Acts 18 5

Acts 18:5 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.

Acts 18:5 nkjv

When Silas and Timothy had come from Macedonia, Paul was compelled by the Spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus is the Christ.

Acts 18:5 niv

When Silas and Timothy came from Macedonia, Paul devoted himself exclusively to preaching, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Messiah.

Acts 18:5 esv

When Silas and Timothy arrived from Macedonia, Paul was occupied with the word, testifying to the Jews that the Christ was Jesus.

Acts 18:5 nlt

And after Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia, Paul spent all his time preaching the word. He testified to the Jews that Jesus was the Messiah.

Acts 18 verses

Acts 18 5 Meaning

When Silas and Timothy arrived from Macedonia, Paul was powerfully moved and completely engrossed by the Holy Spirit. This spiritual compulsion led him to dedicate himself entirely to proclaiming to the Jews that Jesus was the long-awaited Messiah, the Christ.

Acts 18 5 Context

Acts 18 begins with Paul arriving in Corinth after his difficult time in Athens. He lived and worked as a tentmaker with Aquila and Priscilla. While awaiting Silas and Timothy, Paul "reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and tried to persuade Jews and Greeks" (Acts 18:4). This indicates a limited, Sabbath-only focus on public ministry, balancing it with his trade to support himself. The arrival of Silas and Timothy marked a pivotal moment. They brought not only their presence and ministry updates but, significantly, financial support from the churches in Macedonia (likely Philippi and Thessalonica, as hinted in Phil 4:15-16 and 2 Cor 11:7-9). This allowed Paul to cease tent-making and fully immerse himself in preaching the word, hence the phrase "compelled by the Spirit." The verse highlights this shift from part-time reasoning to full-time, Spirit-empowered declaration of Jesus as the Christ to his primary, initial audience, the Jews, in the Corinthian synagogue.

Acts 18 5 Word analysis

• When Silas and Timothy came from Macedonia:

  • Silas (Σίλας, Silas): A prominent prophet and missionary, Paul's companion since the second missionary journey. His arrival signifies a reunited team and reinforcement for Paul's ministry.
  • Timothy (Τιμόθεος, Timótheos): Paul's faithful disciple and fellow worker, integral to his ministry, especially in follow-up and pastoral care. Their presence provided personal encouragement and fresh news from churches Paul had established, specifically from Philippi, Thessalonica, and Berea (Acts 17:10, 14; 1 Thes 3:6).
  • from Macedonia (ἀπὸ Μακεδονίας, apo Makedonías): This geographic detail is significant. Macedonian churches, particularly Philippi, were known for their financial generosity and unwavering support for Paul, often aiding his ministry. Their arrival, therefore, implied practical and spiritual aid, potentially including funds that allowed Paul to stop manual labor and dedicate himself fully to preaching.

• Paul was compelled by the Spirit:

  • Paul (Παῦλος, Paulos): The Apostle to the Gentiles, here shown in a moment of renewed spiritual intensity.
  • was compelled (συνείχετο, syneícheto): This Greek imperfect passive verb means to be "held fast," "constrained," "fully occupied," "engrossed," "pressured," or "overwhelmed." It denotes an inner spiritual pressure or compulsion, implying that the Holy Spirit so engrossed or energized Paul that he could no longer focus on anything else, especially his tent-making. It represents a spiritual redirection and intensification, enabling complete dedication.
  • by the Spirit (τῷ πνεύματι, tō pneúmati): Refers to the Holy Spirit. This is not mere personal zeal, but divine prompting and empowerment. The Spirit was the source of Paul's compulsion and the power behind his renewed dedication to ministry.

• testifying to the Jews:

  • testifying (διαμαρτυρόμενος, diamartyroménos): A present participle, indicating continuous, persistent, and solemn witnessing. It means "to bear witness thoroughly," "to strongly affirm," or "to testify earnestly and fully." It suggests a persistent, convicting declaration, emphasizing truth.
  • to the Jews (τοῖς Ἰουδαίοις, tois Ioudaíois): Paul's immediate audience in Corinth was primarily the Jewish community, typically accessed through their synagogue. Despite being the apostle to the Gentiles, his consistent missionary strategy was "to the Jew first" (Rom 1:16), seeking to present the Gospel to them first before turning to Gentiles if rejected.

• that Jesus was the Christ:

  • Jesus (Ἰησοῦς, Iēsoús): The historical person of Jesus of Nazareth.
  • was the Christ (εἶναι τὸν Χριστόν, einai ton Christón): The core theological proclamation. "Christ" (Χριστός, Christos) is the Greek translation of the Hebrew "Messiah" (מָשִׁיחַ, Māšîaḥ), meaning "Anointed One." This was the central point of contention with the Jewish audience. Paul’s mission was to demonstrate, through prophecy and reasoning from the Scriptures, that Jesus of Nazareth was indeed the divinely appointed, long-awaited Deliverer and King promised by God in the Old Testament. This direct polemic challenged contemporary Jewish interpretations of the Messiah that did not recognize Jesus.

• Words-group analysis:

  • "When Silas and Timothy came from Macedonia, Paul was compelled by the Spirit...": The arrival of fellow laborers, particularly their provision, acted as a catalyst. This enabled Paul to shed his occupational responsibilities, directly leading to an intensified focus on spiritual ministry driven by the Holy Spirit. This group highlights divine providence working through human aid.
  • "...testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ.": This phrase summarizes the substance and immediate target of Paul's renewed, Spirit-empowered ministry. It emphasizes the absolute core of the apostolic message – the identity of Jesus as the Messiah – delivered with fervent conviction primarily to those who anticipated the Messiah's coming based on the Old Testament. It shows Paul's missionary strategy and the foundational message of the early church.

Acts 18 5 Bonus section

• The detail that Paul stopped his tent-making reflects a practical theology of vocational calling. When resources permit and the Spirit directs, full-time dedication to ministry is an honorable and effective mode of service.
• This verse subtly underlines the power of Christian community and fellowship. The support provided by Silas and Timothy, and by extension the Macedonian churches, directly facilitated Paul's intensified ministry. This showcases the interconnectedness and mutual edification within the early church.
• Paul's consistent priority of reaching the Jewish people first (Rom 1:16) underscores his enduring love and burden for his kinsmen according to the flesh, even when faced with significant opposition, as evidenced later in this chapter (Acts 18:6).
• The use of "compelled" (syneícheto) resonates with other instances of Paul feeling an irresistible divine pull in his ministry (e.g., Acts 20:22). It emphasizes that effective evangelism is not solely based on human effort but on a powerful enabling by the Holy Spirit.

Acts 18 5 Commentary

Acts 18:5 describes a significant shift in Paul's ministry in Corinth. His earlier practice of tent-making alongside part-time synagogue teaching reflects a common pattern for traveling rabbis to support themselves. However, the arrival of Silas and Timothy from Macedonia profoundly changed this. Not only did their presence bring encouragement and updates from other churches, but crucially, they brought financial support. This monetary aid, referenced by Paul elsewhere (e.g., Phil 4:15-16), allowed him to cease his manual labor.

Freed from the necessity of work, Paul's focus intensified. The phrase "was compelled by the Spirit" (συνείχετο τῷ πνεύματι) describes an overwhelming inner spiritual urgency and full occupation by the Holy Spirit, enabling him to give himself entirely to the Word of God. This was not mere personal enthusiasm but a divine impetus, highlighting the Spirit's central role in directing and empowering apostolic ministry.

With this newfound capacity and spiritual unction, Paul dedicated himself to "testifying" (διαμαρτυρόμενος)—solemnly and persistently declaring—to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ. This involved reasoning from the Old Testament Scriptures to prove Jesus' Messiahship, directly addressing the core theological divide between early Christians and the Jewish community. This verse captures Paul's unwavering focus, fueled by divine empowerment and practical support, to proclaim the essential truth of the Gospel. It serves as a powerful example of ministry requiring spiritual compulsion and, at times, external provision to achieve dedicated focus on God's Word.