en_tn/tNotes/Acts/Acts_18.md

Acts 18

Acts 18:1

Connecting Statement:

This is another part of the story of Paul's travels as he goes to Corinth.

After these things

"After these events took place in Athens"

Athens

Athens was one of the most important cities in Greece. See how you translated this in Acts 17:15.

Acts 18:2

General Information:

The writer begins to give background information about Aquila and Priscilla. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/writing-background)

There he met

Possible meanings are that 1) Paul happened to find by chance or 2) Paul intentionally found.

a Jew named Aquila

Here the phrase "a certain" indicates this is introducing new person in the story. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/writing-participants)

a native of Pontus

Pontus was a province on the southern coast of the Black Sea. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/translate-names)

had recently come

This is probably sometime in the past year.

Italy

This is the name of land. Rome is the capital city of Italy. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/translate-names)

Claudius had commanded

Claudius was the current Roman emperor. See how you translated this in Acts 11:28.

Acts 18:3

General Information:

The writer finishes giving background information about Aquila and Priscilla. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/writing-background)

he worked at the same trade

"he did the same kind of work that they did"

Acts 18:4

So Paul reasoned

"So Paul debated" or "So Paul discussed." He gave reasons. This means that rather than just preaching, Paul talked and interacted with the people.

trying to persuade both Jews and Greeks

Possible meanings are 1) "and he caused both Jews and Greeks to believe" or 2) "and he kept trying to persuade the Jews and the Greeks."

Acts 18:5

General Information:

Silas and Timothy rejoin Paul.

Acts 18:6

shook out his garment

This is a symbolic action to indicate that Paul will no longer try to teach the Jews there about Jesus. He is leaving them to God's judgment. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/translate-symaction)

May your blood be upon your own heads

Here "blood" stands for the guilt of their actions. Here "heads" refers to the whole person. Paul tells the Jews they are solely responsible for the judgment they will face for their stubbornness if they refuse to repent. Alternate translation: "You alone bear the responsibility for your punishment for sin" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-synecdoche)

I am clean

The word "clean" here is a metaphor for Paul being innocent of wrong against either the people or God. Alternate translation: "I am innocent" or "God will not punish me when he punishes you" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)

Acts 18:7

he left ... His house

"Paul left ... Titius' Justus's house"

Titius Justus

This is the name of a man. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/translate-names)

worshiped God

A worshiper of God is a Gentile who gives praise to God and follows him but does not necessarily obey all of the Jewish laws.

Acts 18:8

Crispus

This is the name of a man. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/translate-names)

leader of the synagogue

a layperson who sponsored and administered the synagogue, not necessarily the teacher

all his household

Here "his household" refers to the people who lived together in his house. Alternate translation: "the people who lived with him in his house" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)

his household

Crispus's household

were baptized

This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "received baptism" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-activepassive)

Acts 18:9

Do not be afraid, but speak and do not be silent

The Lord is giving one command in two different ways to emphasize that Paul should certainly continue preaching. Alternate translation: "You must not be afraid; instead, you should continue to speak and not become silent" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-parallelism)

speak and do not be silent

The Lord gives the same command in two different ways to strongly command Paul to speak. Alternate translation: "you must certainly continue to speak" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-doublet)

do not be silent

It can be stated explicitly what the Lord wants Paul to speak. Alternate translation: "do not stop speaking about the gospel" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-explicit)

Acts 18:10

I have many people in this city

"there are many people in this city who have put their faith in me" or "many people in this city will put their faith in me"

Acts 18:11

Paul lived there ... teaching the word of God among them

This is a concluding statement for this part of the story. "Word of God" here is a synecdoche for the entire scriptures. Alternate translation: "Paul lived there ... teaching the scriptures among them" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/writing-endofstory and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-synecdoche)

Acts 18:12

General Information:

Achaia was the Roman province in which Corinth was located. Corinth was the largest city in southern Greece and the capital of the province. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/translate-names)

Connecting Statement:

The unbelieving Jews bring Paul to the judgment seat before Gallio.

Gallio

This is the name of a man. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/translate-names)

the Jews

This stands for the Jewish leaders that did not believe in Jesus. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-synecdoche)

rose up

This phrase means that the Jews began to act, not that they rose into the air or rose to stand from a sitting position. If your language has a different idiom for beginning to act, you may use it here. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-idiom)

with one mind

This phrase translates a word that speaks of people who agree with each other and who work together to accomplish a common purpose.

brought him before the judgment seat

The Jews took Paul by force to bring Paul before the court. Here "judgment seat" refers to the place where Gallio sat when he made legal decisions in court. Alternate translation: "took him so that the governor could judge him at the judgment seat" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)

Acts 18:13

General Information:

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Acts 18:14

Gallio said

Gallio was the Roman governor of the Province.

Acts 18:15

your own law

Here "law" can refer to either the law of Moses or the Jewish customs of Paul's time. Gallio is simply telling the Jews that they are to do what they think right and that he is not interested in being the judge.

I do not wish to be a judge of these matters

"I refuse to make a judgment about these matters"

Acts 18:16

Gallio made them leave the judgment seat

"Gallio dismissed the Jews from the judgment seat." Here "judgment seat" refers to the place where Gallio sits to make legal decisions in court. Alternate translation: "Gallio made them leave his presence in the court" or "Gallio made them leave the court" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)

Acts 18:17

General Information:

It is not clear what events this verse describes. The Jews had been accusing Paul, but it appears that they ended up beating Sosthenes and not Paul.

So they all seized Sosthenes, the ruler of the synagogue, and beat him in front of the judgment seat

Possible meanings are 1) the Gentiles beat Sosthenes in the court in front of the judgment seat because he was the Jewish leader or 2) Sosthenes was a believer in Christ, so even though he was "the ruler of the synagogue," the Jews beat him in front of the court.

they all seized

This may be an exaggeration to emphasize the strong feelings the people had. Alternate translation: "many people seized" or "many of them grabbed" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-hyperbole)

Sosthenes, the ruler of the synagogue

Sosthenes was "the ruler of the synagogue" at Corinth. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/translate-names)

beat him

"repeatedly hit him" or "repeatedly punched him."

Acts 18:18

General Information:

Here both instances of "he" refer to Paul.

left the brothers

The word "brothers" refers to men and women believers. Alternate translation: "left the fellow believers" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-gendernotations)

sailed for Syria with Priscilla and Aquila

Paul got on a ship that sailed for Syria. Priscilla and Aquila went with him.

Cenchrea

a seaport that was part of the greater Corinth city area (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/translate-names)

he had his hair cut off

This is a symbolic action that indicates the completion of a vow. This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "he had someone cut off the hair on his head" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/translate-symaction and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-activepassive)

Acts 18:19

Connecting Statement:

This continues Paul's missionary journey as Paul, Priscilla, and Aquila leave Corinth. This seems to indicate that Silas and Timothy remain, since it says "he" here and not "they." The word "they" refers to Paul, Priscilla, and Aquila.

reasoned with the Jews

"gave the Jews reasons to believe" or "debated with the Jews about the scriptures" or "discussed the scriptures with the Jews." Paul explained what the scriptures mean in order to prove to the Jews that Jesus is the Messiah. See how you translated "reasoned with" in Acts 17:2. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-explicit)

Acts 18:20

General Information:

Here the word "they" refers to the Jews in Ephesus.

Acts 18:21

General Information:

Here the word "them" refers to the Jews in Ephesus. The word "you" is plural. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-you)

taking his leave of them

"saying good-bye to them"

Acts 18:22

General Information:

Phrygia is a province in Asia which is now modern day Turkey. See how you translated this in Acts 2:10.

Connecting Statement:

Paul continues his missionary journey.

landed at Caesarea

"arrived at Caesarea." The word "landed" is used to show that he arrived by ship.

he went up

He traveled to the city of Jerusalem. The phrase "went up" is used here because Jerusalem is higher in elevation than Caesarea.

greeted the Jerusalem church

Here "church" refers to the believers in Jerusalem. Alternate translation: "greeted the members of the church of Jerusalem" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)

then went down

The phrase "went down" is used here because Antioch is lower in elevation than Jerusalem.

Acts 18:23

Paul departed

"Paul went away" or "Paul left"

After having spent some time there

This speaks about "time" as if it were a commodity that a person could spend. Alternate translation: After staying there for a while" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)

Acts 18:24

General Information:

Apollos is introduced to the story. Verses 24 and 25 give background information about him. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/writing-background)

Connecting Statement:

Luke tells what happens in Ephesus with Priscilla and Aquila.

Now

This word is used here to mark a break in the main story line.

a certain Jew named Apollos

The phrase "a certain" indicates that Luke is introducing a new person in the story. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/writing-participants)

an Alexandrian by birth

"a man who was born in the city of Alexandria." This was a city in Egypt on the north coast of Africa. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/translate-names)

eloquent in speech

"a good speaker"

mighty in the scriptures

"he knew the scriptures thoroughly." He understood the Old Testament writings well.

Acts 18:25

Apollos had been instructed in the teachings of the Lord

This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "Other believers had taught Apollos how the Lord Jesus wanted people to live" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-activepassive)

Being fervent in spirit

Here "spirit" refers to the entire person of Apollos. Alternate translation: "Being very enthusiastic" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-synecdoche)

the baptism of John

"the baptism that John performed." John's baptism was with water, but Jesus's baptism is with the Holy Spirit.

Acts 18:26

the way of God

How God wants people to live is spoken of as if it were a road that a person travels. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)

more accurately

"correctly" or "more fully"

Acts 18:27

General Information:

Here the he words "he" and "him" refer to Apollos (Acts 18:24).

to pass over into Achaia

"to go to the region of Achaia." The phrase "pass over" is used here because Apollos had to cross the Aegean Sea to get to Achaia from Ephesus.

Achaia

Achaia was a Roman Province in the southern section of Greece. See how you translated this in Acts 18:12.

brothers

The word "brothers" here refers to men and women believers. You can make explicit that these are believers in Ephesus. Alternate translation: "fellow believers in Ephesus" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-gendernotations and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-explicit)

wrote to the disciples

"wrote a letter to the Christians in Achaia"

those who believed by grace

"those who had believed in salvation by grace" or "those who by God's grace believed in Jesus"

Acts 18:28

Apollos powerfully refuted the Jews in public debate

"In public debate Apollos powerfully showed that the Jews were wrong"

showing by the scriptures that Jesus is the Christ

"as he showed them by the scriptures that Jesus is the Christ"