Paul spent eighteen months in the city of Corinth (Acts 18:11), working with Priscilla and Aquila at their mutual trade of tentmaker to support himself. During this time they established a church in this thriving, paganistic city.

The craft of tentmaking involved sewing together pieces of cloth or animal skins, adding ropes and loops for staking the tent, and cutting and sewing flaps for the tent door (Gen 18:1). Paul may have learned this trade from his father. Jewish men considered it their responsibility to pass on their trades to their sons.

ACTS 18:3 – Because he [Paul] was of the same craft, he abode with them [Priscilla and Aquila], and wrought [worked, NIV]: for by their occupation they were tentmakers.