Acts 18:24-28

Apollos at Ephesus. Apollos is well known to us from 1 Cor.; his name was adopted by one of the Corinthian parties as their standard (1 Corinthians 1:12 *). Here we learn more about him, that he was at Ephesus in Paul's absence, and that Aquila and Priscilla were of use to him as teachers. He is a cultivated Alexandrian with a good grasp of Scripture, and he has also had instruction (cf. mg.) in the way of the Lord; i.e. probably in the duties and observances of the new religion. He has the gifts of a teacher, enthusiasm for the subject, information, conviction (the word translated carefully conveys more probably this meaning); one thing he lacks. There seems to have been at Ephesus a set of followers of John the Baptist with his water baptism without the Spirit (p. 771). Priscilla and Aquila fill up what is wanting to Apollos-' equipment as a Christian missionary and he goes to Corinth (in Paul's absence from both places) recommended by the brethren at Ephesus. D explains the matter thus: There were some Corinthians living at Ephesus, and when they heard him they urged him to go with them to their city, and on his agreeing the Ephesians wrote to the brethren at Corinth to receive the man. There he used his gift (grace seems a better reading; cf. mg.) effectually to help the believers. That his doctrine was different from Paul's, if only in style, appears from 1 Cor., but not from Ac.