Vs. 1-6

Paul leaves Athens where he has dealt with the intellectuals and scholars heading towards Corinth, which was the land bridge connecting the Peloponnese with Northern Greece This is the city to which Paul wrote First and Second Corinthians. What happens here should be kept in mind while reading Corinthians.

Vs. 2

Vs. 3

"Pressed in the spirit" - Paul was driven by the Spirit of God and his own desire to reach his kinsman according to the flesh for Jesus Christ.

Here another major event in the evangelization of the Jew takes place.

[1]. The gospel has been rejected in Jerusalem (Acts 7).
[2]. The gospel has been rejected in Asia Minor (Acts 13:45,46).
[3]. Now on the European mainland.

Vs. 6

Vs. 7-11

In spite of the majority of Jews rejecting Paul's message, Justus, Crispus and his family (Acts 16:31 and notes) believe and are baptized. Some make issue of baptism being dispensationally not for today. Although Paul was not sent primarily to baptize, he did baptize some of his converts personally....after they were saved.

Vs. 9,10

Vs. 11

The Corinthian church has time to get gifts (1 Cor. 12) and exercise them in dealing with the unbelieving Jews (1 Cor. 14:22). This explains the tongues which are discussed in (1 Cor. 14). The Jew is here (vs. 2, 4,8,12).

Vs. 12-17

Gallio is a wise man. He does not see any issue. He doesn't see "worshipping God contrary to the Law" an offense. Gallio keeps his noise out of business he is not paid to stick it into... "cared for none of these things" (vs. 17).

The crowd of Greek bystanders lay hold of Sosthenes and beat him. It seems (Rom. 8:28 and Rom. 2:4) led to Sosthenes salvation. (1 Cor. 1:1)

Vs. 18-23

Paul shears his hair off according to the vow of a Nazarite. (Num. 6:13,18,21) But why? Up to this time Paul's desire to participate in the Jewish feasts and vows has seemingly been ignored or been nonexistent. Paul had been in Jerusalem three times before with no mention of anything like this. (Acts 9:28; Gal. 1:18; Acts 15 - See Acts 21:26). Paul knew that his was no longer necessary .... but why?

In (Acts 18:19) he entered and taught in the synagogue. He was received well (vs. 20.) He had just spent two years in Corinth where according to the New Testament, the signs were most abundantly used, meaning a large population of unbelieving Jews. Paul must have had an overwhelming desire to reach his people with the message of salvation.

Something has happened to Paul's heart:

[1]. Two synagogue rulers were just converted under his ministry (vs. 8,17). This renewed his burden (Rom. 9:13). The shaving of his head is becoming all things to all men. He shaves his head as a testimony to the Jews (1 Cor. 9:20).
[2]. The fact that the Jews desired Paul to tarry with them shows that Paul had had a good testimony with the Jews at Ephesus.
[3]. (Vs. 21) - "I will return.... If God will." (Jas. 4:15-17)

Paul has "'plotted" (2 Cor. 12:16) to win the next bunch of Jews he meets. It is instructive to notice that not once again does Paul meet any serious persecution from the Jews in Asia Minor. It is the Jews in Palestine that starts the beginning of the end.

The third missionary journey is found in (Acts 18:23-Acts 19:21).

Vs. 24-28

Apollos was saved in the sense of (Lk. 22:32 before Jn. 20:22). This accounts for the strange scene that follows (Acts 19:1-6). Apollos was not born again, he had not yet gotten past (Matt. 3:11) - (vs. 25,26).

The man is preaching according to the truth that has been revealed to him. Again we remind ourselves of the important fact that the book of Acts is an historical account of the way God moved in the Jewish people and their general rejection of the gospel of the grace of God as revealed to Paul. Acts records the progressive revelation of God; stopping in (Acts 2) is spiritual insanity.

Apollos had not heard the gospel as we have heard it, but preached John's baptism of repentance preparing the way for the Lord (who had already come and gone.)

Vs. 24

Vs. 25

Vs. 26

Apollos has passed through Achaia before Paul came through that way going East; he runs into some of Apollos' disciples who had come up from Corinth following a "John the Baptist" gospel.

Now Apollos is equipped to preach to the Jews for as a Jew himself he mightily convinces men that Jesus is the promised Messiah. Apollos is a street preacher (vs. 28) publicly.