Acts 18

      18:2.  Claudius issued this order c.49-50.  The Jews were all ordered out of Rome (except Roman citizens) because of disturbances, probably like those in Acts 17 at Thessalonica, etc.

     18:6.  Cf. Ezek.3:16 ff.; 33:2 ff.; Acts 20:26.

     18:8.  Crispus was baptized by Paul himself (1 Cor.1:14).

     18:9-10.  The “many people” that the Lord spoke of were those “whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life” (Rev.21:27), but who had not as yet heard the word of life (cf. Mt.25:34).

     18:12-17.  Gallio was the brother of the famous Stoic philosopher Seneca, who was Nero’s tutor and early adviser.  His judgment of the case was correct, but his inaction in v.17 may indicate that he was more influenced by Claudius’ attitude toward the Jews (2) than he was about justice.  Still, it gave the Christian’s peace for a time.  The Jews should have stuck to their tried but dishonest charge of 17:7 and John 19:12, which seemed to work for them every time.  On the other hand, Gallio was no Pontius Pilate.

      18:18-23.  Paul cut his hair before beginning his (Nazirite) vow (cf. Nu.6).  He would not cut it again until he had completed his vow, probably offering sacrifice at the temple in Jerusalem.  That is where he “went up and greeted the church” (22).  He then returned to his home base at Antioch before beginning his third missionary journey (23).

     18:24-28. Apollos apparently knew about Jesus (25), but he only knew of the baptism of John (see 19:1-6 and notes).  John’s baptism was a water baptism of repentance into faith in the One who would come after him.  That One would baptize not with water, but with the Holy Spirit and fire (Mt.3:11).  Apparently that was the baptism about which Apollos had not heard.  Priscilla and Aquila did not re-baptize him.  They brought him up to date, enabling him to preach Christ even more powerfully from the OT Scriptures, which he did also when he arrived at Corinth.  “I planted, Apollos watered.”   1 Cor.3:6.