Act
18-19:7 After these things Paul departed from Athens
and went to Corinth. And he found a certain Jew named Aquila, born
in Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla
(because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to depart from Rome);
and he came to them. So, because he was of the same trade, he stayed
with them and worked; for by occupation they were tentmakers. And
he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and persuaded both Jews
and Greeks. When Silas and Timothy had come from Macedonia, Paul was
compelled by the Spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus is the
Christ. But when they opposed him and blasphemed, he shook his garments
and said to them, "Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean.
From now on I will go to the Gentiles." And he departed from
there and entered the house of a certain man named Justus, one who
worshiped God, whose house was next door to the synagogue. Then Crispus,
the ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his household.
And many of the Corinthians, hearing, believed and were baptized.
Now the Lord spoke to Paul in the night by a vision, "Do not
be afraid, but speak, and do not keep silent; "for I am with
you, and no one will attack you to hurt you; for I have many people
in this city." And he continued there a year and six months,
teaching the word of God among them. When Gallio was proconsul of
Achaia, the Jews with one accord rose up against Paul and brought
him to the judgment seat, aying, "This fellow persuades men to
worship God contrary to the law." And when Paul was about to
open his mouth, Gallio said to the Jews, "If it were a matter
of wrongdoing or wicked crimes, O Jews, there would be reason why
I should bear with you. "But if it is a question of words and
names and your own law, look to it yourselves; for I do not want to
be a judge of such matters." And he drove them from the judgment
seat. Then all the Greeks took Sosthenes, the ruler of the synagogue,
and beat him before the judgment seat. But Gallio took no notice of
these things. So Paul still remained a good while. Then he took leave
of the brethren and sailed for Syria, and Priscilla and Aquila were
with him. He had his hair cut off at Cenchrea, for he had taken a
vow. And he came to Ephesus, and left them there; but he himself entered
the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews. When they asked him to stay
a longer time with them, he did not consent, but took leave of them,
saying, "I must by all means keep this coming feast in Jerusalem;
but I will return again to you, God willing." And he sailed from
Ephesus. And when he had landed at Caesarea, and gone up and greeted
the church, he went down to Antioch. And it happened, while Apollos
was at Corinth, that Paul, having passed through the upper regions,
came to Ephesus. And finding some disciples he said to them, "Did
you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?" So they said
to him, "We have not so much as heard whether there is a Holy
Spirit." And he said to them, "Into what then were you baptized?"
So they said, "Into John's baptism." Then Paul said, "John
indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people
that they should believe on Him who would come after him, that is,
on Christ Jesus." When they heard this, they were baptized in
the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid hands on them,
the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied.
Now the men were about twelve in all.
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