¹² While Gallio was proconsul^(A) of Achaia,^(B) 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.”

¹⁴ 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. ¹⁵ But since it involves questions about words and names and your own law^(C)—settle the matter yourselves. I will not be a judge of such things.” ¹⁶ So he drove them off. ¹⁷ Then the crowd there turned on Sosthenes^(D) the synagogue leader^(E) and beat him in front of the proconsul; and Gallio showed no concern whatever.

Priscilla, Aquila and Apollos

¹⁸ Paul stayed on in Corinth for some time. Then he left the brothers and sisters^(F) and sailed for Syria,^(G) accompanied by Priscilla and Aquila.^(H) Before he sailed, he had his hair cut off at Cenchreae^(I) because of a vow he had taken.^{(J) 19} They arrived at Ephesus,^(K) where Paul left Priscilla and Aquila. He himself went into the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews. ²⁰ When they asked him to spend more time with them, he declined. ²¹ But as he left, he promised, “I will come back if it is God’s will.”^(L) Then he set sail from Ephesus. ²² When he landed at Caesarea,^(M) he went up to Jerusalem and greeted the church and then went down to Antioch.^(N)

²³ After spending some time in Antioch, Paul set out from there and traveled from place to place throughout the region of Galatia^(O) and Phrygia,^(P) strengthening all the disciples.^(Q)

²⁴ Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos,^(R) a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus.^(S) He was a learned man, with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures. ²⁵ He had been instructed in the way of the Lord, and he spoke with great fervor^[a](T) and taught about Jesus accurately, though he knew only the baptism of John.^{(U) 26} He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila^(V) heard him, they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately.

²⁷ When Apollos wanted to go to Achaia,^(W) the brothers and sisters^(X) 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. ²⁸ For he vigorously refuted his Jewish opponents in public debate, proving from the Scriptures^(Y) that Jesus was the Messiah.^(Z)

Paul in Ephesus

19 While Apollos^(AA) was at Corinth,^(AB) Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus.^(AC) There he found some disciples ² and asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit^(AD) when^[b] you believed?”

They answered, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.”

³ So Paul asked, “Then what baptism did you receive?”

“John’s baptism,” they replied.

⁴ Paul said, “John’s baptism^(AE) was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus.”^{(AF) 5} On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.^{(AG) 6} When Paul placed his hands on them,^(AH) the Holy Spirit came on them,^(AI) and they spoke in tongues^[c](AJ) and prophesied. ⁷ There were about twelve men in all.

BOOK IV

Psalms 90–106

Psalm 90

A prayer of Moses the man of God.