Skip to content
mannafest.faith
Read

Acts 18:5

in Acts 18

And when Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia, Paul devoted himself fully to the word, testifying to the Jews that Jesus is the Christ.

BSB

The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾

ASV

But when Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia, Paul was constrained by the word, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ.

KJV

And when Silas and Timotheus were come from Macedonia, Paul was pressed in the spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus was Christ.

⋯

This verse in Acts 18

Commentary

10 notes on this verse
And when Silas and Timotheus ... - They came to Paul according to the request which he had sent by the brethren who accompanied him from Thessalonica, Act 17:15. Paul was pressed - Was urged; was borne away by an unusual impulse. It was deeply impressed on him as his duty. In spirit - In his mind; in his feelings. His love to Christ was so great, and his conviction of the truth so strong, that he labored to make known to them the truth that Jesus Was the Messiah.

This site's exposition

devoted himself fully to the word

on Acts 18:5-6

When the Jews opposed and insulted Paul, he turned to the Gentiles, the second of three such turns with 13:46 and 28:28. Yet he enters the synagogue at Ephesus at 18:19 and writes Romans 9 to 11 between them.

The record, by era

The Church Fathers2 voices

A commentator

Cassiodorus

Complexiones on the Acts of the Apostles · Written before 585.

proposed

"And when Silas and Timothy were come from Macedonia, they were earnest that Paul's preaching," etc. When Silas and Timothy were come from Macedonia to Corinth, where Paul was, he was earnestly teaching the word of the Lord; but as some Jews would not listen, …

A commentator

John Chrysostom

Homily on Acts 39 · Written before 407.

proposed

"And he reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks. And when Silas and Timotheus were come from Macedonia, Paul was straitened in the word, testifying to the Jews that Jesus is the Christ." "And when the Jews opposed and blasphemed," i.e. they tried to bear him down, they set upon him. "And he disputed in the synagogue every sabbath day, and persuaded both Jews and Greeks": but "when they opposed and blasphemed" he withdrew, by this expecting to draw them more.

The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices

A commentator

John Wesley

1703–1791

Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament (1755)

But now at length both Silas and Timotheus came to the apostle at Corinth. Paul was pressed in spirit - The more probably from what Silas and Timotheus related. Every Christian ought diligently to observe any such pressure in his own spirit, and if it agree with Scripture, to follow it: if he does not he will feel great heaviness.

A commentator

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

And, being thus pressed, he testified to the Jews with all possible solemnity and seriousness, as that which he was perfectly well assured of himself, and attested to them as a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah promised to the fathers and expected by them.

A commentator

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

proposed

While he steadily adhered to the laws and rules of equity, he might despise their contempts; but, if it be meant (as I think it is) that he concerned not himself for the abuses done to good men, it carries his indifference too far, and gives us but an ill character of him. Here is wickedness done in the place of judgment (which Solomon complains of, Eccl. iii.

quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — unbalanced-parens

3 more voices on this verse

The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices

And when Silas and Timotheus were come from Macedonia,....

A commentator

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

proposed

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 Century1 voice

A commentator

Adam Clarke

1762–1832

Commentary on the Bible · Written before 1832.

proposed

When Silas and Timotheus were come - We have seen, Act 17:13, that when Paul was obliged to leave Berea, because of the persecution raised up against him in that place, he left Silas and Timotheus behind; to whom he afterwards sent word to rejoin him at Athens with all speed. It appears, from 1Th 3:10, that, on Timothy’s coming to Athens, Paul immediately sent him, and probably Silas with him, to comfort and establish the Church at Thessalonica. How long they labored here is uncertain, but they did not rejoin him till some time after he came to Corinth. It appears that he was greatly rejoiced at the account which Timothy brought of the Church at Thessalonica; and it must have been immediately after this that he wrote his first epistle to that Church, which is probably the first, in order of time, of all his epistles. Paul was pressed in spirit - Συνειχετο τῳ πνευματι, or he was constrained by the Spirit of God, in an extraordinary manner, to testify to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ. Instead of τῳ πνευματι, in the spirit, τῳ λογῳ, in the word or doctrine, is the reading of ABDE, three others; both the Syriac, Coptic, Vulgate, Basil, Chrysostom, and others. Griesbach has received this reading into the text, and Bp. Pearce thus paraphrases the verse: “And when Silas and Timotheus were come from Macedonia, Paul set himself, together with them, wholly to the word; i.e. he was fully employed, now that he had their assistance, it preaching the Gospel, called the word in Act 4:4; Act 16:6, Act 16:32; Act 17:11. St. Luke seems to have intended to express here something relating to St. […]

The words behind it

24 Greek words

Every 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.

A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.

Related verses

18 in all, six open

The number beside each verse is how many compiled reference works tie it to this one. The strongest six stand open.

Acts 9:22But Saul was empowered all the more, and he confounded the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Christ.10 works2 Corinthians 5:14For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that One died for all, therefore all died.8 worksActs 18:28For he powerfully refuted the Jews in public debate, proving from the Scriptures that Jesus is the Christ.8 worksActs 20:21testifying to Jews and Greeks alike about repentance to God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.6 worksActs 17:3explaining and proving that the Christ had to suffer and rise from the dead. “This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Christ,” he declared.6 worksActs 16:1Paul came to Derbe and then to Lystra, where he found a disciple named Timothy, the son of a believing Jewish woman and a Greek father.6 works
The other 12 cross-references, with their words ▾
Acts 17:15Those who escorted Paul brought him to Athens and then returned with instructions for Silas and Timothy to join him as soon as possible.6 worksEzekiel 3:14So the Spirit lifted me up and took me away, and I went in bitterness and in the anger of my spirit, with the strong hand of the LORD upon me.5 worksActs 16:9During the night, Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and pleading with him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.”5 works1 John 4:14And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent His Son to be the Savior of the world.5 worksJob 32:18–20For I am full of words, and my spirit within me compels me.4 worksActs 17:14–16The brothers immediately sent Paul to the coast, but Silas and Timothy remained in Berea.4 worksJeremiah 6:11But I am full of the LORD’s wrath; I am tired of holding it back. “Pour it out on the children in the street, and on the young men gathered together. For both husband and wife will be captured, the old and the very old alike.4 worksJeremiah 20:9If I say, “I will not mention Him or speak any more in His name,” His message becomes a fire burning in my heart, shut up in my bones, and I become weary of holding it in, and I cannot prevail.4 worksActs 2:36Therefore let all Israel know with certainty that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ!”4 works2 Corinthians 1:19For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was proclaimed among you by me and Silvanus and Timothy, was not “Yes” and “No,” but in Him it has always been “Yes.”4 worksActs 15:22Then the apostles and elders, with the whole church, decided to select men from among them to send to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They chose Judas called Barsabbas and Silas, two leaders among the brothers,4 works1 Thessalonians 3:6But just now, Timothy has returned from his visit with the good news about your faith, your love, and the fond memories you have preserved, longing to see us just as we long to see you.4 works

The walk

8 stops

Each 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

    2 Corinthians 5:14

    For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that One died for all, therefore all died.

    it leads to

    • Galatians 2:20

      I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved…

    • Romans 14:7–9

      For none of us lives to himself alone, and none of us dies to himself alone.

    • Matthew 10:37–38

      Anyone who loves his father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me;

    • 1 Peter 1:8

      Though you have not seen Him, you love Him; and though you do not see Him now, you believe in Him and rejoice with an inexpressible and glorious joy,

    • Matthew 20:28

      just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.”

  • Through

    Acts 18:28

    For he powerfully refuted the Jews in public debate, proving from the Scriptures that Jesus is the Christ.

    it leads to

    • Acts 9:22

      But Saul was empowered all the more, and he confounded the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Christ.

      Reached by 2 separate paths from here.

    • 1 Corinthians 15:3–4

      For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,

  • Through

    Acts 20:21

    testifying to Jews and Greeks alike about repentance to God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.

    it leads to

    • Acts 2:38

      Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Where this verse is studied

About Acts

The Pentecost, El Greco, about 1600, Museo del Prado. Public domain.
The Pentecost, El Greco, about 1600, Museo del Prado. Public domain.
Acts: the study guide →Read Acts 18 →
This page draws on 9 works. Open the list of works

This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Cassiodorus, Complexiones on the Acts of the Apostles; J. A. Alexander, The Acts of the Apostles Explained; John Calvin, Commentary upon the Acts of the Apostles; John Chrysostom, Homily on Acts 39; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.

Read on in Acts 18 →