Acts 18 7

Acts 18:7 kjv

And he departed thence, and entered into a certain man's house, named Justus, one that worshipped God, whose house joined hard to the synagogue.

Acts 18:7 nkjv

And he departed from there and entered the house of a certain man named Justus, one who worshiped God, whose house was next door to the synagogue.

Acts 18:7 niv

Then Paul left the synagogue and went next door to the house of Titius Justus, a worshiper of God.

Acts 18:7 esv

And he left there and went to the house of a man named Titius Justus, a worshiper of God. His house was next door to the synagogue.

Acts 18:7 nlt

Then he left and went to the home of Titius Justus, a Gentile who worshiped God and lived next door to the synagogue.

Acts 18 verses

Acts 18 7 Meaning

This verse describes a significant shift in Paul's missionary strategy in Corinth. Having faced fierce opposition and blasphemy from the Jews in the synagogue, Paul declares his intention to turn his focus to the Gentiles. This verse then details his immediate action: he departs from the synagogue and moves his base of operation to the nearby house of Titius Justus, a Gentile who revered God. This act marks a public and strategic repositioning, establishing a new center for the Christian message right next to the Jewish community's spiritual hub.

Acts 18 7 Context

Acts chapter 18 opens with Paul arriving in Corinth, a prominent Roman city, where he initially works with Aquila and Priscilla, fellow tentmakers. His established pattern of evangelism involves first teaching in the synagogue on Sabbaths, trying to persuade both Jews and "Greeks" (Gentile God-fearers). When Silas and Timothy arrive, Paul fully dedicates himself to preaching the Word, testifying that Jesus is the Christ. However, his efforts in the synagogue are met with "violent opposition and blasphemy" (Acts 18:6). In response, Paul dramatically shakes out his garments as a symbol of divine judgment and declares he will now focus solely on the Gentiles. Verse 7 immediately follows this declaration, showing the direct and concrete implementation of his new strategy. The geographical relocation right next to the synagogue highlights not only Paul's abandonment of that specific synagogue but also his intent to establish a competing spiritual presence and continued witness, accessible to the God-fearers who had frequented the synagogue.

Acts 18 7 Word analysis

• And he left there:
  • And (Καὶ, Kai): Connects this action directly to the preceding rejection in the synagogue. It signifies a immediate consequence.
  • he left (μεταβάς, metabás): A participle, "having moved" or "departed." It denotes a deliberate and decisive physical and strategic withdrawal. This action formalizes Paul's pronouncement in Acts 18:6.
  • there (ἐκεῖθεν, ekeîthen): Refers explicitly to the synagogue where he had been ministering and faced opposition. The departure is definitive.
• and went to the house:
  • and went (εἰσῆλθεν, eisēlthen): Literally "entered into." Indicates establishing a new, alternative center of operations.
  • to the house (εἰς οἰκίαν, eis oikian): "House" is oikia, signifying a private residence. Early Christian communities frequently met in homes, indicating this became a new base for teaching and fellowship. This was a practical necessity and a distinctive characteristic of the early church.
• of a certain man named Titius Justus:
  • of a certain man (τινὸς, tinòs): "Someone," specific, yet generally introduced.
  • named Titius Justus (ὀνόματι Τιτίου Ἰούστου, onomati Titiou Ioustou): A Roman praenomen (Titius) and cognomen (Justus), strongly indicating he was a Gentile, likely a Roman citizen. This contrasts with Paul's previous focus on Jewish individuals and proselytes, marking a deliberate outreach.
• a worshiper of God:
  • a worshiper of God (σεβομένου τὸν Θεόν, sebomenou ton Theon): This is a key technical term, "God-fearer." These were Gentiles who revered the God of Israel, observed some Jewish customs (like Sabbath, dietary laws), often attended synagogue, but had not undergone full proselyte conversion (circumcision). They were monotheistic, rejected pagan idolatry, and sought moral truth, making them highly receptive to the Christian message. They often served as a bridge between the Jewish community and wider Gentile evangelism.
• whose house was next door to the synagogue:
  • whose house (οὗ ἡ οἰκία, hou hē oikia): Reinforces the significance of this specific house.
  • was next door to (ἦν ἀνεχομένη, ēn anechomenē): "Was adjoining" or "contiguous to." This physical proximity is laden with meaning.
  • the synagogue (τῇ συναγωγῇ, tē synagōgē): The central institution of Jewish religious and social life.
  • Words-group significance: "house was next door to the synagogue": This geographical detail is deeply symbolic. Paul is not abandoning the witness to Jews or the spiritual landscape they occupy. Instead, he is setting up a direct, undeniable spiritual rival to the synagogue's influence. It’s a bold and confrontational act, making the new Christian teaching immediately visible and accessible to anyone who had previously gone to the synagogue, especially the God-fearers who populated its fringes. It shows the new Way's claim to spiritual truth, right at the former center of operations.

Acts 18 7 Bonus section

The close proximity of Titius Justus's house to the synagogue may have served not only as a point of spiritual competition but also a place for continued spiritual 'harvest.' Those God-fearers, and even some Jews, who were perhaps disenfranchised or just beginning to question the traditional synagogue teachings after Paul's initial powerful ministry, would have had an immediately accessible alternative for teaching and fellowship right on their familiar path. This practical consideration facilitated a smoother transition for those on the brink of conversion. This also sets up a stark contrast: the old wineskins of legalism in the synagogue versus the new wineskins of grace and freedom found in the "house church" next door. This verse provides an important practical illustration of the dynamic growth and adaptability of the early church.

Acts 18 7 Commentary

Acts 18:7 encapsulates a critical pivot point in Paul's Corinthian mission. Following his official and symbolic departure from the synagogue due to unyielding Jewish opposition, Paul decisively shifts his strategy. His choice of Titius Justus’s house as the new operational base is pregnant with meaning. Titius Justus, a Gentile "God-fearer," represents a crucial demographic: those who were already seeking truth beyond paganism and found an ethical monotheism compelling but had not fully converted to Judaism. They were spiritually fertile ground for the Gospel. Furthermore, the geographical location—right next door to the synagogue—was no accident. This was a strategic and provocative move, a direct spiritual challenge to the Jewish institution that had rejected the message of Christ. It served multiple purposes: maintaining visibility for a continued witness to any receptive Jews or God-fearers associated with the synagogue, signaling defiance and the establishment of a rival spiritual authority, and practically providing a location accessible to those accustomed to synagogue attendance. This relocation symbolizes the early church's capacity to adapt, find new vessels, and continue its mission even in the face of strong institutional rejection, asserting the Gospel's independent claim to truth right at the gates of its former opposition.