Founding the Corinthian Church

18 After this, he^[a] left Athens and went to Corinth,^{(A) 2} where he found a Jew named Aquila,^(B) a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla because Claudius had ordered all the Jews to leave Rome. Paul came to them, ³ and since they were of the same occupation, tentmakers by trade,^(C) he stayed with them and worked. ⁴ He reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath and tried to persuade both Jews and Greeks.^(D)

The Return Trip to Antioch

¹⁸ After staying for some time, Paul said farewell to the brothers and sisters and sailed away to Syria, accompanied by Priscilla and Aquila. He shaved his head at Cenchreae because of a vow he had taken.^{(A) 19} When they reached Ephesus^(B) he left them there, but he himself entered the synagogue and debated with the Jews. ²⁰ When they asked him to stay for a longer time, he declined, ²¹ but he said farewell and added,^[a] “I’ll come back to you again, if God wills.”^(C) Then he set sail from Ephesus.

²² On landing at Caesarea, he went up to Jerusalem and greeted the church, then went down to Antioch.^(D)

²³ After spending some time there, he set out, traveling through one place after another in the region of Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples.^(E)

The Eloquent Apollos

²⁴ Now a Jew named Apollos,^(F) a native Alexandrian, an eloquent man who was competent in the use of the Scriptures, arrived in Ephesus. ²⁵ He had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit,^[b] he was speaking and teaching accurately about Jesus, although he knew only John’s baptism.^{(G) 26} He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. After Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside^[c] and explained the way of God to him more accurately.^{(H) 27} When he wanted to cross over to Achaia, the brothers and sisters wrote to the disciples to welcome him. After he arrived, he was a great help to those who by grace had believed.^{(I) 28} For he vigorously refuted the Jews in public, demonstrating through the Scriptures that Jesus is the Messiah.^(J)

Many Gifts but One Body

³ For by the grace^(A) given to me, I tell everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he should think.^(B) Instead, think sensibly, as God has distributed a measure of faith^(C) to each one. ⁴ Now as we have many parts in one body,^(D) and all the parts do not have the same function, ⁵ in the same way we who are many^(E) are one body in Christ^(F) and individually members of one another. ⁶ According to the grace given to us, we have different gifts:^(G) If prophecy,^(H) use it according to the proportion of one’s^[a] faith; ⁷ if service,^(I) use it in service; if teaching,^(J) in teaching; ⁸ if exhorting,^(K) in exhortation; giving, with generosity;^(L) leading,^(M) with diligence; showing mercy, with cheerfulness.^(N)

Greeting to Roman Christians

³ Give my greetings to Prisca^[a] and Aquila,^(A) my coworkers in^(B) Christ Jesus,^{(C) 4} who risked their own necks for my life. Not only do I thank them, but so do all the Gentile churches.

Conclusion

¹⁹ The churches of Asia^(A) send you greetings.^(B) Aquila and Priscilla^(C) send you greetings warmly in the Lord, along with the church that meets in their home.^(D)