What is the meaning of Acts 18:3?

And he stayed

• The verse sits in the setting Luke gives: “After this, Paul left Athens and went to Corinth” (Acts 18:1).

• “Stayed” shows deliberate, ongoing presence. Paul did not breeze through; he planted himself for effective witness (Acts 18:11; 1 Corinthians 2:1–2).

• The Spirit often guides servants to linger where hearts are ready (Acts 16:6–10). Paul’s willingness underscores trust in God’s timetable over personal preference (Proverbs 3:5–6).

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and worked with them

• Partnership matters. Paul teams with Aquila and Priscilla, a married couple fresh from Rome (Acts 18:2).

• Ministry is rarely a solo venture (Ecclesiastes 4:9–10; Philippians 1:3–5).

• Their shop became both workplace and mission base—mirroring Jesus calling fishermen who kept using their boats for gospel purposes (Luke 5:3).

• Working alongside believers builds unity and discipleship through daily interaction (2 Timothy 2:2).

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because they were tentmakers by trade

• God weaves ordinary skills into kingdom advance. A shared craft forged instant camaraderie (Exodus 31:1–5 shows the Spirit filling artisans for sacred tasks).

• Earning a living this way freed Paul to “preach the gospel free of charge” to Corinthians wary of traveling philosophers (1 Corinthians 9:12–18).

• Marketplace ministry: influence flows naturally where people gather for commerce (Proverbs 22:29; Acts 19:9–10).

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just as he was

• Paul was trained under Gamaliel (Acts 22:3) yet also learned a manual trade—common for Jewish rabbis, echoing Proverbs 14:23, “All hard work brings a profit.”

• His example demolishes the false divide between sacred and secular work (Colossians 3:23–24).

• He later reminds elders, “You yourselves know that these hands of mine have ministered to my own needs” (Acts 20:34–35).

• Laboring with integrity backed his message, shielding it from accusation of greed (1 Thessalonians 2:9; 2 Thessalonians 3:8–9).

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summary

Acts 18:3 reveals a strategic, humble, and relational approach: Paul remains in Corinth, partners with Aquila and Priscilla, supports himself through tentmaking, and models work that honors Christ while advancing the gospel. God turns everyday skills into ministry tools, demonstrating that faithful presence and diligent labor can open doors for powerful witness.