Acts 18:4

4 And he disputed in the synagogue by each sabbath, putting among the name of the Lord Jesus; and he [softly] counseled Jews and Greeks.

Acts 18:4 Meaning and Commentary

Acts 18:4

And he reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath
In Corinth there was a synagogue of the Jews, in which they met together for worship on the seventh day of the week, which was their sabbath; and hither Paul went, and took the opportunity of reasoning with them out of the Scriptures, concerning Christ, his person, and offices, his incarnation, obedience, sufferings, and death, and about redemption and salvation by him: we may observe the diligence, industry, and indefatigableness of the apostle; on the sabbath day he went to the synagogue, and preached Christ to those who there attended; and on the weekdays he laboured with his own hands. Beza's most ancient copy, and the Vulgate Latin version add here, "interposing the name of the Lord Jesus"; frequently making mention of his name, or calling upon it, and doing miracles in it.

And persuaded the Jews and the Greeks;
this was the effect of his reasoning, and the success that attended it; some, both of the Jews, who were so by birth, as well as religion, and of the Greeks, or Gentiles, who were Jewish proselytes, and attended synagogue worship, were convinced by his arguments, and were induced to believe the truth of his doctrine, and to embrace it; or at least he endeavoured to persuade them that they were lost sinners, and that there was salvation for them in Christ, and in him only.

Acts 18:4 In-Context

2 And he found a man, a Jew, Aquila by name, of Pontus by kind, that late came from Italy, and Priscilla, his wife, for that Claudius commanded all Jews to depart from Rome; and he came to them.
3 And for that he was of the same craft, he dwelled with them, and wrought; and they were of ropemakers craft [soothly they were of tentmakers craft, that is, to make coverings to traveling men].
4 And he disputed in the synagogue by each sabbath, putting among the name of the Lord Jesus; and he [softly] counseled Jews and Greeks.
5 And when Silas and Timothy came from Macedonia, Paul gave busyness to the word, and witnessed to the Jews, that Jesus is Christ.
6 But when they gainsaid and blasphemed, he shook away his clothes [Forsooth when they against-said and blasphemed, he shook off his clothes], and said to them, Your blood be on your head; I shall be clean from henceforth, and I shall go to heathen men [I clean from henceforth, shall go to heathen men].
Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.