In Corinth
1After this, Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. 2There 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, 3and because he was a tentmaker as they were, he stayed and worked with them. 4Every Sabbath he reasoned in the synagogue, trying to persuade Jews and Greeks.
5When Silas and Timothy came from Macedonia, Paul devoted himself exclusively to preaching, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Messiah. 6But 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.”
7Then Paul left the synagogue and went next door to the house of Titius Justus, a worshiper of God. 8Crispus, the synagogue leader, and his entire household believed in the Lord; and many of the Corinthians who heard Paul believed and were baptized.
9One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: “Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. 10For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city.” 11So Paul stayed in Corinth for a year and a half, teaching them the word of God.
12While Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews of Corinth made a united attack on Paul and brought him to the place of judgment. 13“This man,” they charged, “is persuading the people to worship God in ways contrary to the law.”
14Just 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. 15But 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.” 16So he drove them off. 17Then the crowd there turned on Sosthenes the synagogue leader and beat him in front of the proconsul; and Gallio showed no concern whatever.
Priscilla, Aquila and Apollos
18Paul 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. 19They arrived at Ephesus, where Paul left Priscilla and Aquila. He himself went into the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews. 20When they asked him to spend more time with them, he declined. 21But as he left, he promised, “I will come back if it is God’s will.” Then he set sail from Ephesus. 22When he landed at Caesarea, he went up to Jerusalem and greeted the church and then went down to Antioch.
23After spending some time in Antioch, Paul set out from there and traveled from place to place throughout the region of Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples.
24Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was a learned man, with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures. 25He had been instructed in the way of the Lord, and he spoke with great fervor18:25 Or with fervor in the Spirit and taught about Jesus accurately, though he knew only the baptism of John. 26He 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.
27When 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. 28For he vigorously refuted his Jewish opponents in public debate, proving from the Scriptures that Jesus was the Messiah.
Paulo Huko Korintho
118:1 Mdo 17:15; 1Kor 1:2Baada ya haya, Paulo akaondoka Athene akaenda Korintho. 218:2 Rum 16:3; 2Tim 4:19; Mdo 11:28Huko akakutana na Myahudi mmoja jina lake Akila, mwenyeji wa Ponto, ambaye alikuwa amewasili karibuni kutoka Italia pamoja na mkewe Prisila, kwa sababu Klaudio alikuwa ameamuru Wayahudi wote waondoke Rumi. Paulo akaenda kuwaona, 318:3 1The 2:9; 2The 3:8naye kwa kuwa alikuwa mtengeneza mahema kama wao, akakaa na kufanya kazi pamoja nao. 418:4 Mdo 13:14Kila Sabato Paulo alikuwa akihojiana nao katika sinagogi, akijitahidi kuwashawishi Wayahudi na Wayunani.
518:5 Mdo 15:22; 16:1; 16:9; 17:14-15; 9:22; 17:3Sila na Timotheo walipowasili kutoka Makedonia, walimkuta Paulo akiwa amejitolea muda wake wote katika kuhubiri, akiwashuhudia Wayahudi kwamba Yesu ndiye Kristo18:5 Kristo maana yake ni Masiya, yaani Aliyetiwa mafuta. 618:6 Mdo 13:35; 2Sam 1:16; Eze 18:13Wayahudi walipompinga Paulo na kukufuru, yeye aliyakungʼuta mavazi yake, akawaambia, “Damu yenu na iwe juu ya vichwa vyenu! Mimi sina hatia, nimetimiza wajibu wangu. Kuanzia sasa nitawaendea watu wa Mataifa.”
718:7 Mdo 16:14Kisha akaondoka mle kwenye sinagogi, akaenda nyumbani kwa mtu mmoja jina lake Tito Yusto, aliyekuwa mcha Mungu. Nyumba yake ilikuwa karibu na sinagogi. 818:8 1Kor 1:14; Mk 5:22; Mdo 1:14Kiongozi wa hilo sinagogi, aliyeitwa Krispo, akamwamini Bwana, yeye pamoja na watu wote wa nyumbani mwake. Nao Wakorintho wengi waliomsikia Paulo pia wakaamini na kubatizwa.
918:9 Mdo 9:10; Mt 14; 27; 1Kor 2:3Usiku mmoja Bwana akamwambia Paulo katika maono, “Usiogope, lakini endelea kusema wala usinyamaze, 1018:10 Mt 28:20kwa maana mimi niko pamoja nawe, wala hakuna mtu atakayeweza kukushambulia ili kukudhuru, kwa kuwa ninao watu wengi katika mji huu ambao ni watu wangu.” 1118:11 Ebr 4:12Hivyo Paulo akakaa huko kwa muda wa mwaka mmoja na nusu, akiwafundisha neno la Mungu.
1218:12 Mdo 13:7, 8, 12; Rum 15:26; 1Kor 16:15; 2Kor 9:2; 1The 1:7Lakini wakati Galio alipokuwa msaidizi wa mwakilishi wa mtawala huko Akaya, Wayahudi waliungana kumshambulia Paulo, wakamkamata na kumpeleka mahakamani. 13Wakamshtaki wakisema, “Mtu huyu anawashawishi watu wamwabudu Mungu kinyume cha sheria.”
1418:14 Mdo 23:29; 25:11Paulo alipotaka kujitetea, Galio akawaambia Wayahudi, “Kama ninyi Wayahudi mlikuwa mkilalamika kuhusu makosa makubwa ya uhalifu ingekuwa haki kwangu kuwasikiliza. 1518:15 Mdo 23:29; 25:11, 19Lakini kwa kuwa linahusu maneno, majina na sheria yenu, amueni ninyi wenyewe. Mimi sitakuwa mwamuzi wa mambo haya.” 16Akawafukuza kutoka mahakamani. 1718:17 1Kor 1:1Ndipo wote wakamkamata Sosthene kiongozi wa sinagogi, wakampiga mbele ya mahakama, lakini Galio hakujali kitendo chao hata kidogo.
Paulo Arudi Antiokia
1818:18 Mdo 1:16; Rum 16:1; Hes 6:2, 5, 18Baada ya kukaa Korintho kwa muda, Paulo akaagana na wale ndugu walioamini, akasafiri kwa njia ya bahari kwenda Shamu akiwa amefuatana na Prisila na Akila. Walipofika Kenkrea, Paulo alinyoa nywele zake kwa kuwa alikuwa ameweka nadhiri. 1918:19 Efe 1:1; Ufu 1:11Walipofika Efeso, Paulo aliwaacha Prisila na Akila huko, lakini yeye akaingia kwenye sinagogi akawa anajadiliana na Wayahudi. 20Walipomwomba akae nao kwa muda mrefu zaidi hakukubali. 2118:21 1Kor 4:19; Yak 4:15Lakini alipokuwa akiondoka, akaahidi, “Nitarudi kama Mungu akipenda.” Kisha akasafiri kwa njia ya bahari kutoka Efeso. 2218:22 Mdo 8:40; 11:1918:22 Mdo 8:40; 21:15Alitia nanga Kaisaria, akaenda Yerusalemu na kulisalimu kanisa, kisha akaenda Antiokia.
Safari Ya Tatu Ya Paulo Kueneza Injili
(18:23–21:16)
2318:23 Mdo 16:6; 15:32, 41Baada ya kukaa huko kwa muda, akaondoka na kwenda sehemu moja hadi nyingine huko Galatia na Frigia, akiwaimarisha wanafunzi wote.
Huduma Ya Apolo Huko Efeso Na Korintho
2418:24 1Kor 4:6; Tit 3:13Basi akaja Efeso Myahudi mmoja, jina lake Apolo, mwenyeji wa Iskanderia. Yeye alikuwa na elimu kubwa, pia alikuwa hodari katika Maandiko. 2518:25 Rum 12:11; Mk 1:4; Mdo 19:3Alikuwa amefundishwa katika njia ya Bwana, naye alikuwa na bidii katika roho, akafundisha kwa usahihi juu ya Yesu, ingawa alijua tu ubatizo wa Yohana. 2618:26 Mdo 18:2Apolo alianza kunena kwa ujasiri mkubwa katika sinagogi. Lakini Prisila na Akila walipomsikia, walimchukua kando na kumweleza njia ya Mungu kwa ufasaha zaidi.
2718:27 Mdo 18:12, 18; 1:16Naye Apolo alipotaka kwenda Akaya, ndugu wa Efeso walimtia moyo, wakawaandikia wanafunzi huko ili wamkaribishe. Alipofika huko, aliwasaidia sana wale ambao, kwa neema ya Mungu, walikuwa wameamini. 2818:28 Mdo 8:5; 9:12Kwa uwezo mkubwa aliwakanusha hadharani Wayahudi waliokuwa wakipinga, akionyesha kwa njia ya Maandiko kwamba Yesu ndiye Kristo.
