Acts 18 · Verse 3

Acts 18:3

And because he was of the same craft, he abode with them, and wrought: for by their occupation they were tentmakers.

Acts 18:3, King James Version

Acts 18:3 in other translations

BSB	and he stayed and worked with them because they were tentmakers by trade, just as he was.
WEB	and because he practiced the same trade, he lived with them and worked, for by trade they were tent makers.
ASV	and because he was of the same trade, he abode with them, and they wrought; for by their trade they were tentmakers.
YLT	and because of being of the same craft, he did remain with them, and was working, for they were tent-makers as to craft;
DARBY	and because they were of the same trade abode with them, and wrought. For they were tent-makers by trade.
BBE	And because he was of the same trade, he was living with them, and they did their work together; for by trade they were tent-makers.
Webster	And because he was of the same occupation, he abode with them, and wrought (for by their occupation they were tent-makers)

What does Acts 18:3 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Acts 18:1-4

Ac 18:1-22. Paul's Arrival and Labors at Corinth, Where He Is Rejoined by Silas and Timothy, and, under Divine Encouragement, Makes a Long Stay--At Length, Retracing His Steps, by Ephesus, Cæsarea, and Jerusalem, He Returns for the Last Time to Antioch, Thus Completing His Second Missionary Journey. 1-4. came to Corinth--rebuilt by Julius Cæsar on the isthmus between the Ægean and Ionian Seas; the capital of the…

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Barnes' Notes

Verse 3. The same craft. Of the same trade, or occupation.

And wrought. And worked at that occupation. Why he did it, the historian does not affirm; but it seems pretty evident that it was because he had no other means of maintenance. He also laboured for his own support in Ephesus, Acts 20:34 and also at Thessalonica, 2Thes 3:9,10. The apostle was not ashamed of honest industry for a livelihood; nor did he deem it any disparagement that a minister of the gospel should labour with his own hands.

For by their occupation. By their trade; that is, they had been brought up to this business. Paul had been designed originally for a lawyer, and had been brought up at the feet of Gamaliel. But it was a regular custom among the Jews to train up their sons to some useful employment, that they might have the means of an honest livelihood. Even though they were trained up to the liberal sciences, yet they deemed a handicraft trade, or some honourable occupation, an indispensable part of education. Thus Maimonides (in the Tract Talmud. Tors, c. i. & 9) says, that "the wise generally practise some of the arts, lest they should be dependent on the charity of others." See Grotius. The wisdom of this is obvious; and it is equally plain that a custom of this kind now might preserve the health and lives of many professional men, and save from ignoble dependence or vice, in future years, many who are trained up in the lap of indulgence and wealth.

They were tentmakers. σκηνοποιοι. There have been various opinions about the meaning of this word. Many have supposed that it denotes a weaver of tapestry. Luther thus translated it. But it is probable that it denotes, as in our translation, a manufacturer of tents, made of skin or cloth. In eastern countries, where there was much travel, where there were no inns, and where many were shepherds, such a business might be useful, and a profitable source of living. It was an honourable occupation, and Paul was not ashamed to be employed in it.

(&) "craft" "occupation" (d) "wrought" Ac 20:34 (|) "wrought" "worked"

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 3 He abode with them, and wrought - Bp. Pearce observes that it was a custom among the Jews, even of such as had a better education than ordinary, which was Paul's case, Act 22:3, to learn a trade, that, wherever they were, they might provide for themselves in case of necessity. And though Paul, in some cases, lived on the bounty of his converts, yet he chose not to do so at Ephesus, Act 20:34; nor at Corinth or other places, 1Cor 4:12; 2Cor 9:8, 2Cor 9:9; 1Thes 3:8; and this Paul did for a reason which he gives in 2Cor 11:9-12. While he was at Corinth he was supplied, when his own labor did not procure him enough, "by the brethren which came to him there from Macedonia." It appears that the apostle had his lodging with Aquila and Priscilla; and probably a portion of the profits of the business, after his board was deducted. It was evidently no reproach for a man, at that time, to unite public teaching with an honest useful trade. And why should it be so now? May not a man who has acquired a thorough knowledge of the Gospel way of salvation, explain that way to his less informed neighbors, though he be a tent-maker, (what perhaps we would call a house-carpenter), or a shoemaker, or any thing else? Even many of those who consider it a cardinal sin for a mechanic to preach the Gospel, are providing for themselves and their families in the same way. How many of the clergy, and other ministers, are farmers, graziers, schoolmasters, and sleeping partners in different trades and commercial concerns! A tent-maker, in his place, is as useful as any of these. Do not ridicule the mechanic because he preaches the Gospel to the salvation of his neighbors, lest some one should say, in a language which you glory to have learned, and which the mechanic has not, Mutato nomine, de Te fabula narrator. There are different opinions concerning that is meant here by the σκηνοποιος, which we translate tent-maker. Some think it means a maker of those small portable tents, formed of skins, which soldiers and travelers usually carried with them on their journeys; others suppose that these tents mere made of linen cloth. Some think that the trade of St. Paul was making hangings or curtains, such as were used at the theatres; others think the σκηνοποιος was a sort of umbrella-maker; others, a weaver, etc., etc. In short, we know not what the trade was. I have generally preferred the notion of a carpenter, or faber lignarius. Whatever it was, it was an honest, useful calling, and Paul got his bread by it.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Acts 18:1-6

Though Paul was entitled to support from the churches he planted, and from the people to whom he preached, yet he worked at his calling. An honest trade, by which a man may get his bread, is not to be looked upon with contempt by any. It was the custom of the Jews to bring up their children to some trade, though they gave them learning or estates. Paul was careful to prevent prejudices, even the most unreasonable…

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Acts 18:3 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

καὶkaiandG2532

διὰdiadue toG1223

τὸtoof theG3588

ὁμότεχνονhomotechnonsame tradeG3673

εἶναιeinaibeingG1511

ἔμενενemenenhe was stayingG3306

παρ᾽par᾽withG3844

αὐτοῖςautoisthemG846

καὶkaiandG2532

ἠργάζετο·ērgazetohe was working;G2038

ἦσανēsanthey wereG1510

γὰρgarforG1063

σκηνοποιοὶskēnopoioitentmakersG4635

τῇtēa<the>G3588

τέχνῃ·technēby trade;G5078

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Acts 18:3

1 Thessalonians 2:9
For ye remember, brethren, our labour and travail: for labouring night and day, because we would not be chargeable unto any of you, we preached unto you the gospel of God.
1 Corinthians 4:12
And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it:
2 Corinthians 11:9
And when I was present with you, and wanted, I was chargeable to no man: for that which was lacking to me the brethren which came from Macedonia supplied: and in all things I have kept myself from being burdensome unto you, and so will I keep myself.
2 Thessalonians 3:8-9
Neither did we eat any man’s bread for nought; but wrought with labour and travail night and day, that we might not be chargeable to any of you: Not because we have not power, but to make ourselves an ensample unto you to follow us.
2 Corinthians 11:7
Have I committed an offence in abasing myself that ye might be exalted, because I have preached to you the gospel of God freely?
2 Corinthians 12:13
For what is it wherein ye were inferior to other churches, except it be that I myself was not burdensome to you? forgive me this wrong.
1 Corinthians 9:6-12
Or I only and Barnabas, have not we power to forbear working? Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock? Say I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also? For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen? …
Acts 20:34-35
Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me. I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

and wrought.
20:34,35; 1Co 4:12; 9:6-12; 2Co 11:9; 1Th 2:9; 2Th 3:8,9

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

Acts 18:2
And found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, lately come from Italy, with his wife Priscilla; (because that Claudius had commanded all Jews to depart from Rome:) and came unto them.
Acts 18:3
And because he was of the same craft, he abode with them, and wrought: for by their occupation they were tentmakers.
Acts 18:4
And he reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks.

Read all of Acts 18

Acts 18:3 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	Y porque era de su oficio, posó con ellos, y trabajaba; porque el oficio de ellos era hacer tiendas.
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	et parce qu’il était du même métier, il demeura avec eux et travaillait, car leur métier était de faire des tentes.
German Elberfelder 1871	und weil er gleichen Handwerks war, blieb er bei ihnen und arbeitete; denn sie waren Zeltmacher ihres Handwerks.
Latin Clementine Vulgate	Et quia ejusdem erat artis, manebat apud eos, et operabatur. (Erant autem scenofactoriæ artis.)