Paul's Independence
H. R. Haweis, M. A. Acts 18:2-4 And found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, lately come from Italy, with his wife Priscilla… At this time Paul was miserably poor; he had hardly enough to eat and drink; he was tolerably ragged and out at elbows, no doubt. He was more alone than usual. He had to work first, but work has a way of coming to willing hands. Aquila and Priscilla, respectable Jews, kept a shop — tent and mat makers they were. They let Paul have a room, and he at once sat steadily down to mat weaving. He might certainly have posed as a teacher of some note — a gifted man, an advanced Rabbi, as indeed he was; he might have set up a school, taken fees, and accepted board and lodging from his admirers; instead of which he worked with his hands. His instinct as usual, was right, as is apparent from the fact that, as it was, he was accused of raising money out of the Corinthians for his own purposes, because he was so eager about the collections for the poor saints at Jerusalem. He could then turn and remind them that although the labourer was worthy of his hire he had never taken any hire of them, nor had Titus, nor Timothy. (H. R. Haweis, M. A.) Parallel Verses KJV: 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. WEB: He found a certain Jew named Aquila, a man of Pontus by race, who had recently come from Italy, with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to depart from Rome. He came to them,