| Berean Study Bible | New Living Translation |
| 1After this, Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. | 1Then Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. |
| 2There 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, | 2There he became acquainted with a Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, who had recently arrived from Italy with his wife, Priscilla. They had left Italy when Claudius Caesar deported all Jews from Rome. |
| 3and he stayed and worked with them because they were tentmakers by trade, just as he was. | 3Paul lived and worked with them, for they were tentmakers just as he was. |
| 4Every Sabbath he reasoned in the synagogue, trying to persuade Jews and Greeks alike. | 4Each Sabbath found Paul at the synagogue, trying to convince the Jews and Greeks alike. |
| 5And when Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia, Paul devoted himself fully to the word, testifying to the Jews that Jesus is the Christ. | 5And after Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia, Paul spent all his time preaching the word. He testified to the Jews that Jesus was the Messiah. |
| 6But 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.” | 6But when they opposed and insulted him, Paul shook the dust from his clothes and said, “Your blood is upon your own heads—I am innocent. From now on I will go preach to the Gentiles.” |
| 7So Paul left the synagogue and went next door to the house of Titus Justus, a worshiper of God. | 7Then he left and went to the home of Titius Justus, a Gentile who worshiped God and lived next door to the synagogue. |
| 8Crispus, the synagogue leader, and his whole household believed in the Lord. And many of the Corinthians who heard the message believed and were baptized. | 8Crispus, the leader of the synagogue, and everyone in his household believed in the Lord. Many others in Corinth also heard Paul, became believers, and were baptized. |
| 9One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: “Do not be afraid; keep on speaking; do not be silent. | 9One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision and told him, “Don’t be afraid! Speak out! Don’t be silent! |
| 10For I am with you and no one will lay a hand on you, because I have many people in this city.” | 10 For I am with you, and no one will attack and harm you, for many people in this city belong to me.” |
| 11So Paul stayed for a year and a half, teaching the word of God among the Corinthians. | 11So Paul stayed there for the next year and a half, teaching the word of God. |
| 12While Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews coordinated an attack on Paul and brought him before the judgment seat. | 12But when Gallio became governor of Achaia, some Jews rose up together against Paul and brought him before the governor for judgment. |
| 13“This man is persuading the people to worship God in ways contrary to the law,” they said. | 13They accused Paul of “persuading people to worship God in ways that are contrary to our law.” |
| 14But 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. | 14But just as Paul started to make his defense, Gallio turned to Paul’s accusers and said, “Listen, you Jews, if this were a case involving some wrongdoing or a serious crime, I would have a reason to accept your case. |
| 15But 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.” | 15But since it is merely a question of words and names and your Jewish law, take care of it yourselves. I refuse to judge such matters.” |
| 16And he drove them away from the judgment seat. | 16And he threw them out of the courtroom. |
| 17At 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. | 17The crowd then grabbed Sosthenes, the leader of the synagogue, and beat him right there in the courtroom. But Gallio paid no attention. Paul Returns to Antioch of Syria |
| 18Paul 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. | 18Paul stayed in Corinth for some time after that, then said good-bye to the brothers and sisters and went to nearby Cenchrea. There he shaved his head according to Jewish custom, marking the end of a vow. Then he set sail for Syria, taking Priscilla and Aquila with him. |
| 19When they reached Ephesus, Paul parted ways with Priscilla and Aquila. He himself went into the synagogue there and reasoned with the Jews. | 19They stopped first at the port of Ephesus, where Paul left the others behind. While he was there, he went to the synagogue to reason with the Jews. |
| 20When they asked him to stay for a while longer, he declined. | 20They asked him to stay longer, but he declined. |
| 21But as he left, he said, “I will come back to you if God is willing.” And he set sail from Ephesus. | 21As he left, however, he said, “I will come back later, God willing.” Then he set sail from Ephesus. |
| 22When Paul had landed at Caesarea, he went up and greeted the church at Jerusalem. Then he went down to Antioch. | 22The next stop was at the port of Caesarea. From there he went up and visited the church at Jerusalem and then went back to Antioch. |
| 23After Paul had spent some time in Antioch, he traveled from place to place throughout the region of Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples. | 23After spending some time in Antioch, Paul went back through Galatia and Phrygia, visiting and strengthening all the believers. Apollos Instructed at Ephesus |
| 24Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was an eloquent man, well versed in the Scriptures. | 24Meanwhile, a Jew named Apollos, an eloquent speaker who knew the Scriptures well, had arrived in Ephesus from Alexandria in Egypt. |
| 25He 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. | 25He had been taught the way of the Lord, and he taught others about Jesus with an enthusiastic spirit and with accuracy. However, he knew only about John’s baptism. |
| 26And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him in and explained to him the way of God more accurately. | 26When Priscilla and Aquila heard him preaching boldly in the synagogue, they took him aside and explained the way of God even more accurately. |
| 27When 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. | 27Apollos had been thinking about going to Achaia, and the brothers and sisters in Ephesus encouraged him to go. They wrote to the believers in Achaia, asking them to welcome him. When he arrived there, he proved to be of great benefit to those who, by God’s grace, had believed. |
| 28For he powerfully refuted the Jews in public debate, proving from the Scriptures that Jesus is the Christ. | 28He refuted the Jews with powerful arguments in public debate. Using the Scriptures, he explained to them that Jesus was the Messiah. |
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