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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Acts 18:1-6

We do not find that Paul was much persecuted at Athens, nor that he was driven thence by any ill usage, as he was from those places where the Jews had or could make any interest; but this reception at Athens being cold, and little prospect of doing good there, he departed from Athens, leaving the care of those there who believed with Dionysius; and thence he came to Corinth, where he was now instrumental in planting a church that became on many accounts considerable. Corinth was the chief city... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Acts 18:1-11

Its very position made Corinth ( Greek #2882 ) a key city of Greece. Greece is almost cut in two by the sea. On one side is the Saronic Gulf with its port of Cenchrea and on the other is the Corinthian Gulf with its port of Lechaeum. Between the two there is a neck of land less than five miles across and on that isthmus stood Corinth. All north and south traffic in Greece had to pass through Corinth because there was no other way, Men called her "The Bridge of Greece." But the voyage round... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Acts 18:1-11

18:1-11 After this Paul left Athens and came to Corinth. There he found a Jew called Aquila, who was a native of Pontus, but who had newly arrived from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had decreed that all Jews must leave Rome. Paul went in to these people, and, because they had the same craft as he had. he worked with them; for they were leather workers to trade. Every Sabbath he debated in the synagogue and he won over both Jews and Greeks. When Silas and Timothy came... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 18:1

After these things ,.... The Arabic version renders it, "after these words, or discourses"; after the apostle's disputation with the philosophers, and his sermon in the Areopagus, the effects of which are before related: Paul departed from Athens, and came to Corinth ; the metropolis of Achaia, or Peloponnesus. The city was formerly called Ephyra, from Ephyra F16 Vellei Patercull Hist. Rom. l. 1. Pausanias, Corinthiaca, sive l. 2. p. 85. , the daughter of Oceanus, and had its name... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 18:2

And found a certain Jew named Aquila ,.... This seems to have been his Roman name, which he had took, or was given him, while he was at Rome; very likely his Jewish name was נשד , "Nesher", which signifies an eagle, as "Aquila" does: unless it should rather be thought to be a Greek name; and as "Olympas" is from "Olympios", and "Nymphas" from Nymphios"; so "Akilas", as it in the Greek text, from Akylios", and this from ακυλος , "Akylos", which signifies an acorn. There was a Jewish... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 18:3

And because he was of the same craft , Art, occupation, or trade: he abode with them ; in the same house in which they were: and wrought ; with his own hands, to support himself, for he was a stranger in this place; and as yet here was no church to minister to him; and when there was, he would take nothing of them, that the false teachers, who rose up among them, might not make any handle of it against him, and to the prejudice of the Gospel; though otherwise he thought it his just... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 18:1

Paul departed from Athens - How long he stayed here, we cannot tell; it is probable it could not be less than three months; but, finding that the Gospel made little progress among the Athenians, he resolved to go to Corinth. Corinth was situated on the isthmus that connects Peloponnesus to Attica; and was the capital of all Achaia, or Peloponnesus. It was most advantageously situated for trade; for, by its two ports, the Lecheum and Cenchreae, it commanded the commerce both of the Ionian... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 18:2

A certain Jew named Aquila - Some have supposed that this Aquila was the same with the Onkelos, mentioned by the Jews. See the article in Wolfius, Bibl. Hebr. vol. ii. p. 1147. We have no evidence that this Jew and his wife were at this time converted to the Christian religion. Their conversion was most likely the fruit of St. Paul's lodging with them - Pontus. See the note on Acts 2:9 . Claudius had commanded all Jews to depart from Rome - This edict of the Roman emperor is not... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 18:3

He abode with them, and wrought - Bp. Pearce observes that it was a custom among the Jews, even of such as had a better education than ordinary, which was Paul's case, Acts 22:3 , to learn a trade, that, wherever they were, they might provide for themselves in case of necessity. And though Paul, in some cases, lived on the bounty of his converts, yet he chose not to do so at Ephesus, Acts 20:34 ; nor at Corinth or other places, 1 Corinthians 4:12 ; 2 Corinthians 9:8 , 2 Corinthians... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 18:1

Verse 1− 1.This history is worthy to be remembered even for this one cause, because it containeth the first beginning of the Church of Corinthus, which, as it was famous for good causes, both because of the multitude of men, and also because of the excellent gifts bestowed upon them, so there were in it gross and shameful vices. Furthermore, Luke showeth in this place with what great labor, and how hardly, Paul did win the same to Christ. It is well known what a rich city Corinthus was by... read more

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