Acts 18:1-3 - Paul

^18:1After these-things, having been separated from Athens, he went into Corinth, ^.2and having found some Judean, Aquila by-name, a Pontusian by genus, recently having come² from Italy, and Priscilla his wife – because-of the-thing (which) Claudius throughly-arranged² (for) all the Judeans to be separated from Rome – he came-towards them, ^.3and because-of being like-crafted he remained with them and he worked, for they were tent-makers by craft.

After the events in Athens and separating (departing) out from that location, Paul went westward into Corinth. Corinth at that time was a large city and the political capital of Greece in the region of Achaia where the Roman proconsul officiated. It was at the west end of the isthmus with two harbors, Lechaeum and Cenchrea, and was therefore a busy trade route with many people passing through it. Paul arrived there about 52 A.D. and stayed for about 18 months.

In Corinth he found a Judean named Aquila who was born in Pontus and who had come away from Italy a short time before this with his wife Priscilla because of an edict which Claudius the Roman Emperor had made that all the Judeans must leave Rome. Paul went towards them and he remained with them in their home because both he and Aquila were of similar craft (skill, trade, art, occupation) and they worked together being tent-makers (using leather or cloth of goats' hair or linen; some scholars suggest that they were saddle-makers).

Paul had not found them so that he could get a 'free-ride' or a 'free-ticket' or a 'free-breakfast, lunch and dinner' or so that he would not have to pay any rent charges, etc. No! The great Apostle Paul worked. He earned his stay in their house and he did not abuse their hospitality.

[Reference: Romans 16:3-5; I Corinthians 1:2, 4:12, 16:19; II Corinthians 1:1; II Timothy 4:19.]