Acts 18 Summary - 5 Minute Bible Study

Acts 18 in 5 Minutes

WHEN:

• The events of chapter 18 most likely occurred between the years 49-54 A.D.

CHARACTERS:

• Paul (Saul) – An Apostle who was working in Asia Minor planting churches.

• Silas – Originally from Jerusalem, he accompanied Paul on his 2nd missionary journey.

• Timothy – A disciple from Lysta or Derbe, he joined Paul when he passed through the region preaching.

• Aquila and Priscilla – A married couple who lived in Corinth but later moved to Ephesus.

• Gallio – The proconsul of Achaia. Achaia was the southern part of modern Greece.

• Apollos – A Jew from Alexandria who was teaching about Jesus in Ephesus.

WHERE:

• Paul left Athens and went to Corinth where he remained for 1.5 years.

• Leaving Corinth, he made a stop in Ephesus before continuing to Antioch in Syria.

• According to verse 23, Paul spent some time in Antioch before beginning a new journey through the regions of Galatia and Phrygia.

OUTLINE:

• PAUL IN CORINTH (18:1-11):

  • After leaving Athens, Paul went to Corinth and Timothy and Silas met him there.

  • He met a couple named Aquila and Priscilla and worked with them as a tentmaker.

  • He taught in the synagogue every Sabbath.

  • The Jews rejected his message, so he turned his attention to the Gentiles.

  • Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, and many Corinthians believed and were baptized.

  • God appeared to Paul in a vision and told him to continue preaching in Corinth.

  • He remained in the city for a year and six months.

• GALLIO DISMISSES THE TROUBLESOME JEWS (18:12-17):

  • When Gallio was the proconsul of Achaia, the Jews brought Paul to him and accused Paul of “persuading people to worship God contrary to the law.”

  • Gallio didn’t care about Jewish religious disputes, so he refused to hear their case.

• PAUL SAILS HOME TO ANTIOCH IN SYRIA (18:18-22):

  • Paul set sail for Antioch and was joined by Aquila and Priscilla.

  • When they stopped in Ephesus, Paul went into the synagogue and taught.

  • The Jews asked him to stay longer but he had to decline.

  • His ship sailed to Caesarea where he disembarked and continued to Antioch.

• PAUL EMBARKS ON ANOTHER MISSIONARY JOURNEY (18:23):

  • After spending “some time” in Antioch, Paul set out again to visit the disciples in Galatia and Phrygia.

• AQUILA AND PRISCILLA MEET APOLLOS (18:24-28):

  • In Ephesus, there was a man named Apollos who is described as an “eloquent man, competent in the Scriptures.”

  • He taught about Jesus but didn’t have a complete understanding Jesus’ message.

  • Aquila and Priscilla pulled him aside and “explained to him the way of God more accurately.”

  • Afterwards, he “powerfully refuted the Jews” and used the Scriptures to prove Jesus was the Christ.

APPLICATION:

• Discerning the will of God and the best course of action isn’t always easy.

• In the last chapter, God kept Paul from preaching in some of the locations he intended to go.

• God sent Paul to Macedonia, a place he never intended to go.

• In chapter 18, Paul visited Ephesus where people asked him to stay to teach, but he decided to continue his journey to Antioch. He told them he would return if it was God’s will.

• God doesn’t draw out a roadmap for our lives. We must remain flexible, ask for wisdom, and always trust that He will lead us where we need to go.