Crispus, the synagogue leader, and his whole household believed in the Lord. And many of the Corinthians who heard the message believed and were baptized. Crispus, the synagogue leaderCrispus was a prominent figure in the Jewish community of Corinth, serving as the leader of the synagogue. The Greek word for "synagogue leader" is "archisynagogos," indicating a person of significant authority and respect within the Jewish religious structure. His conversion to Christianity is significant because it demonstrates the power of the Gospel to reach even those deeply entrenched in Jewish tradition. Historically, this conversion would have been a bold statement, as it could lead to social ostracism. Crispus's acceptance of Christ highlights the transformative power of faith and the breaking down of barriers between Jewish and Gentile believers. and his whole household
The phrase "his whole household" suggests that Crispus's faith had a profound impact on those closest to him. In the cultural context of the time, a household would include not only family members but also servants and others living under the same roof. The Greek term "oikos" encompasses this broader understanding. This collective belief underscores the communal nature of early Christian conversions, where the faith of a leader or head of a household could influence and inspire those around them. It reflects the biblical principle that faith can permeate and transform entire communities. believed in the Lord
The act of believing "in the Lord" signifies a deep, personal trust and commitment to Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. The Greek word "pisteuo" conveys a sense of faith that goes beyond intellectual assent to a heartfelt reliance on Christ. This belief is not merely an acknowledgment of Jesus's existence but an acceptance of His lordship and a commitment to follow Him. In the context of Acts, this belief is often accompanied by a radical change in lifestyle and priorities, as seen in the lives of early converts like Crispus. and many of the Corinthians
The mention of "many of the Corinthians" indicates the widespread impact of the Gospel in Corinth, a city known for its diversity and moral challenges. Corinth was a major trade hub, filled with people from various backgrounds and beliefs. The Greek term "polloi" emphasizes the large number of individuals who were drawn to the message of Christ. This highlights the universal appeal of the Gospel, capable of reaching people from all walks of life and transforming a city known for its secularism and immorality. who heard the message
The phrase "who heard the message" points to the importance of hearing the Word of God as a catalyst for faith. The Greek word "akouo" implies not just hearing with the ears but understanding and internalizing the message. In Romans 10:17, Paul writes, "So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." This underscores the necessity of preaching and teaching in the spread of the Gospel. The Corinthians' response to the message demonstrates the power of the spoken word to convict hearts and lead to salvation. believed and were baptized
The sequence of "believed and were baptized" reflects the early Christian practice of baptism as an outward expression of inward faith. The Greek word "baptizo" means to immerse or submerge, symbolizing the believer's identification with the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Baptism served as a public declaration of faith and a rite of initiation into the Christian community. This practice underscores the importance of both personal faith and communal identity in the early Church. The Corinthians' willingness to be baptized signifies their commitment to a new way of life in Christ, leaving behind their former ways and embracing the transformative power of the Gospel. Persons / Places / Events 1. CrispusHe was the leader of the synagogue in Corinth. His conversion to Christianity is significant because it demonstrates the power of the Gospel to reach influential Jewish leaders. 2. CorinthA major city in ancient Greece known for its commerce and diverse population. It was a strategic location for the spread of Christianity. 3. PaulAlthough not mentioned directly in this verse, Paul is the primary missionary in Corinth, preaching the Gospel and establishing the church there. 4. The CorinthiansThe local population of Corinth, many of whom heard Paul's message and believed, leading to their baptism. 5. BaptismAn outward expression of an inward faith, symbolizing the believer's identification with the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Teaching Points The Power of the GospelThe conversion of Crispus, a synagogue leader, underscores the transformative power of the Gospel, capable of reaching even those deeply rooted in other religious traditions. Household SalvationCrispus's entire household believed, illustrating the biblical principle that faith can influence and transform entire families. The Role of BaptismBaptism is a crucial step of obedience for new believers, serving as a public declaration of faith and commitment to Christ. Courage in EvangelismPaul's ministry in Corinth, despite opposition, encourages believers to boldly share the Gospel, trusting in God's ability to change hearts. Community ImpactThe conversion of many Corinthians highlights the potential for the Gospel to impact entire communities, not just individuals. Bible Study Questions 1. How does the conversion of Crispus, a synagogue leader, challenge our understanding of who can be reached by the Gospel? 2. In what ways can we, like Paul, be more effective in sharing the Gospel in our own communities? 3. What does the baptism of the Corinthians teach us about the importance of public declarations of faith? 4. How can the concept of household salvation encourage us to pray for and witness to our families? 5. How does the transformation of the Corinthian community inspire us to believe in the potential for change in our own cities and neighborhoods? Connections to Other Scriptures 1 Corinthians 1:14-16Paul mentions baptizing Crispus, highlighting the personal connection and the impact of his conversion on the Corinthian church. Acts 16:31-34Similar to the conversion of Crispus, the Philippian jailer and his household believe and are baptized, showing the pattern of household conversions in the early church. Romans 10:17This verse emphasizes that faith comes from hearing the message, which is evident in the Corinthians' response to Paul's preaching. | Truth Before the Citadel | W. Clarkson | Acts 18:1-11 | | An Apostolic Pastorate | Monday Club Sermons | Acts 18:1-17 | | Do the Next Thing | J. W. Burn. | Acts 18:1-17 | | Paul At Corinth | H. R. Haweis, M. A. | Acts 18:1-17 | | Paul At Corinth | F. W. Robertson, M. A. | Acts 18:1-17 | | Paul At Corinth | M. C. Hazard. | Acts 18:1-17 | | Paul At Corinth | T. D. Witherspoon, D. D. | Acts 18:1-17 | | Paul At Corinth | A. Barnes, D. D. | Acts 18:1-17 | | Paul At Corinth | D. Thomas, D. D. | Acts 18:1-17 | | Paul At Corinth | J. Parker, D. D. | Acts 18:1-17 | | Paul At Corinth | C. A. Dickinson. | Acts 18:1-17 | | Paul At Corinth | R. Rhees. | Acts 18:1-17 | | Paul At Corinth | D. J. Burrell, D. D. | Acts 18:1-17 | | Paul At Corinth | F. Goodall, B. A. | Acts 18:1-17 | | Paul At Corinth | E. Johnson | Acts 18:1-17 | | The Value of Unsuccessful Missionaries | | Acts 18:1-17 | | Encouragements -- Divine and Human | J. Parker, D. D. | Acts 18:5-8 | | Enthusiasm Justified | R. S. Storrs, D. D. | Acts 18:5-8 | | Faithful Ministry | R.A. Radford | Acts 18:5-11 |
People Apollos, Aquila, Claudius, Corinthians, Crispus, Gallio, John, Justus, Paul, Priscilla, Silas, Sosthenes, Timotheus, Timothy, TitusPlaces Achaia, Alexandria, Athens, Caesarea, Cenchreae, Corinth, Ephesus, Galatia, Italy, Macedonia, Phrygia, Pontus, Rome, Syria, Syrian AntiochTopics Baptised, Baptism, Baptized, Believe, Believed, Believing, Chief, Corinth, Corinthians, Crispus, Entire, Faith, Family, Hearing, Household, Leader, Paul, Received, Ruler, Synagogue, WardenDictionary of Bible Themes Acts 18:8 5509 rulers
5682 family, significance
7027 church, purpose
7404 ordinances
7456 synagogue
7907 baptism, practice
7953 mission, of church
8407 confession, of Christ
8427 evangelism, kinds of Library 'Constrained by the Word'
'And when Silas and Timotheus were come from Macedonia, Paul was pressed in the spirit, and testified.'--ACTS xviii. 5. The Revised Version, in concurrence with most recent authorities, reads, instead of 'pressed in the spirit,' 'constrained by the word.' One of these alterations depends on a diversity of reading, the other on a difference of translation. The one introduces a significant difference of meaning; the other is rather a change of expression. The word rendered here 'pressed,' and by the …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture: The ActsPaul at Corinth
'After these things Paul departed from Athens, and came to Corinth; 2. And found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, lately come from Italy, with his wife Priscilla; (because that Claudius had commanded all Jews to depart from Rome:) and came unto them. 3. And because he was of the same craft, he abode with them, and wrought: for by their occupation they were tent-makers. 4. And he reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks. 5. And when Silas and Timotheus …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture: The Acts Gallio
'And when Paul was now about to open his mouth, Gallio said unto the Jews, If it were a matter of wrong: or wicked lewdness, O ye Jews, reason would that I should bear with you: 15. But if it be a question of words and names, and of your law, look ye to it; for I will be no judge of such matters.'--ACTS xviii. 14, 15. There is something very touching in the immortality of fame which comes to the men who for a moment pass across the Gospel story, like shooting stars kindled for an instant as they …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture: The Acts The Civil Trial
In the chapter before last we saw the Sanhedrim pass a death sentence on Jesus. Gladly would they have carried it out in the Jewish fashion--by stoning. But, as was then explained, it was not in their power: their Roman masters, while conceding to the native courts the power of trying and punishing minor offences, reserved to themselves the prerogative of life and death; and a case in which a capital sentence had been passed in a Jewish court had to go before the representative of Rome in the country, …
James Stalker—The Trial and Death of Jesus Christ The Old Faiths and the New
SECOND GROUP OF EPISTLES GALATIANS. FIRST AND SECOND CORINTHIANS. ROMANS. PROBLEMS OF EARLY CHRISTIANITY The new faith in Christ made large claims for itself. It marked an advance upon Judaism and maintained that in Christ was fulfilled all the promises made by the prophets of the coming of the Jewish Messiah. It radically antagonized the heathen religions. It had a double task to win men out of Judaism and heathenism. Only by a careful study of these great doctrinal Epistles, and the …
Henry T. Sell—Bible Studies in the Life of Paul Third Missionary Journey
Scripture, Acts 18:23-21:17 [Illustration: Outline map illustrating the third missionary journey of Paul and the voyage to Italy.] …
Henry T. Sell—Bible Studies in the Life of Paul There Also is Said at what Work the Apostle Wrought. ...
22. There also is said at what work the Apostle wrought. "After these things," it says, "he departed from Athens and came to Corinth; and having found a certain Jew, by name Aquila, of Pontus by birth, lately come from Italy, and Priscilla his wife, because that Claudius had ordered all Jews to depart from Rome, he came unto them, and because he was of the same craft he abode with them, doing work: for they were tent-makers." [2549] This if they shall essay to interpret allegorically, they show what …
St. Augustine—Of the Work of Monks. Jewish Homes
It may be safely asserted, that the grand distinction, which divided all mankind into Jews and Gentiles, was not only religious, but also social. However near the cities of the heathen to those of Israel, however frequent and close the intercourse between the two parties, no one could have entered a Jewish town or village without feeling, so to speak, in quite another world. The aspect of the streets, the building and arrangement of the houses, the municipal and religious rule, the manners and customs …
Alfred Edersheim—Sketches of Jewish Social Life Flight into Egypt and Slaughter of the Bethlehem Children.
(Bethlehem and Road Thence to Egypt, b.c. 4.) ^A Matt. II. 13-18. ^a 13 Now when they were departed [The text favors the idea that the arrival and departure of the magi and the departure of Joseph for Egypt, all occurred in one night. If so, the people of Bethlehem knew nothing of these matters], behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise [this command calls for immediate departure] and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt [This land was ever the …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel The Kingdom Conquering the World
Acts Page Paul's Epistles Page Outline for Study of Epistles Page I Thessalonians Page I Corinthians Page Romans Page Philippians Page II Timothy Page The General Epistles Page Questions on the Book of James Page Studies in I and II Peter Page I John Page THE ACTS I. Author: 1. Name. 2. Number of …
Frank Nelson Palmer—A Bird's-Eye View of the Bible Sources and Literature on St. Paul and his Work.
I. Sources. 1. The authentic sources: The Epistles of Paul, and the Acts of the Apostles 9:1-30 and 13 to 28. Of the Epistles of Paul the four most important Galatians, Romans, two Corinthians--are universally acknowledged as genuine even by the most exacting critics; the Philippians, Philemon, Colossians, and Ephesians are admitted by nearly all critics; the Pastoral Epistles, especially First Timothy, and Titus, are more or less disputed, but even they bear the stamp of Paul's genius. On the coincidences …
Philip Schaff—History of the Christian Church, Volume I Jewish views on Trade, Tradesmen, and Trades' Guilds
We read in the Mishnah (Kidd. iv. 14) as follows: "Rabbi Meir said: Let a man always teach his son a cleanly and a light trade; and let him pray to Him whose are wealth and riches; for there is no trade which has not both poverty and riches, and neither does poverty come from the trade nor yet riches, but everything according to one's deserving (merit). Rabbi Simeon, the son of Eleazer, said: Hast thou all thy life long seen a beast or a bird which has a trade? Still they are nourished, and that …
Alfred Edersheim—Sketches of Jewish Social Life King Herod's Enrollment
THE first enrollment in Syria was made in the year 8-7 BC., but a consideration of the situation in Syria and Palestine about that time will show that the enrollment in Herod's kingdom was probably delayed for some time later. Herod occupied a delicate and difficult position on the throne of Judea. On the one hand he had to comply with what was required of him by the Imperial policy; he was governing for the Romans a part of the empire, and he was bound to spread western customs and language and …
Sir William Mitchell Ramsay—Was Christ Born in Bethlehem? Luke's Attitude Towards the Roman World
The reign of Augustus, as is well known, is enveloped in the deepest obscurity. While we are unusually well informed about the immediately preceding period of Roman history, and for part of the reign of his successor, Tiberius, we possess the elaborate and accurate, though in some respects strongly prejudiced account of Tacitus, the facts of Augustus's reign have to be pieced together from scanty, incomplete and disjointed authorities. Moreover, obscure events in a remote corner of the Roman world …
Sir William Mitchell Ramsay—Was Christ Born in Bethlehem? Paul's Journeys Acts 13:1-38:31
On this third journey he was already planning to go to Rome (Acts 19:21) and wrote an epistle to the Romans announcing his coming (Rom. 1:7, 15). +The Chief City+, in which Paul spent most of his time (Acts 19:1, 8, 10), between two and three years upon this journey, was Ephesus in Asia Minor. This city situated midway between the extreme points of his former missionary journeys was a place where Ephesus has been thus described: "It had been one of the early Greek colonies, later the capital …
Henry T. Sell—Bible Studies in the Life of Paul The Supremacy of Christ
THIRD GROUP OF EPISTLES COLOSSIANS. PHILEMON. EPHESIANS. PHILIPPIANS. THE QUESTION AT ISSUE +The Supremacy of Christ.+--These Epistles mark a new stage in the writings of Paul. The great question discussed in the second group of Epistles was in regard to the terms of salvation. The question now at issue (in Colossians, Ephesians, Philippian+The Reason for the Raising of this Question+ was the development of certain false religious beliefs among which were, "asceticism, the worship of angels, …
Henry T. Sell—Bible Studies in the Life of Paul The Future of Christ's Kingdom First Group of Epistles the First and Second Epistles to the Thessalonians Introduction to the Epistles of Paul +Epistolary Writings. + --The
STUDY VII THE FUTURE OF CHRIST'S KINGDOM FIRST GROUP OF EPISTLES THE FIRST AND SECOND EPISTLES TO THE THESSALONIANS INTRODUCTION TO THE EPISTLES OF PAUL +Epistolary Writings.+--The New Testament is composed of twenty-seven books, twenty-one of which are Epistles. Of this latter number thirteen are ascribed to Paul. It is thus seen how largely the New Testament is made up of Epistles and how many of these are attributed to the Great Apostle. In the letters of men of great prominence and power of any …
Henry T. Sell—Bible Studies in the Life of Paul The Candour of the Writers of the New Testament.
I make this candour to consist in their putting down many passages, and noticing many circumstances, which no writer whatever was likely to have forged; and which no writer would have chosen to appear in his book who had been careful to present the story in the most unexceptionable form, or who had thought himself at liberty to carve and mould the particulars of that story according to his choice, or according to his judgment of the effect. A strong and well-known example of the fairness of the evangelists …
William Paley—Evidences of Christianity Moreover, if Discourse must be Bestowed Upon Any...
21. Moreover, if discourse must be bestowed upon any, and this so take up the speaker that he have not time to work with his hands, are all in the monastery able to hold discourse unto brethren which come unto them from another kind of life, whether it be to expound the divine lessons, or concerning any questions which may be put, to reason in an wholesome manner? Then since not all have the ability, why upon this pretext do all want to have nothing else to do? Although even if all were able, they …
St. Augustine—Of the Work of Monks. Here is the Sum of My Examination Before Justice Keelin, Justice Chester, Justice Blundale, Justice Beecher, Justice Snagg, Etc.
After I had lain in prison above seven weeks, the quarter-sessions were to be kept in Bedford, for the county thereof, unto which I was to be brought; and when my jailor had set me before those justices, there was a bill of indictment preferred against me. The extent thereof was as followeth: That John Bunyan, of the town of Bedford, labourer, being a person of such and such conditions, he hath (since such a time) devilishly and perniciously abstained from coming to church to hear Divine service, …
John Bunyan—Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners The Epistle to the Hebrews.
I. Commentaries on Hebrews by Chrysostom (d. 407, hermeneia, in 34 Homilies publ. after his death by an Antioch. presbyter, Constantinus); Theodoret (d. 457); Oecumenius (10th cent.); Theophylact (11th cent.); Thomas Aquinas (d. 1274); Erasmus (d. 1536, Annotationes in N. T., with his Greek Test., 1516 and often, and Paraphrasis in N. T., 1522 and often); Card. Cajetanus (Epistolae Pauli, etc., 1531); Calvin (d. 1564, Com. in omnes P. Ep. atque etiam in Ep. ad Hebraeos, 1539 and often, also Halle, …
Philip Schaff—History of the Christian Church, Volume I Links Acts 18:8 NIVActs 18:8 NLTActs 18:8 ESVActs 18:8 NASBActs 18:8 KJV
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