The Book of Acts

Paul Returns to Antioch of Syria

Acts 18:18-23 _NLT

“Paul stayed in Corinth for some time after that, then said good-bye to the brothers and sisters and went to nearby Cenchrea.” - Acts 18:18

                  The remainder of verse 18 reveals something that on the surface seems rather odd until you realize why Paul was doing such a thing. I am referring to shaving his hair off. The balance of the verse says, “There he shaved his head according to Jewish custom, marking the end of a vow.” What vow might this be? “Paul had apparently earlier taken a Nazirite vow that had now ended; such a vow had to be fulfilled at Jerusalem, where the hair would be presented to God and sacrifices offered.” *

                  Scripture tells us that from the port of Cenchrea, Paul set sail for Syria. He took with him his new friends Priscilla and Aquila. All three being leather workers**, they were able to take their business with them wherever they would go and that is exactly what the couple did. When Paul wasn’t in the synagogue preaching and debating, he was with Priscilla and Aquila making tents out of leather. It would appear that they used goat skin to make their tents. It sounds like they left the hair on the skin to add warmth. An interesting bit of trivia is that if the hair comes from an Angora goat, it is called ‘mohair’. Perhaps you’ve owned a mohair article of clothing at some point in time. You were wearing goat hair.

                  Paul, along with Priscilla and Aquila, stopped at the port of Ephesus. Paul then separated from them to go to the local synagogue to reason with the Jews there. When they asked him to stay with them longer Paul declined saying that he would come back at a later date if God allowed it. The apostle left Ephesus, going to the port of Caesarea. From there is visited the Jerusalem church. Paul then went back to Antioch. He spent an unspecified amount of time there, then went back to Galatia and Phrygia where he spent his time visiting all the believers there with the purpose of strengthening their faith in Christ.  Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His name & for His glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Resources: The Life Application Study Bible; Expositor's Bible Commentary (Abridged Edition): New Testament; Copyright 2004.

* Expositor's Bible Commentary (Abridged Edition): New Testament; Copyright 2004.

** The Greek word for tentmaker can also mean leather worker or someone who works with leather. Since the tents Paul, Aquila & Priscilla made were mostly made from goat skin, they were be classified as leatherworkers.