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 Paul relocating from the synagogue to the house of a man named Titius Justus, a Gentile "worshipper of God." This signifies a shift in Paul's evangelistic strategy in Corinth. He was no longer primarily focusing on Jewish audiences within their established religious space. Instead, he moved to a private home, extending his ministry to a Gentile audience, indicating a broadened mission and an acceptance of God's work extending beyond the Jewish community.

Acts 18 7 Context

In Acts 18, Paul is in Corinth, a significant and cosmopolitan city known for its trade and diverse population, but also for its immorality. He had initially ministered in the synagogue, a common practice for him as he first sought to reach his fellow Jews with the gospel message. However, after facing strong opposition and rejection from many of the Jewish leaders, exemplified by the blowing away of his garments, Paul made a significant strategic move. The arrival of Silas and Timothy from Macedonia (Acts 18:5) likely provided support and strengthened his resolve. This verse marks the point where Paul explicitly transitions his primary ministry focus from the synagogue to the house of Titius Justus, indicating a deliberate engagement with the Gentile population of Corinth. This move reflects the broader pattern of the early church, which, while rooted in Judaism, increasingly embraced its mission to the Gentiles.

Acts 18 7 Word Analysis

• δὲ (de): A postpositive conjunction, here adversative or continuative, indicating "but" or "and." It signals a shift or progression in the narrative.
• ἀπαίρας (apairas): Aorist active participle from ἀπαίρω (apairō), meaning "to remove," "to depart," "to go away." It describes Paul's physical action of leaving the synagogue.
• εἰς (eis): A preposition indicating motion into, or direction toward. It specifies the destination of Paul's departure.
• οἰκίαν (oikian): Accusative singular of οἶκος (oikos), meaning "house," "home." Refers to the dwelling place of Titius Justus.
• τιτοῦ (titou): Genitive singular of Τίτος (Titos), a proper noun, the genitive case indicating possession or association: "of Titus."
• ιουσ (ioustou): Genitive singular of Ἰοῦστος (Ioustos), another part of the proper name Titius Justus. The name suggests a Roman connection, as Justus was a common Roman cognomen.
• σεβομένου (sebomenou): Genitive singular present passive participle of σέβομαι (sebomai), meaning "to worship," "to reverence." This describes Justus as a person devoted to worship.
• τὸν θεόν (ton theon): Accusative singular of ὁ θεός (ho theos), "the God." In this context, it typically refers to the God of Israel, implying a "God-fearer" – a Gentile who, while not converted to Judaism, worshipped the God of Israel and adhered to some Jewish practices.

Word Group Analysis

• ἀπαίρας... οἰκίαν τιτοῦ ιουστου σεβομένου τὸν θεόν (apairas eis oikian titou ioustou sebomenou ton theon): This phrase literally means "having departed into the house of Titus Justus, a worshipper of God." It vividly depicts Paul’s deliberate relocation from a public place of Jewish worship (the synagogue) to a private Gentile home, signaling his shift in evangelistic strategy to reach those outside the Jewish fold.

Acts 18 7 Bonus Section

The term "God-fearer" (σ ambiguities for God-fearers) was a common designation for Gentiles who were attracted to Judaism, respecting its monotheism and ethical teachings, and often attending synagogue services. However, they had not undergone full conversion through circumcision and were thus still considered Gentiles by Jewish law. This group represented a crucial bridge demographic for the early church, often being the first to receive the gospel among the Gentiles, as evidenced by Cornelius in Acts 10. Paul's ministry among them was highly effective and contributed significantly to the expansion of Christianity beyond its Jewish origins. Titius Justus represents one such individual who would have been open to Paul’s message, and his home became a new base for Paul's evangelistic efforts.

Acts 18 7 Commentary

Paul’s relocation from the synagogue to the house of Titius Justus represents a pivotal moment in his Corinthian ministry. Having faced intense opposition and rejection within the synagogue, he wisely recognized that further efforts there would be unproductive and potentially contentious. His move signifies an obedience to the Spirit and a recognition that God's call extended beyond the Jewish community. By moving to a private dwelling, Paul created an environment conducive to broader outreach, allowing him to engage with Gentiles who might have been hesitant to enter a synagogue or who were already receptive to the God of Israel but not fully converted to Judaism. Titius Justus, being a "worshipper of God" (a God-fearer), represented a receptive audience, likely influenced by Jewish teachings but not fully proselytized. This move aligns with Paul's broader commission as the apostle to the Gentiles and reflects the Spirit's leading to bring the gospel to all nations. The strategy allowed Paul to continue his work of proclaiming Christ without direct confrontation in the synagogue setting, thus maximizing his effectiveness.