Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Acts 18:11
And he continued [there] a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.
11. And he continued [ dwelt ] there ] In these words the historian seems to be expressing the content which pervaded the Apostle’s mind after the vision. Neither the A. V. nor the Revised rendering gives to the full the meaning of the Greek. The verb is generally rendered “to sit down,” and here seems to be applied purposely to the restful state of the Apostle’s mind after the comforting revelation. The same verb is used by St Luke (Luk 24:49), “ Tarry ye in the city, until ye be clothed with power from on high,” where the admonition is of like character with the advice given here to St Paul. In no other place in the New Testament is the word similarly used.
a year and six months ] And beside his teaching to the Corinthians he wrote at this time the two Epistles to the Thessalonians which are the first in order of date among the Apostolic letters, and probably the earliest part of the whole New Testament.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
And he continued … – Paul was not accustomed to remain long in a place. At Ephesus, indeed, he remained three years Act 20:31; and his stay at Corinth was caused by his success, and by the necessity of placing a church, collected out of such corrupt and dissolute materials, on a firm foundation.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 11. He continued there a year and six months] He was now confident that he was under the especial protection of God, and therefore continued teaching the word, , the doctrine of God. It is very likely, that it was during his stay here that he wrote his first epistle to the Thessalonians, and the second not long after; and some think that the epistle to the Galatians was written during his stay at Corinth.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
He sat there as his fixed place; which implies his continuance and constancy in the work of the ministry.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
11. continued there a year and sixmonthsthe whole period of this stay at Corinth, and not merelyup to what is next recorded. During some part of this period hewrote his SECONDEPISTLE TO THETHESSALONIANS. (SeeIntroduction to SecondThessalonians.)
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And he continued there,…. At Corinth, as the Syriac version, and some copies, read; he was obedient to the heavenly vision: in the Greek text it is, “he sat” there, answerable to the Hebrew word
, which signifies to sit, continue and abide: he stayed there in all a year and six months; which was a long time for the apostle to stay in one place, and longer than he did anywhere, unless at Ephesus, where he continued two years, Ac 19:10 for as for his stay at Rome, that was by confinement: but here were many people to be called, and much work to do, a large church to be raised, and put in order; and this required time as well as care and labour:
teaching the word of God among them; he did not sit idle here, but preached the Gospel, which is the word of God, and not man, openly and publicly, among them all; and that frequently, in season and out of season, and with great boldness and faithfulness.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
A year and six months ( ). Accusative of extent of time. How much time before this incident he had been there we do not know. He was in Corinth probably a couple of years in all. His work extended beyond the city (2Co 11:10) and there was a church in Cenchreae (Ro 16:1).
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
GALLIO, PROCONSUL OF ACHAIA REFUSED TO CONDEMN PAUL V. 11-17
1) “And he continued there a year and six months,” (ekathisen de eniauton kai menas eks) “And he sat (for a period of) one year and six months,” in that city, in Corinth thereafter, from autumn A.D. 52 to spring A.D. 54, conducting what might be termed a Bible School or Bible ,Institute, to help these many people of the Lord in that place, Act 18:10. Paul established or taught in four Bible Schools as follows: 1) In Antioch of Syria, one year Act 11:26; Acts 2) In Corinth, Greece, a year and a half, Act 18:11; Acts 3) In Ephesus, two years, Act 19:10; Acts 4) In Rome, two years, Act 28:30-31.
2) “Teaching the word of God among them (didaskon en autois ton logon tou theou) “Teaching among them the word of God,” for their strength and help in soul and life, Joh 5:39; 2Ti 2:15; 1Pe 3:9. By the Word, faith comes, and it is quick and powerful, Heb 4:12; It perfectly furnishes to every good work, and is the standard by which all men shall one day be judged, 2Ti 3:16-17; Rev 20:11-13.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
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11. He continued there a year. We do not read that Paul stayed so long anywhere else save there; and yet it appeareth by his two epistles that he was not only likely to suffer much troubles, but that he had suffered many unjust and unmeet things by reason of the pride and unthankfulness of the people, so that we see that there was no part of warfare wherein the Lord did not wonderfully exercise him. Also, we gather what a hard and laborious matter the edifying of the Church is, seeing that the most excellent workmaster spent so much time about the laying of the foundation of one church only. Neither doth he boast that he had finished the work, but that the Lord had put others in his place, that they might build upon his foundation; as he saith afterwards that he had planted, and that Apollos had watered, ( 1Co 3:6.)
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(11) And he continued there a year and six months.This obviously gave time not only for founding and organising a Church at Corinth itself, but for work in the neighbouring districts, such as the port of Cenchre, where we find in Rom. 16:1 a church duly furnished not only with presbyters and deacons, but with a sisterhood of deaconesses. The superscription of 2Co. 1:1, to the Church that is in Corinth and to all the saints that are in all Achaia, clearly indicates an extension of evangelising work beyond the limits of the city. The unimpeded progress of this period came to him as an abundant fulfilment of the Lords promise, and prepared him for the next persecution when it came.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
11. A year and six months During the period of eighteen months he founded a Church which, with all its defects of partisanship, impurity, and heresies, was one of the most eminent monuments of the divine blessing on his apostolic labours.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘And he dwelt there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.’
The result was that he preached for eighteen months without let or hindrance, ‘teaching the word of God’ among them. This ‘teaching’ was not only a proclamation but a steady build up in the word. Note the constant references to ‘the word’ throughout Acts. Underlying all that we find in Acts is the progress of the word as it advances. It is going forward to bring about God’s will as Isaiah had promised (Isa 55:9-13). And here once more Paul was sending it forth at the Lord’s command.
The clear assumption of this passage is that the word of God was working effectively in the lives of the ‘much people in this city’. But it is interesting that after the initial burst (Act 18:8) we are not told of even one convert. We are left to recognise the fact without being told, for it is quite clear that a great work was going on. Once again we recognise that Luke’s silences are not to be assumed as signifying that nothing was happening. From elsewhere we know that as well as Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, and Titius Justus, whose house Paul stayed in, there were Stephanas and his household, his earliest converts whom he baptised himself, something that he soon refrained from doing (1Co 1:16; 1Co 16:15); there was Erastus the city treasurer (Rom 16:23); there was Gaius whose house was large enough to hold the church (Rom 16:23); and there was the Lady Chloe (1Co 1:11). These were highly influential people, but the unknown majority would come from the lower levels of society, including both freedmen and slaves, although we must remember in saying that, that slaves could hold positions of some importance. The church covered the whole spectrum of society.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
11 And he continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.
Ver. 11. And he continued there ] Gr. , He sat down there a great while, though he met with many discouragements and little love, with loss of love,2Co 12:152Co 12:15 , and unworthy usage, being forced to labour with his hands for a poor living. Howbeit, inasmuch as God had much people there, he, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ, suffered hardship, and sacrificed himself to the service of their faith (Isidore); not seeking theirs but them, and “catching them by craft,” 2Co 12:16 , as the fox doth the fowls that fall upon him when he feigns himself a dead carcase.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
11 .] The year and a half may extend either to his departure , or to the incident in Act 18:12 ff. Meyer would confine it to the latter, taking in the sense of ‘ remained in quiet :’ but (see reff.) it will hardly bear such emphasis: and seeing that the incident in Act 18:12 ff. was a notable fulfilment of the promise, for though they set on him, they could not hurt him , I should be disposed to take the other view, and regard Act 18:12 to , Act 18:18 , to have happened during this time.
Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament
Act 18:11 . , see critical note, “he dwelt,” R.V., cf. Luk 24:49 , but not elsewhere in N.T. in this sense, but constantly in LXX, 1MMal 2:1 ; 1Ma 2:29 . Rendall renders “he took his seat,” i.e. , as a teacher, a Rabbi, and see also the remarks of Ramsay on the way in which St. Paul was evidently regarded at Corinth as one of the travelling lecturers on philosophy and morals so common in the Greek world, “Corinth,” Hastings’ B.D. 1 , p. 482. The word may be purposely used here instead of the ordinary to indicate the quiet and settled work to which the Apostle was directed by the vision which had calmed his troubled spirit, and had taught him that his cherished plan of revisiting Macedonia must be postponed to preaching the Word in Corinth. During this period 1 and 2 Thess. were probably written. The year and a half is taken to include the whole subsequent residence in Corinth, Act 18:18 , in which Act 18:12-17 form an episode. Men attacked him with a view of injuring him, but without success, and his continuous abode in Corinth was a fulfilment of the promise in Act 18:10 (indicated perhaps more clearly by than by in Act 18:11 ). On , Act 18:18 , see below the words are taken to mark simply a note of the time spent between the incident of Act 18:12-17 and the departure of Paul from the city. In this period the Apostle would have founded the Church at Cenchreae, and his labours seem to have extended still further, for in 2Co 1:1 we read of the saints in the whole of Achaia ( cf. 2Co 11:10 ) and the household of Stephanas is spoken of as the firstfruits not of Corinth but of Achaia.
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
continued. Literally “sat”. Figure of speech Synecdoche (of species). “Sit” used of a permanent condition.
a year and six months. In A.D. 52-53. During this period Paul wrote 1 Thess. (A.D. 52) and 2 Thess. (A.D. 53), and probably Hebrews. See introductory notes to these epistles and App-180.
word. Greek. logos. App-121.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
11.] The year and a half may extend either to his departure, or to the incident in Act 18:12 ff. Meyer would confine it to the latter, taking in the sense of remained in quiet: but (see reff.) it will hardly bear such emphasis: and seeing that the incident in Act 18:12 ff. was a notable fulfilment of the promise,-for though they set on him, they could not hurt him,-I should be disposed to take the other view, and regard Act 18:12 to , Act 18:18, to have happened during this time.
Fuente: The Greek Testament
Act 18:11. , he sat, i.e. continued settled) This apostolic chair (cathedra) of Paul at Corinth is better attested than that of Peter at Rome.- , a year and six months) A long time: but in the present day how little the gain (how few are the souls converted) in the same space of time! The teachers and the hearers are in fault (are to blame for this).
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
he: Act 14:3, Act 19:10, Act 20:31
continued there: Gr. sat there
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
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Act 18:11. Verse 8 says that many of the Corinthians became obedient believers, so it was among them that Paul taught the word. And in a period of 18 months many more would hear and obey, so that the church in that city became one of the largest in numbers.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Act 18:11. And he continued there a year and six months. This year and a half was the whole period of his residence at Corinth. It was during this lengthened stay that the apostle wrote the two epistles to the church of Thessalonica, the earliest letters we possess of St. Paul.
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
11. Under the assurance given by the Lord in the vision, Paul was encouraged to continue his labors. (11) “Then he continued there a year and six months, teaching among them the word of God.” Instead of the more usual expression, “preaching the word of God,” we have here “teaching the word of God.” This change of phraseology is not without a purpose. It indicates that Paul’s labor, during this period, consisted not so much in proclaiming the great facts of the gospel, as in teaching his hearers the practical precepts of the Word. He was executing the latter part of the commission as recorded by Matthew: “Teaching them to observe and do all that I have commanded you.”
Fuente: McGarvey and Pendleton Commentaries (New Testament)
18:11 And he {e} continued [there] a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.
(e) Literally, “sat”, whereupon they in former time took the name of their bishop’s seat: but Paul sat, that is, continued teaching the word of God: and this type of seat does not belong to those who never took their seats with a mind to teach in them.
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes
Paul’s year and a half stay in Corinth probably dates from the fall of 50 to the spring of A.D. 52. This was evidently the entire time Paul remained in Corinth. The church Paul planted in Corinth consisted of a rich mixture of people some of whom were greatly gifted but most of whom came from the lower elements of society (cf. Rom 16:23; 1Co 1:4-8; 1Co 1:26-29; 1Co 7:18; 1Co 12:13).