*18:3 Paul supported himself.
†18:5 Instead of ‘Spirit’, some 6% of the Greek manuscripts read ‘word’ (as in NIV, NASB, LB, TEV, etc.)
‡18:5 Paul could now turn physical details over to Silas and Timothy (who evidently did not get to Athens before Paul left there) and concentrate on the spiritual. The Holy Spirit has him really bear down on the Jews, obliging them to make a choice. Paul then turned his full attention to the Gentile population.
§18:6 The idea was presumably to get rid of any dust; this was far less serious than shaking the dust off the feet, but he was clearly severing ‘diplomatic relations’ with them.
*18:10 He had been stoned and left for dead in Lystra, and been severely beaten in Philippi, so this was doubtless an encouraging word.
†18:11 They got a reasonably good theological education, which, however, did not exempt them from problems. It is not enough to know the truth; it must be lived, it must be applied.
‡18:17 Less than 2% of the Greek manuscripts, of objectively inferior quality, omit ‘the Greeks’ (as in NIV, NASB, LB, TEV, etc.).
§18:17 Since Crispus had ‘defected’ to Christianity, he was replaced as ruler of the synagogue by Sosthenes.
*18:17 Instead of ‘delay’, some 15% of the Greek manuscripts read ‘concern’, as in most versions. Gallio was doubtless a busy man, with his own plans, and did not want to be detained.
†18:18 Apparently such a vow could only be brought to a satisfactory conclusion in the temple at Jerusalem. I take it that this was a leftover from his Jewish religion.
‡18:21 Perhaps 3% of the Greek manuscripts, of inferior quality, omit ‘I must by all means keep this coming feast in Jerusalem’ (as in NIV, NASB, LB, TEV, etc.).
§18:21 In fact, God did will it.
*18:22 Because Jerusalem was at a higher elevation than most of the rest of the country, travel to and from there is almost always described as ‘up to’ and ‘down from’.
†18:25 I follow the best line of transmission in reading ‘Jesus’; some 65% of the Greek manuscripts read ‘the Lord’, as in AV and NKJV.
‡18:27 Letters of introduction are a good safeguard against opportunists.
§18:28 Since he explained the Scriptures the same way that Paul did, it was no longer just one man's interpretation.