Chapter 26—Apollos at Corinth
This chapter is based on
Acts 18:18-28
.
After leaving Corinth, Paul’s next scene of labor was Ephesus. He
was on his way to Jerusalem to attend an approaching festival, and his
stay at Ephesus was necessarily brief. He reasoned with the Jews in
the synagogue, and so favorable was the impression made upon them
that they entreated him to continue his labors among them. His plan to
visit Jerusalem prevented him from tarrying then, but he promised to
return to them, “if God will.” Aquila and Priscilla had accompanied
him to Ephesus, and he left them there to carry on the work that he
had begun.
It was at this time that “a certain Jew named Apollos, born at
Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the Scriptures, came to
Ephesus.” He had heard the preaching of John the Baptist, had received
the baptism of repentance, and was a living witness that the work of
the prophet had not been in vain. The Scripture record of Apollos is
that he “was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the
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spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing
only the baptism of John.”
While in Ephesus, Apollos “began to speak boldly in the syna-
gogue.” Among his hearers were Aquila and Priscilla, who, perceiving
that he had not yet received the full light of the gospel, “took him
unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly.”
Through their teaching he obtained a clearer understanding of the
Scriptures and became one of the ablest advocates of the Christian
faith.
Apollos was desirous of going on into Achaia, and the brethren at
Ephesus “wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him” as a teacher in
full harmony with the church of Christ. He went to Corinth, where,
in public labor and from house to house, “he mightily convinced the
Jews, ... showing by the Scriptures that Jesus was Christ.” Paul had
planted the seed of truth; Apollos now watered it. The success that
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