Acts 18:3 Meaning and Explanation
“And because he was of the same craft, he abode with them, and wrought: for by their occupation they were tentmakers.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Because Paul practiced the same trade of tentmaking, he stays with Aquila and Priscilla and works alongside them.
What Does Acts 18:3 Mean?
Jewish teachers commonly learned a manual trade, and Paul's was tentmaking, working canvas and leather into shelters for travelers, soldiers, and market stalls. Rather than arrive in Corinth as a dependent stranger, he joined this couple's workshop, earning his bread with his own hands, as he would later remind both the Corinthians and the elders of Ephesus.
The gospel entered Corinth through a workshop before it ever filled a meeting house. Daily labor, shared tools, and conversation over the workbench became the soil of a lifelong partnership in Christ. Scripture never treats honest work as beneath the servant of God; the Lord Jesus Himself labored at a trade. Whatever our craft, the bench where we work can be a place where faith is lived and shared.
Acts 18:3 in the Original Language
skenopoios (σκηνοποιός), 'tentmaker' -- a craftsman who made tents and worked in leather and cloth.
Frequently Asked Questions About Acts 18:3
What does Acts 18:3 mean?
Because Paul practiced the same trade of tentmaking, he stays with Aquila and Priscilla and works alongside them.