Acts 18:3
in Acts 18and he stayed and worked with them because they were tentmakers by trade, just as he was.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
and because he was of the same trade, he abode with them, and they wrought; for by their trade they were tentmakers.
KJV
And because he was of the same craft, he abode with them, and wrought: for by their occupation they were tentmakers.
⋯
This verse in Acts 18
Commentary
15 notes on this verseAnd because he was of the same craft, Art, occupation, or trade: he abode with them; in the same house in which they were: and wrought; with his own hands, to support himself, for he was a stranger in this place; and as yet here was no church to minister to him; and when there was, he would take nothing of them, that the false teachers, who rose up among them, might not make any handle of it against him, and to the prejudice of the Gospel; though otherwise he thought it his just due to receive a maintenance from the churches; and insisted upon it as an ordination of Christ.
This site's exposition
left Athens and went to Corinth
on Acts 18:1-3
At Corinth Paul found Aquila and his wife Priscilla, who had come from Italy because Claudius had ordered all the Jews to leave Rome. The historian Suetonius also records that edict, dated to about AD 49. Paul stayed and worked with them.
This site's exposition
they were tentmakers by trade
The Jewish teachers held that a father who taught his son no trade taught him to steal, and Gill cites that saying. A scholar of the law could still cut leather or stitch goat's hair cloth for a living. Paul points back to these working hands at 20:34.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers4 voices
[Paul] has repeatedly said of himself that he was working with his own hands so as not to burden anyone, and it is written of him that he joined with Aquila because of the similarity of their handicraft, so that they might work together to maintain a livelihood. From these and other such passages of the Scripture it is clear enough that our Lord does not reprove a person for procuring these things in the usual manner, but that he reproves a person who would serve in the army of God for the sake of these things, one who in his works has his eye fixed not on the kingdom of God but on the acquisition of these things. This entire precept is reduced, therefore, to the following rule: namely, that even in the procuring of these things we should keep our mind on the kingdom of God and that in the service of the kingdom of God we should give no thought to these things. In this way, even if these things be lacking at times (and God permits this usually for the purpose of exercising us), not only do they not weaken our resolve, but they even strengthen it for trial and approval.
A commentator
John ChrysostomCATENA ON THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 18.3-5 · Written in the 5th century.
proposed
Let no one who is a craftsman be ashamed, but rather those who are reared for no purpose and do nothing, the ones who employ many servants and enjoy an immense court. For being raised as an unceasing worker is the nature of philosophy. The minds of such people are purer, more vigorous. The one who does nothing is really one who does much in vain and, full of indolence, in an entire day accomplishes nothing. The one engaged in work will take on nothing superfluous in haste, neither in deeds nor words nor thoughts. For such a person's entire soul, throughout the day, has been set on a painful means of existence. We, therefore, ought not to scorn those who support themselves by the work of their hands, but we should really count them blessed because of this.… Paul, after countless journeys, despite such great wonders, stayed with a tentmaker and sewed skins. Angels honored him and demons trembled at him, and still he was not ashamed to say, "These same hands served my needs and those who were with me."
Lo, what a justification he found for dwelling in the same house with them! For because here, of all places, it was necessary that he should not receive, as he himself says, "That wherein they glory, they may be found, even as we," it is providentially ordered that he there abides. Observe how, not in Jerusalem, nor near it the crisis was hasting to come, but at a greater distance. And with him he abides, and is not ashamed to abide, nay, for this very reason he does abide, as having a suitable lodging-place, for to him it was much more suitable than any king's palace. And smile not thou, beloved, to hear of his occupation. For it was good for him even as to the athlete the palaestra is more useful than delicate carpets; so to the warrior the iron sword is useful, not that of gold. "And wrought," though he preached. Let us be ashamed, who though we have no preaching to occupy us, live in idleness.
Tents can refer to perfect souls, which also is true of the name Israel derived from "seeing God." Now these "tents," says Scripture, are "just like shady groves, like paradises beside streams and like tents that the Lord has pitched." It thus shows that there are other tents that the Lord has pitched, which the tents of Israel resemble. I have to go forth beyond this world in order to see those that are "the tents the Lord has pitched." They, no wonder, are those he showed to Moses when he was building the tent in the desert.
The Medieval Church1 voice
"Because of the sameness of their trade, he stayed with them and worked." He stayed because he found lodging with them convenient, since it was for him more comfortable than many royal chambers, just as for an athlete the arena is more useful than soft …
7 more voices on this verse
The Medieval Church1 voice
They were of the tent-making trade. As exiles in the land and strangers, they build tents for themselves to use on the way; σκῆναι in Greek are called tabernacles, deriving the etymology from shading, among which shade is called σκία; σκῆναι or σκηνώματα mean something …
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
They were tent makers by trade - For it was a rule among the Jews (and why is it not among the Christians?) to bring up all their children to some trade, were they ever so rich or noble.
Even those that are redeemed from the curse of the law are not exempt from that sentence, In the sweat of thy face thou shalt eat bread. See how careful Paul was to recommend his ministry, and to prevent prejudices against it, even the most unjust and unreasonable; he therefore maintained himself with his own labour that he might not make the gospel of Christ burdensome, 2 Cor. xi.
The great success of his ministry there, and the encouragement Christ gave him in a vision to continue his labours there, in hopes of further success,
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
The same craft - Of the same trade or occupation. And wrought - And worked at that occupation. Why he did it the historian does not affirm; but it seems pretty evident that it was because he had no other means of maintenance. He also labored for his own support in Ephesus Act 20:34 and at Thessalonica, 2Th 3:9-10. The apostle was not ashamed of honest industry for a livelihood; nor did he deem it any disparagement that a minister of the gospel should labor with his own hands.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
Every Jewish youth, whatever the pecuniary circumstances of his parents, was taught some trade (see on Lu 2:42), and Paul made it a point of conscience to work at that which he had probably been bred to, partly that he might not be burdensome to the churches, and partly that his motives as a minister of Christ might not be liable to misconstruction.
He abode with them, and wrought - Bp. Pearce observes that it was a custom among the Jews, even of such as had a better education than ordinary, which was Paul’s case, Act 22:3, to learn a trade, that, wherever they were, they might provide for themselves in case of necessity. And though Paul, in some cases, lived on the bounty of his converts, yet he chose not to do so at Ephesus, Act 20:34; nor at Corinth or other places, 1Co 4:12; 2Co 9:8, 2Co 9:9; 1Th 3:8; and this Paul did for a reason which he gives in 2Co 11:9-12. While he was at Corinth he was supplied, when his own labor did not procure him enough, “by the brethren which came to him there from Macedonia.” It appears that the apostle had his lodging with Aquila and Priscilla; and probably a portion of the profits of the business, after his board was deducted. It was evidently no reproach for a man, at that time, to unite public teaching with an honest useful trade. And why should it be so now? May not a man who has acquired a thorough knowledge of the Gospel way of salvation, explain that way to his less informed neighbors, though he be a tent-maker, (what perhaps we would call a house-carpenter), or a shoemaker, or any thing else? Even many of those who consider it a cardinal sin for a mechanic to preach the Gospel, are providing for themselves and their families in the same way. How many of the clergy, and other ministers, are farmers, graziers, schoolmasters, and sleeping partners in different trades and commercial concerns! A tent-maker, in his place, is as useful as any of these. […]
The words behind it
15 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| διὰ | dia | due to | G1223 → | 664 times |
| τὸ | to | of the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ὁμότεχνον | homotechnon | same trade | G3673 → | |
| εἶναι | einai | being | G1511 → | 123 times |
| ἔμενεν | emenen | he was staying | G3306 → | 118 times |
| παρ᾽ | par᾽ | with | G3844 → | 192 times |
| αὐτοῖς | autois | them | G846 → | 5565 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| ἠργάζετο· | ergazeto | he was working; | G2038 → | 41 times |
| ἦσαν | esan | they were | G1510 → | 2333 times |
| γὰρ | gar | for | G1063 → | 1039 times |
| σκηνοποιοὶ | skenopoioi | tentmakers | G4635 → | |
| τῇ | tea | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| τέχνῃ· | techne | by trade; | G5078 → |
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
διὰdue to
diaG1223 →664 times
τὸof the
toG3588 →19766 times
ὁμότεχνονsame trade
homotechnonG3673 →
εἶναιbeing
einaiG1511 →123 times
ἔμενενhe was staying
emenenG3306 →118 times
παρ᾽with
par᾽G3844 →192 times
αὐτοῖςthem
autoisG846 →5565 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
ἠργάζετο·he was working;
ergazetoG2038 →41 times
ἦσανthey were
esanG1510 →2333 times
γὰρfor
garG1063 →1039 times
σκηνοποιοὶtentmakers
skenopoioiG4635 →
τῇ<the>
teaG3588 →19766 times
τέχνῃ·by trade;
techneG5078 →
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
1 Thessalonians 2:9Surely you recall, brothers, our labor and toil. We worked night and day so that we would not be a burden to anyone while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God.
it leads to
- 2 Thessalonians 3:7–9
For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we were not undisciplined among you,
- 2 Corinthians 11:9
And when I was with you and in need, I was not a burden to anyone; for the brothers who came from Macedonia supplied my needs. I have refrained from being a burden to…
- 2 Corinthians 12:13–14
In what way were you inferior to the other churches, except that I was not a burden to you? Forgive me this wrong!
- 2 Thessalonians 3:7–9
Through
1 Corinthians 4:12We work hard with our own hands. When we are vilified, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it;
it leads to
- 1 Peter 3:9
Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.
- Matthew 5:11
Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me.
- Romans 12:14
Bless those who persecute you. Bless and do not curse.
- 1 Peter 4:12–14
Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial that has come upon you, as though something strange were happening to you.
- 1 Peter 3:9
Through
2 Corinthians 11:9And when I was with you and in need, I was not a burden to anyone; for the brothers who came from Macedonia supplied my needs. I have refrained from being a burden to…
it leads to
- 1 Thessalonians 2:9
Surely you recall, brothers, our labor and toil. We worked night and day so that we would not be a burden to anyone while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- 1 Thessalonians 2:9
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About Acts
This page draws on 15 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes on Acts; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Augustine of Hippo, SERMON ON THE MOUNT 2.17.57-58; Bede, Commentary on Acts; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, CATENA ON THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 18.3-5; John Chrysostom, Homily on Acts 39; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament; John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Origen of Alexandria, HOMILIES ON NUMBERS 17.4.6-7; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Acts and William Ramsay, St. Paul the Traveller and the Roman Citizen.