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Acts 18 · a question people ask

"He shaved his head in Cenchreae, for he had a vow." (18:18). Who had the vow, and what was it?

In the text

The whole verse reads: "Paul, 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." (18:18) (tap stayed and vow). It says "He", and it doesn't name the vow, say what it was, or say why it was made. These notes quote "He" as the verse has it, and say no more about the vow than the verse does.

The verses

“Paul, 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.”
Acts 18:18 · World English Bible

From Favor's study of Acts 18

Acts 18: Tent makers in Corinth

Apollos "taught accurately the things concerning Jesus" (18:25), and still Priscilla and Aquila "explained to him the way of God more accurately" (18:26). And the chapter's testifying and its last verse end on the same words: "that Jesus was the Christ" (18:5, 18:28).

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Last reviewed October 7, 2026. Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain. Every answer cites the verses it rests on. What we believe · All Bible questions