“Answers For A Study in the Book of Acts” is a weekly post in addition to the regular “Case for Christianity, Person of Interest” posts on the weekend. The original questions can be found at the bottom of the “Case for Christianity, Person of Interest” study the weekend before, and the answers appear here mid-week. This gives you time to do your own research, and then check your answers here. Keep in mind these will be basic answers with a little depth, but you can go much deeper for discussion if you’d like.
Note: The answers will focus on what the text of the Bible says, and commentaries and speculative answers will be noted as such. There are many scholarly commentaries out there but it will be important, as students of the Bible, to keep the text of the Bible as our first source. Commentaries can be used, keeping in mind that they are human thoughts about God’s Word.
The Goal for the notes, questions and answers: Share and reuse to lead your own Bible study!
Bible Study
Always remember to pray before you study and ask the Holy Spirit to teach you and lead you into the truth found in God’s Word – pray for protection from the evil one who will try to discourage, distract and deceive us when we commit to growing closer to the LORD.
Read Acts Chapters 18-19:10: Then, to the best of your ability, answer the following questions.
NOTE: The New American Standard Version (NASB) is the Bible being used here, unless otherwise noted. Questions are taken directly from the chapters, and answers should be found and cited from the Scripture text in order to be Biblically accurate (unless asked to summarize in your own words). Study Bibles, commentaries and your own thoughts can be used for “Discussion” or “Going Deeper” questions. Cite sources to share with your group.
Paul at Corinth; Paul begins His Third Missionary Journey
1. Read Chapter 18:1-22 with your table group
In the first part of this chapter, Paul leaves Athens and goes to Corinth:
a. Where was Corinth (what is its modern-day location), and where else in the Bible do we hear about Corinth?
- Corinth was one of the greatest commercial centers of the Roman Empire, located on a narrow neck of land offering direct passage between the Aegean and the Adriatic Seas, it is about 48 miles west of Athens, Greece.
From Wikapedia:
“Corinth (/ˈkɒrɪnθ/ KORR-inth; Greek: Κόρινθος, romanized: Kórinthos, Modern Greek pronunciation: [ˈkorinθos] (About this soundlisten)) is the successor to an ancient city, and is a former municipality in Corinthia, Peloponnese, which is located in south-central Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform, it has been part of the municipality of Corinth, of which it is the seat and a municipal unit. It is the capital of Corinthia. It was founded as Nea Korinthos (Νέα Κόρινθος), or New Corinth, in 1858 after an earthquake destroyed the existing settlement of Corinth, which had developed in and around the site of ancient Corinth.”
- The people of Corinth were the recipients of the New Testament letters, 1st and 2nd Corinthians. The name Corinth can be found in the Bible in the book of Acts chapters 18 and 19; 1st and 2nd Corinthians; and 2nd Timothy chapter 4.
b. Who were Priscilla and Aquila, what do we know about them, and where else the Bible can we find them?
From the Life Application Study Bible:
“Priscilla and Aquila met Paul in Corinth. During his second missionary journey. They had just been expelled from Rome by Emperor Claudius’ decree against the Jews. They were tentmakers by trade, just like Paul. They opened their home to Paul as he shared with them his wealth of spiritual wisdom. They took Apollos under their wing to help him with the complete understanding of the Gospel (as he had only learned through John the Baptist). They continued their in-home ministry for training and worship in Corinth and Ephesus, and years later, when they went back to Rome, they hosted one of the house churches that developed. They were the model husband and wife team for evangelism.”
- They can be found in the Bible in the book of Acts chapter 18; Romans chapter 16; 1 Corinthians chapter 16; and 2nd Timothy chapter 4.
c. How long did Paul stay in this city, what did he do there and how did God help him?
“After this, Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. There he met a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had ordered all Jews to leave Rome. Paul went to see them, and because he was a tentmaker as they were, he stayed and worked with them. Every Sabbath he reasoned in the synagogue, trying to persuade Jews and Greeks. When Silas and Timothy came from Macedonia, Paul devoted himself exclusively to preaching, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Messiah. But when they opposed Paul and became abusive, he shook out his clothes in protest and said to them, “Your blood be on your own heads! I am innocent of it. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.” Then Paul left the synagogue and went next door to the house of Titius Justus, a worshiper of God. Crispus, the synagogue leader, and his entire household believed in the Lord; and many of the Corinthians who heard Paul believed and were baptized. One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: “Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city.” So Paul stayed in Corinth for a year and a half, teaching them the word of God. While Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews of Corinth made a united attack on Paul and brought him to the place of judgment. “This man,” they charged, “is persuading the people to worship God in ways contrary to the law.” Just as Paul was about to speak, Gallio said to them, “If you Jews were making a complaint about some misdemeanor or serious crime, it would be reasonable for me to listen to you. But since it involves questions about words and names and your own law—settle the matter yourselves. I will not be a judge of such things.” So he drove them off. Then the crowd there turned on Sosthenes the synagogue leader and beat him in front of the proconsul; and Gallio showed no concern whatever. Paul stayed on in Corinth for some time. Then he left the brothers and sisters and sailed for Syria, accompanied by Priscilla and Aquila. Before he sailed, he had his hair cut off at Cenchreae because of a vow he had taken. They arrived at Ephesus, where Paul left Priscilla and Aquila. He himself went into the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews. When they asked him to spend more time with them, he declined. But as he left, he promised, “I will come back if it is God’s will.” Then he set sail from Ephesus. When he landed at Caesarea, he went up to Jerusalem and greeted the church and then went down to Antioch.” Acts 18:1-22 (NIV)
- Paul stayed in Corinth a year and a half, teaching them the word of God to the Jews first, then they rejected him so he went to the Gentiles. He then took Priscilla and Aquila with him to Ephesus, and then he went on to Antioch.
- God told Paul in a vision one night, not to be afraid, not to be silent and to keep on speaking because He had many people in that city. This would have encouraged and emboldened Paul to continue in his ministry (as I’m sure it was discouraging to keep getting beat up and driven out).
d. Going Deeper: Summarize Paul’s second missionary journey by listing all the places he went (chapter 15:40 through 18:22) You can use any maps or charts that you might have.
Paul’s Second Missionary Journey:
2. Read Chapter 18:23 through 19:10 with your table group
After spending some time in Antioch, Paul regrouped to begin his third missionary journey:
a. Who was Apollos, and what can we know about him from Scripture?
From the Life Application Study Bible:
“Apollos arrived in Ephesus shortly after Paul’s departure, he made an immediate impact with his bold public speaking ability, interpreting and applying the Old Testament Scriptures effectively. He debated opponents of Christianity forcefully and effectively. However, his preaching was based on John the Baptist’s teaching, and he did not know the whole story. Priscilla and Aquila took him in and helped educate him on the Gospel of Jesus. Once he became knowledgeable concerning the complete Gospel, he went on the Achaia and quickly became the verbal champion of Christians in Corinth, debating the opponents of the Gospel in public.”
- Apollos can be found in the Bible in Acts chapter 18; 1st Corinthians chapters 1, 3, 4, and 16; Titus 3
b. What example of Apologetics do we see Apollos using?
“Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was a learned man, with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures. He had been instructed in the way of the Lord, and he spoke with great fervor and taught about Jesus accurately, though he knew only the baptism of John. He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately. When Apollos wanted to go to Achaia, the brothers and sisters encouraged him and wrote to the disciples there to welcome him. When he arrived, he was a great help to those who by grace had believed. For he vigorously refuted his Jewish opponents in public debate, proving from the Scriptures that Jesus was the Messiah.” Acts 18:24-28 (NIV)
- He was learned (he spent time studying before he spoke/debated)
- He knew the Scriptures (the Old Testament) and used them to prove the Messiah was coming (prophecy and foreshadowing)
- He spoke of Jesus based on the teachings of John the Baptist (he would later know the full Gospel story and be able to add that to his apologetic)
- He was not afraid to debate, correct and speak the truth boldly
- He was willing to listen and learn from more mature Christians
c. While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul went to Ephesus and found some disciples there. Who were these disciples and what did Paul help them do? What happened there over a two-year period?
“While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus. There he found some disciples and asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit whena] you believed?” They answered, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” So Paul asked, “Then what baptism did you receive? “John’s baptism,” they replied. Paul said, “John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus.” On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied. There were about twelve men in all. Paul entered the synagogue and spoke boldly there for three months, arguing persuasively about the kingdom of God. But some of them became obstinate; they refused to believe and publicly maligned the Way. So Paul left them. He took the disciples with him and had discussions daily in the lecture hall of Tyrannus. This went on for two years, so that all the Jews and Greeks who lived in the province of Asia heard the word of the Lord.” Acts 19:1-10 (NIV)
d. Discuss: What is the importance of having the Holy Spirit, and does it look the same for all believers?
- Jesus promised the Holy Spirit would be given to all believers (John 14-15)
- The Holy Spirit is the one who will teach us and guide us into all truth, based on the Word of God (John 14-15)
- The Holy Spirit is the one who helps us use our spiritual gifts – these gifts are different for each believer – 1st Corinthians 12 gives us some examples of spiritual gifts bestowed upon a believer (and there are others as well – unique to the individual)
- The Holy Spirit is referenced over 100 times in the Bible and you can do a word study in-depth on this topic (I recommend using a Bible search application like Bible Gateway)
- In my view, you cannot fully understand the truths of Scripture, and the Gospel of Jesus, without the help of the Holy Spirit
Please continue to join us in making our “Case for Christianity, Person of Interest” along with a study in the book of Acts, and share it with others!
Note: Class presentation, videos, reflections and Bible study question are posted on the weekend – Bible study answers (like these) posted mid-week (this week is an exception).
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You will not find this material in the public school curriculum even though it is based on solid evidence and grounded in research. It is ironic that following the evidence to where it leads stops at the door of our public schools as they will not let a “Divine footprint” in! Join us as we examine evidence for Christianity and learn how to become a thoughtful defender and ambassador of your faith.
Click into the resource page of this website to view many of the top Christian thinkers and apologists along with some of their work; connecting to these types of resources is essential in your Christian growth.
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Teri Dugan
TeriDugan@truthfaithandreason.com
1 Peter 3:15
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