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 18:7KJVWhat does Acts 18:7 mean?
Acts 18:7 describes how Paul left the synagogue and went to stay at the house of a man named Justus, who worshipped God, and whose house was located right next to the synagogue. This move allowed Paul to continue his ministry close by, even after leaving the synagogue itself.
In this part of Acts, Paul is in Corinth, speaking first to the Jews in the synagogue. After facing opposition, he chooses to leave the synagogue but does not go far—he moves next door to the house of Justus, a Gentile who honors God. This detail shows Paul’s determination to keep reaching people in Corinth, staying as close as possible to those still meeting in the synagogue.
The Greek behind Acts 18:7
- The word for "worshipped" is σεβομένῳ (sebomenō), which often refers to Gentiles who respected the God of Israel and attended synagogue worship, even if they were not full converts. This highlights that Justus was likely a Gentile who was already sympathetic to Jewish beliefs.
- The phrase "joined hard" comes from the Greek word συνομοροῦσα (synomorousa), which means "adjoining" or "right next to." This emphasizes how physically close Justus’s house was to the synagogue, making it easy for Paul to remain near the Jewish community.
Why Acts 18:7 matters
- This verse clarifies that Paul did not abandon the Jewish community entirely; by moving next door, he kept himself accessible to both Jews and Gentiles interested in his message.
- The mention of Justus as a "worshipper of God" shows the early Christian movement’s appeal to Gentiles who were already drawn to Jewish worship and ethics.
- The physical closeness of Justus’s house to the synagogue underlines the tension and overlap between the emerging Christian community and the existing Jewish congregation in Corinth.