.

Pastor Plek: 7:05

I could see Aquila going like, hey, um, Paul's come over here real quick. Uh I think you're a little hey, can you explain to him again? Yeah, maybe. Yeah, you know, I I I thought that was cool. I just thought that was a really neat honoring of Priscilla.

Pastor Holland: 7:18

Yeah. Um, and they're they they become you know close friends of Paul that he mentions in, you know, like Romans at the end of Romans and stuff like that.

Pastor Plek: 7:25

So yeah. Um, I I really love how Silas and Timothy are always kind of coming in to support Paul's new work. They're like Paul goes in, I call it like break and brush. Whenever if you ever had to walk through a forest or a jungle and you're breaking brush and you kind of make a path, and then the guys come behind you help like support the path and beat it down even more.

Pastor Holland: 7:45

Yeah, trailblazing.

Pastor Plek: 7:46

Trailblazing, and they follow up and then they they uh they support his ministry, and and it just highlights the importance of like shared labor in ministry.

Pastor Holland: 7:55

Amen.

Pastor Plek: 7:56

Yeah, I love that. Um, how about Crispus? I just this I love it. Yeah. The synagogue ruler, hey, I'm not gonna preach to the Jews anymore. And then the synagogue ruler, oh, and does he go next door to Titius Justice's house?

Pastor Holland: 8:11

Uh he left there, went to the house of a man named Titius Justice. Um, his house was next door to the synagogue, and yeah, Crispus was the ruler of the synagogue. So yeah, they're all right next to each other. Um, it's it's great.

Pastor Plek: 8:26

Um, how about Apollos being teachable? Yeah. Because he's preaching boldly, and how did he only have the gospel all the way up to where the baptism of John? Yeah. Like, isn't that incredible? Yeah. And um somehow the message of John the Baptist went across um the Roman world. And then the part about Jesus didn't get to everybody.

Pastor Holland: 8:51

Yeah, I love that um it there, you know, there's like a lot of different forms of that today. Of like, you can know someone who's, you know, really on fire for Jesus and clearly a gifted teacher, but they're wrong about something, you know. And um, one, it takes boldness to approach someone about that. Yeah. And um, and then it takes humility to receive that kind of correction. And so everyone involved in that, Priscilla, Aquila, and Apollos are all like, wow, those are great examples.

Pastor Plek: 9:20

Okay, let's get into some truths about the nature of man. How about um uh we get it wrong sometimes. Yeah. Yeah. How about uh men need to be encouraged? Like Paul had a vision that reveals like he had probably some real fear and discouragement, especially when people aren't getting it. And he's like, it's this easy, you know, like especially when you're really smart. Like, I'm sure it's like really hard for really talented people to um to deal with people who aren't quite as talented. Like uh, I just think of Michael Jordan, you don't want to put him with a rookie, he'd be like, You just I don't understand how you don't get this, just dunk the ball. Uh, and I think that's where uh Paul might have been discouraged by people not getting it on first, second, third time around, and maybe the frustration was coming and he's getting persecuted, and he's and then so Jesus gave him a vision, which I appreciated.

Pastor Holland: 10:10

That yeah, and no one will attack you to harm you. That had to be such a blessing to hear for Paul. Yeah. Everywhere he goes, he gets attacked and harmed, and he's like, Wow, thank you, God, a little break. Yeah.

Pastor Plek: 10:23

Um, how about um men who have a teachable spirit go way farther? I I just love Apollos. Like, you gotta know he was bold, he's persuasive, he's excited. And then someone goes, Hey, I love what you just said, you just don't have the whole story.

Pastor Holland: 10:45

Yeah.

Pastor Plek: 10:46

I mean, that amount of teachability is wild. And to hear it from tent makers, again, Apollos is college educated. Apollos is a man who's a traveling, itinerant speaker as it is. Right. And so for him to listen to tent makers, uh, like where where'd you go to school? Oh tent making school? Tell me about your rhetoric training. Oh, zero. Right. So the fact that he was able to listen to them just really, I just value that and just shows that believers, you know, people people that are like following God, they need to have a teachable spirit no matter how mature they become. Yeah.

Pastor Holland: 11:25

Also, um, sometimes people don't have teachable spirit, and uh, you know, it says in verse six, you know, they opposed him and reviled him, and he shook out his garments. It's okay to move on sometimes.

Pastor Plek: 11:39

Yeah, yeah. Don't feel and don't feel like a failure. Yeah. Like you did what God called you to do. Yeah. All right, how about some truths about the character of God? How about um God encourages his servants personally? And I love this specifically. I love that. Like when you read God's word, there should be a part where you feel like God is speaking to you. I mean, and I know that sounds a little bit mystical, but God's word is living and active, sharper than a two-edged sword, dividing between joint and marrow, dividing the thoughts and intentions of the heart. So God's word can really penetrate your heart. And that's why we pray, and God can speak to you and really reveal himself to you in a really powerful way. Like Paul needed some encouragement there, and he got it.

Pastor Holland: 12:15

Yeah. Yeah, I love um what he says and the encouragement too. Uh, I have many in this city who are my people. And God's just uh his omniscience and his sovereignty that you can see there, and how he uses it leverages his omniscience and sovereignty um as encouragement for the believer. Uh, how about this?

Pastor Plek: 12:36

God protects uh his mission. Like, I love how Paul didn't have to defend himself. Like there's a lot of there's times where he has to defend himself. In fact, he has sometimes to defend himself against Christians. Uh, but here, like, you know, he's about to have to talk in front of all these people and explain why, blah, blah, blah. And God's like, nah, I got you. And the pro council's like, you're an idiot, move out.

Pastor Holland: 12:59

Yeah, I love that. Um, we didn't touch on this though, but what about the the vow?

Pastor Plek: 13:07

Yeah, the Nazirite vow.

Pastor Holland: 13:08

Yeah. So it doesn't say specifically what vow it was. And you know, the Okay, I went for the Nazirite vow.

Pastor Plek: 13:14

No, I think you're right. Yeah.

Pastor Holland: 13:15

No, I think you're right, but you know, a strict, strictly the Nazirite vow, you had to go cut your hair at the temple. Right. He doesn't cut his hair at the temple. No. And so it's like a like the spirit of a Nazirite vow. Um, and so usually you'd you'd let your hair grow out long during the vow. You wouldn't drink any wine or strong drink. Um, and what was that? There was like one more thing. Um don't touch dead animals or something. Yeah. Um, and so and then at the end of it, after your hair had grown out, you cut it. Um and like uh burn it? Do you burn it? Do you remember? Gosh, I don't think you burn it. Is this like numbers numbers um six, maybe? Um yeah, it's something at the end of the vow, though, is when you you cut your hair and it's like, hey, I've completed my vow. Um and so I just I think it's interesting that Paul does this, even though he can the hair is cut and burned from number six, commitment. There it is. Yeah. So you see some kind of thing um uh in Paul here. This is I don't I don't know what how to fit this into what it teaches about man or God, but there's something there though about Paul saying, I'm uh I'm like making a vow, making a commitment to you, God. Um yeah, I don't know.

Pastor Plek: 14:26

What do you take from this is where what's hard for me because in in First Corinthians 11, I think he talks about you know your length of hair. Yeah. But like like why does he why does he go there? But then he himself has long hair at a certain point.

Pastor Holland: 14:42

Yeah, the the Nazarite vow was the was exceptional. It it made it was very clear that you were by growing your hair at all. Yeah, temporary long hair that set you apart and made you look different and made it clear, oh, you're under a vow.

Pastor Plek: 14:55

Um yeah, because Samuel was under a vow like that, like from birth, and he just rolled with long hair, as well as um Samson. And so um, yeah, I just thought that was sort of a wild, wild deal of like what exactly was that all about? And and then why make rules for hair other than if you are if a man does have long hair, oh, clearly he's under some kind of vow. Yeah.

Pastor Holland: 15:16

Okay, yeah. So interesting. So long hair should be the God here, maybe here's what it teaches about God. Um, God cares about hair. Okay.

Pastor Plek: 15:25

All right, all right. He he he he cares about hair. All right. I think honestly more on that in a later uh chapter today. It's like, hey, look like a man. All right, that's what that was. Okay, let's get into some application, right? Application. So we want to talk sin to avoid or confess, a promise to claim, an example to follow, command to obey, or knowledge to believe. What do you got for any your first one?

Pastor Holland: 15:47

Uh command to obey, do not be afraid. I love that. Okay, yeah. You know, it's a given as encouragement to Paul, but I think we can receive it as encouragement for us as well. Don't be afraid, keep following the Lord.

Pastor Plek: 15:58

Yeah. How about um avoid uh being silent when it comes to opportunities to share the gospel or correct somebody in their like wrong thinking, like with Apollos? Because you could have been uh Priscilla and Aquila could have been like, uh, you know, he's not gonna listen to us anyway. Why should why should we tell us the right story? Um, or how about avoid pride uh that resists correction might be a good way to put that? Because you know, it's from a from Apollos angle, um don't be teachable from Priscilla and Aquila, be bold and correct. Uh, and then maybe avoid abandoning ministry because there's so much opposition.

Pastor Holland: 16:37

Yeah, I would also thinking of Priscilla, Aquila, and Apollos, um, it says Apollos was competent in the scriptures, um, but clearly Priscilla and Aquila were as well. Yeah. Um, like they all knew the Bible really well. So men and women of different um trades and you know, vocations and stuff, uh, all being committed students of the Bible. So that'd be an example to follow.

Pastor Plek: 17:01

No God's word like Priscilla and Aquila, even if you have a blue-collar trade. Yeah. All right. Um, how about uh how about knowledge to believe? Acts 18 just really reveals that that God is an encourager, he's a protector, he's a builder of the church, even amongst opposition in the public square. Amen. What else you got?

Pastor Holland: 17:26

Uh Paul in verse 28, it says he powerfully refuted the Jews in public, showing by the scriptures that the Christ was Jesus. Sometimes, I don't know, the idea of like uh he's doing this publicly, um, and he's powerfully refuting them. That's not very like nice language, you know. He's he's like proving why they're wrong and showing why the gospel is true, and he's doing it publicly. And sometimes we can feel like, oh, I don't want to like ruffle feathers or whatever. Paul, Paul was a very public Christian, and I just I'm challenged and convicted when I read that stuff and encouraged of like, man, go public with your faith and you know, prove Jesus is Lord. Love it. Hey, thanks so much for joining us.

Pastor Plek: 18:07

We'll see you tomorrow for Acts chapter 19 on chapter day.