Paul Ministers in Corinth (1 Corinthians 1:1–3; 2 Corinthians 1:1–2)
1 UDB After that, Paul left the city of Athens and went to the city of Corinth. BSB BSB: After this, Paul left Athens and went to Corinth.
2 UDB There he met a Jew whose name was Aquila, who was from the region of Pontus. Aquila and his wife Priscilla had come a short time previously from the city of Rome, in Italy. They left Rome because Claudius, the Roman emperor, had ordered that all the Jews must leave Rome. BSB BSB: There he found a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla because Claudius had ordered all the Jews to leave Rome. Paul went to visit them,
3 UDB Aquila and Priscilla made tents to earn money. Paul also made tents, so he stayed with them, and they worked together. BSB BSB: and he stayed and worked with them because they were tentmakers by trade, just as he was.
4 UDB Every Sabbath, Paul went to the Jewish meeting place, where he spoke to both Jews and Greeks. He taught them about Jesus. BSB BSB: Every Sabbath he reasoned in the synagogue, trying to persuade Jews and Greeks alike.
5 UDB When Silas and Timothy came from the region of Macedonia, Paul spent all his time telling the message to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ. BSB BSB: And when Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia, Paul devoted himself fully to the word, testifying to the Jews that Jesus is the Christ.
6 UDB But the Jews began to turn against Paul and to say evil things about him. So he shook the dust from his clothes and he said to them, "If God punishes you, it is your responsibility, not mine! From now on I will talk to the Gentiles!" BSB BSB: But when they opposed and insulted him, he shook out his garments and told them, “Your blood be on your own heads! I am innocent of it. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.”
7 UDB So Paul left the Jewish meeting place and went into a house that was next to it and preached there. Titius Justus, the owner of the house, was a man who worshiped God. BSB BSB: So Paul left the synagogue and went next door to the house of Titus Justus, a worshiper of God.
8 UDB After that, the ruler of the Jewish meeting place, whose name was Crispus, and all of his family believed in the Lord. Many other people in Corinth heard about Crispus and his family; they also believed in Jesus and were baptized. BSB BSB: Crispus, the synagogue leader, and his whole household believed in the Lord. And many of the Corinthians who heard the message believed and were baptized.
9 UDB One night, Paul had a vision in which the Lord Jesus said to him, "Do not be afraid of the people who are against you, but keep talking about me BSB BSB: One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: “Do not be afraid; keep on speaking; do not be silent.
10 UDB because I will help you and no one will be able to hurt you here. Keep telling them about me because there are many people in this city who belong to me." BSB BSB: For I am with you and no one will lay a hand on you, because I have many people in this city.”
11 UDB So Paul stayed in Corinth for a year and a half, teaching the people the message from God about Jesus. BSB BSB: So Paul stayed for a year and a half, teaching the word of God among the Corinthians.
Paul before Gallio 13 UDB saying, "This man is teaching people to worship God in ways that go against our Jewish laws." BSB BSB: “This man is persuading the people to worship God in ways contrary to the law,” they said.
14 UDB When Paul was about to speak, Gallio said to the Jews, "If this man had broken our Roman laws, I would have listened to what you Jews want to tell me. BSB BSB: But just as Paul was about to speak, Gallio told the Jews, “If this matter involved a wrongdoing or vicious crime, O Jews, it would be reasonable for me to hear your complaint.
15 UDB However, you are talking about words and names and your own Jewish laws, so you yourselves must talk to him about this. I will not judge these things!" BSB BSB: But since it is a dispute about words and names and your own law, settle it yourselves. I refuse to be a judge of such things.”
16 UDB After Gallio had said that, he told some soldiers to take the Jewish leaders away from the court. BSB BSB: And he drove them away from the judgment seat.
17 UDB Then the people grabbed Sosthenes, the leader of the Jews. They beat him right there in front of the judge's seat. But Gallio did nothing about it. BSB BSB: At this, the crowd seized Sosthenes the synagogue leader and beat him in front of the judgment seat. But none of this was of concern to Gallio.
Paul Returns to Antioch 18 UDB Paul stayed with the believers in Corinth for many more days. Then he got on a ship with Priscilla and Aquila and sailed for the province of Syria. He got his hair cut off in Cenchrea because of a vow that he had made. BSB BSB: Paul remained in Corinth for quite some time before saying goodbye to the brothers. He had his head shaved in Cenchrea to keep a vow he had made, and then he sailed for Syria, accompanied by Priscilla and Aquila.
19 UDB They arrived at the city of Ephesus, and Priscilla and Aquila stayed there. Paul himself entered the Jewish meeting place and spoke to the Jews about Jesus. BSB BSB: When they reached Ephesus, Paul left Priscilla and Aquila. He himself went into the synagogue there and reasoned with the Jews.
20 UDB They asked him to stay longer, but he did not agree to stay. BSB BSB: When they asked him to stay for a while longer, he declined.
21 UDB But as he left, he told them, "I will come back, if God wants me to." Then he got on a ship and sailed away from Ephesus. BSB BSB: But as he left, he said, “I will come back to you if God is willing.” And he set sail from Ephesus.
22 UDB When the ship came to the city of Caesarea, Paul got off. He went up to Jerusalem and greeted the believers there. Then he went to the city of Antioch in the region of Syria. BSB BSB: When Paul had landed at Caesarea, he went up and greeted the church at Jerusalem. Then he went down to Antioch.
Paul’s Third Missionary Journey Begins (Acts 13:1–3; Acts 15:36–41)
23 UDB Paul spent some time with the believers there. Then he left Antioch and walked to many cities in the regions of Galatia and Phrygia. He helped all the believers to strongly trust in the Lord Jesus. BSB BSB: After Paul had spent some time in Antioch, he traveled from place to place throughout the region of Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples.
24 UDB While Paul was going through Galatia and Phrygia, a Jewish man named Apollos came to Ephesus. He was from the city of Alexandria and spoke very well about the scriptures. BSB BSB: Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was an eloquent man, well versed in the Scriptures.
25 UDB Other believers had taught Apollos how the Lord Jesus wanted people to live, and he enthusiastically taught those things to the people. However, he was not teaching everything about Jesus, because he only knew about the baptism of John the Baptizer. BSB BSB: He had been instructed in the way of the Lord and was fervent in spirit. He spoke and taught accurately about Jesus, though he knew only the baptism of John.
27 UDB When Apollos decided that he would like to go to the region of Achaia, the believers in Ephesus told him that it would be good for him to do that. So they wrote a letter to the believers in Achaia saying that they should welcome Apollos. After he got there, he helped those whom God had kindly enabled to believe in Jesus. BSB BSB: When Apollos resolved to cross over to Achaia, the brothers encouraged him and wrote to the disciples there to welcome him. On his arrival, he was a great help to those who by grace had believed.
28 UDB Apollos was talking very powerfully with the leaders of the Jews, while many other people listened. By reading from the scriptures, he was able to show them that Jesus was the Christ. BSB BSB: For he powerfully refuted the Jews in public debate, proving from the Scriptures that Jesus is the Christ.
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.