Free Bible Commentary
“Acts 18:23-28”
Categories: Acts“And having spent some time there, he left and passed successively through the Galatian region and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples. Now a Jew named Apollos, an Alexandrian by birth, an eloquent man, came to Ephesus; and he was mighty in the Scriptures. This man had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit, he was speaking and teaching accurately the things concerning Jesus, being acquainted only with the baptism of John; and he began to speak out 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. And when he wanted to go across to Achaia, the brethren encouraged him and wrote to the disciples to welcome him; and when he had arrived, he greatly helped those who had believed through grace, for he powerfully refuted the Jews in public, demonstrating by the Scriptures that Jesus was the Christ.”
---End of Scripture verses---
When Paul left Corinth, he took a married couple named Aquila and Priscilla along with him, and he left them in the city of Ephesus (verse 18) as he passed through, making his way back to his “home base” of Antioch (verse 22). It is possible that Paul left them there to lay some groundwork for the Gospel in anticipation of his future visit there (chapter 19). We see here why the apostle would have such confidence in this godly husband and wife team as we read about some of the good work that they did for the Lord there.
When Aquila and Priscilla heard Apollos speak in the synagogue, they must have been very impressed (verse 26). He was a man who had diligently studied the Old Testament Scriptures in city of Alexandria, that world-renowned center of learning (verse 24). Verse 24 also tells us that Apollos was “an eloquent man” and “mighty in the Scriptures.” Verse 25 says that he “had been instructed in the way of the Lord” and “he was speaking and teaching accurately the things concerning Jesus,” but he was “acquainted only with the baptism of John.” In other words, he spoke correctly about the truth that he was familiar with, but his knowledge was incomplete. Aquila and Priscilla took it upon themselves to pull this man aside and help him to learn the truth more thoroughly (verse 26). When we consider what a successful and influential teacher that Apollos went on to be in the Lord’s church, we can more fully appreciate Aquila and Priscilla for the way they helped him develop, and how they opened doors for preaching opportunities for him (verse 27).
Before Aquila and Priscilla had talked to him, Apollos had been “acquainted only with the baptism of John” (verse 25). I think it is very commendable of Apollos that he readily accepted the truth he had learned on this subject without arguing. He didn’t insist that baptism is just not essential anyway, or that baptism for one reason is just as good as for another. There is obviously a significant difference between the baptism administered by John and the baptism taught by the Apostles. Both Aquila and Priscilla knew this to be true, and Apollos gladly believed and accepted the explanation that they gave him. Most “believers” today really try to downplay the significance of baptism. But we learn here, and in tomorrow’s reading from Acts 19 as well, that baptism for the right reasons is important to the Lord, and a vital part of truly understanding “the way of God” (verse 26).
Lord willing, tomorrow we will look into the differences between the baptism of John and the baptism that we read about from Acts chapter two onward.
Please read Acts 19:1-10 for tomorrow.
Have a blessed day!
-Louie Taylor
