Acts 18:18Paul, having stayed after this many more days, took his leave of the brothers, and sailed from there for Syria, together with Priscilla and Aquila. He shaved his head in Cenchreae, for he had a vow.
The setting
Cenchreae, Greece, ~52 AD. The eastern port of Corinth. Paul shaves his head at the harbor before boarding a ship to Syria, fulfilling a Nazirite vow.
The emotion here: documenting faithfulness with admiration
The original word
keirō (κείρω) — to shave completely, as required for completing a sacred vow
Why it matters
Cenchreae was 9 miles from Corinth and had a temple to Aphrodite where ritual head-shaving also occurred
Read with care
What most readers miss in Acts 18:18
Paul kept Jewish vows even while ministering to Gentiles — showing he never abandoned his Jewish identity
Common misconceptionPeople think Paul rejected all Jewish practices after his conversion, but he continued observing vows and customs throughout his ministry to maintain credibility with Jewish audiences.
The thread continues
Verses that echo Acts 18:18
Bible Genome reading
Acts 18:18 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
Acts 18:18 comes from the book of Acts, written during the early_church period. These words are attributed to Luke. The dominant emotion in this verse is starting, with a comfort power of 30% and a tone that is conversational. It belongs to the narrative genre of biblical literature. Key themes include departure, mission. Notable phrases: took his leave of the brothers.
Emotionally similar
Verses that meet the same starting
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”
— Genesis 1:1
“God said, "Let there be light," and there was light.”
— Genesis 1:3
“I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me.”
— Philippians 4:13
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you. You will be witnesses to me in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and t…”
— Acts 1:8
“Peter said to them, "Repent, and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins, and you will receiv…”
— Acts 2:38
Your reflection
What does Acts 18:18 mean to you, today?
A short note. A question. A prayer. Saved privately to your Soul Garden, dated, and tied to this verse forever.
Speak your heart →Get 3 verses for "starting"
Delivered to your inbox right now. Free.