He
began to speak boldly in the synagogue. But when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside, and explained to him the way of God more accurately. When he had determined to pass over into Achaia, the brothers encouraged him, and wrote to the disciples to receive him. When he had come, he greatly helped those who had believed through grace; for he powerfully refuted the Jews, publicly showing by the Scriptures that Jesus was the Christ.
Acts 18:26-28
Acts 18 [18.] 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. He came to Ephesus, and he left them there; but he himself entered into the synagogue, and reasoned with the Jews. When they asked him to stay with them a longer time, he declined; but taking his leave of them, and saying, “I must by all means keep this coming feast in Jerusalem, but I will return again to you if God wills,” he set sail from Ephesus.
Acts 18 [22.] When he had landed at Caesarea, he went up and greeted the assembly, and went down to Antioch. Having spent some time there, he departed, and went through the region of Galatia, and Phrygia, in order, establishing all the disciples. Now a certain Jew named Apollos, an Alexandrian by race, an eloquent man, came to Ephesus. He was mighty in the Scriptures. This man had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus, although he knew only the baptism of John. He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. But when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside, and explained to him the way of God more accurately.
Acts 18 [27.] When he had determined to pass over into Achaia, the brothers encouraged him, and wrote to the disciples to receive him. When he had come, he greatly helped those who had believed through grace; for he powerfully refuted the Jews, publicly showing by the Scriptures that Jesus was the Christ.
Acts 19 [1.] While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul, having passed through the upper country, came to Ephesus, and found certain disciples. He said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?”
They said to him, “No, we haven’t even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.”
Meaning:
Apollos, a Jew from Alexandria, arrived in Ephesus. He was eloquent, “mighty in the Scriptures,” fervent in spirit, and taught accurately about Jesus, “although he knew only the baptism of John” (Acts 18:24-25). These verses show how a gifted teacher was helped by two humble believers and then became a great help to the church in Corinth.
- “He began to speak boldly in the synagogue”
Apollos did not wait until his knowledge was complete. He spoke boldly with what he knew. Alexandria in Egypt had a large Jewish community and a famous tradition of learning and of studying the Scriptures, which may explain his skill.
- “Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside”
The couple Paul had left in Ephesus (Acts 18:19) listened carefully and noticed what was missing. They did not correct him publicly or argue with him in the synagogue. They took him aside, probably into their home, and spoke to him privately. Jesus taught a similar private approach when a brother sins (Matthew 18:15), and Paul urged believers to restore others “in a spirit of gentleness” (Galatians 6:1). Their gentleness made it easy for Apollos to learn.
- “Explained to him the way of God more accurately”
Apollos already taught “accurately”; now he learned “more accurately.” He probably needed to hear the full story of Jesus’ death, resurrection and ascension, the sending of the Holy Spirit, and baptism in the name of Jesus. Luke does not say whether Apollos was baptized again, and readers differ on the point. The next scene, with the disciples at Ephesus who knew only John’s baptism, shows Paul baptizing them in the name of the Lord Jesus (Acts 19:1-7).
Priscilla is named first, and both she and Aquila explained the way of God. A tent maker and his wife instructed a learned scholar. Apollos, for his part, was teachable. As Proverbs says, “Instruct a wise man, and he will be still wiser” (Proverbs 9:9).
- “The brothers encouraged him, and wrote to the disciples to receive him”
When Apollos wanted to go to Achaia, where Corinth was, the believers at Ephesus gave him a letter of recommendation. Such letters were common in the early church (2 Corinthians 3:1) and helped protect churches from false teachers.
- “He greatly helped those who had believed through grace”
Luke adds that the Corinthians had believed “through grace.” Faith itself is God’s gift (Ephesians 2:8). Apollos watered what Paul had planted: “I planted. Apollos watered. But God gave the increase” (1 Corinthians 3:6). He “powerfully refuted the Jews,” not by eloquence alone but “showing by the Scriptures that Jesus was the Christ,” as Jesus himself did on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:27). Sadly, some Corinthians later formed parties, saying, “I follow Apollos” (1 Corinthians 1:12), but Paul always spoke of him as a fellow worker.
The Significance of Acts 18:26-28
- Humble learning
Apollos was eloquent and learned, yet he accepted correction from a tent-making couple. Willingness to be taught is a mark of spiritual maturity in leaders and in all believers.
- Gentle correction
Priscilla and Aquila show how to correct in love: privately, kindly and with the goal of building up. Their care turned a good teacher into an even more useful servant of the church.
- Every gift serves the body
Paul planted, Apollos watered, a couple taught, and churches wrote letters. Each served differently, and God gave the growth.
Cross-References:
Acts 18:24-25: Apollos was mighty in the Scriptures but knew only the baptism of John.
1 Corinthians 3:6: "I planted. Apollos watered. But God gave the increase." Paul on Apollos’ work in Corinth.
Proverbs 9:9: "Instruct a wise man, and he will be still wiser." The teachable spirit of Apollos.
Titus 3:13: "Send Zenas, the lawyer, and Apollos on their journey speedily," Apollos continued to serve with Paul’s support.
Conclusion: Apollos spoke boldly, and Priscilla and Aquila quietly explained the way of God to him more accurately. Encouraged and recommended by the believers, he went to Achaia and greatly helped the church, proving from the Scriptures that Jesus was the Christ. The passage honors humble teaching, teachable leaders and the many gifts God uses to build his church.
PIB Scriptures are derived from the World English Bible