He had been instructed in the way of the Lord and was fervent in spirit. He spoke and taught accurately about Jesus, though he knew only the baptism of John. He had been instructed in the way of the LordThis phrase indicates that Apollos, the subject of this verse, had received formal teaching about the Christian faith. The Greek word for "instructed" is "katecheo," which implies a systematic teaching or catechism. This suggests that Apollos had a foundational understanding of Christian doctrine, likely through oral tradition or early Christian teachers. The "way of the Lord" refers to the teachings and life of Jesus Christ, emphasizing the path of righteousness and salvation. Historically, this reflects the early Christian community's efforts to educate new believers in the faith, ensuring they understood the core tenets of Christianity. and was fervent in spirit
The term "fervent" comes from the Greek "zeo," meaning to boil with heat or to be hot. This indicates Apollos' passionate and enthusiastic nature in his spiritual life. "Spirit" here can refer to both the human spirit and the Holy Spirit, suggesting that Apollos was deeply moved and guided by his faith. This fervency is a model for believers, demonstrating the importance of zeal and dedication in one's spiritual journey. Historically, fervency was crucial for the spread of Christianity, as passionate individuals like Apollos played a significant role in evangelism and teaching. he spoke and taught accurately about Jesus
The phrase "spoke and taught accurately" highlights Apollos' ability to communicate the truths about Jesus with precision and correctness. The Greek word "akribos" means exact or careful, indicating that Apollos was meticulous in his teaching. This accuracy is essential in preserving the integrity of the Gospel message. In the early church, accurate teaching was vital to prevent heresies and misunderstandings about Jesus' life, death, and resurrection. Apollos' role as a teacher underscores the importance of sound doctrine and the responsibility of teachers to convey the truth faithfully. though he knew only the baptism of John
This phrase reveals a limitation in Apollos' understanding. The "baptism of John" refers to the baptism of repentance preached by John the Baptist, which prepared the way for Jesus but did not encompass the full revelation of Christian baptism in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This indicates that Apollos' knowledge was incomplete, lacking the full understanding of the Holy Spirit's role and the new covenant established through Jesus' death and resurrection. This context highlights the transitional period of the early church, where believers were moving from the old covenant to the new, and the need for further instruction and revelation. Persons / Places / Events 1. ApollosA learned Jew from Alexandria, known for his eloquence and knowledge of the Scriptures. He was fervent in spirit and taught accurately about Jesus, though his understanding was limited to the baptism of John. 2. AlexandriaA major city in Egypt known for its great library and as a center of learning and culture. Apollos hailed from this city, which may have contributed to his eloquence and knowledge. 3. The Way of the LordRefers to the teachings and path of following Jesus Christ. Apollos was instructed in this way, indicating he had a foundational understanding of Christian teachings. 4. Baptism of JohnThis refers to the baptism of repentance preached by John the Baptist, which was a preparatory step for the coming of Jesus. Apollos knew only this baptism, indicating a need for further teaching about the baptism in the name of Jesus. 5. EphesusThe city where Apollos was teaching. It was a significant center for early Christianity and a place where Paul had previously ministered. Teaching Points The Importance of Accurate TeachingApollos taught accurately about Jesus, even with limited knowledge. This underscores the importance of teaching truthfully and seeking to grow in understanding. The Role of Zeal in MinistryApollos was fervent in spirit, demonstrating that passion and enthusiasm are vital in sharing the gospel. Believers should cultivate a fervent spirit in their service to the Lord. The Need for Continued LearningApollos knew only the baptism of John, indicating that even knowledgeable believers need further instruction. Christians should remain open to learning and growing in their faith. The Impact of Cultural BackgroundApollos' background in Alexandria, a center of learning, contributed to his eloquence and knowledge. This shows how God can use our cultural and educational backgrounds for His purposes. The Significance of BaptismUnderstanding the difference between John's baptism and Christian baptism is crucial. Baptism in the name of Jesus signifies a full acceptance of the gospel and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Bible Study Questions 1. How does Apollos' background in Alexandria influence his ability to teach about Jesus, and what does this teach us about using our own backgrounds in ministry? 2. In what ways can we ensure that our teaching and understanding of the gospel are accurate and complete? 3. How can we cultivate a fervent spirit in our own lives and ministries, similar to Apollos? 4. What steps can we take to continue learning and growing in our faith, even if we already have a strong foundation? 5. How does understanding the difference between the baptism of John and Christian baptism deepen our appreciation for the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives? Connections to Other Scriptures Acts 19:1-7This passage describes how Paul encountered disciples in Ephesus who also knew only the baptism of John. Paul explained the full gospel to them, and they received the Holy Spirit, highlighting the importance of understanding the complete message of Christ. Luke 24:32The disciples on the road to Emmaus felt their hearts burning within them as Jesus explained the Scriptures. This fervency in spirit is similar to Apollos' passion for teaching about Jesus. Romans 12:11Paul encourages believers to be fervent in spirit, serving the Lord. Apollos exemplifies this fervency, showing the importance of zeal in ministry. People Apollos, Aquila, Claudius, Corinthians, Crispus, Gallio, John, Justus, Paul, Priscilla, Silas, Sosthenes, Timotheus, Timothy, TitusPlaces Achaia, Alexandria, Athens, Caesarea, Cenchreae, Corinth, Ephesus, Galatia, Italy, Macedonia, Phrygia, Pontus, Rome, Syria, Syrian AntiochTopics Accurately, Acquainted, Although, Baptism, Burning, Diligently, Exactly, Facts, Fervent, Fervor, Full, Instructed, John, John's, Mouth, Spake, Speak, Speaking, Spirit, Spoke, Taught, Teach, Teaching, Though, Trained, ZealDictionary of Bible Themes Acts 18:25 5840 eagerness
7903 baptism Acts 18:24-26 5047 opportunities, in life
5745 women
7730 explanation
7756 preaching, content Acts 18:24-28 5842 eloquence Library 'Constrained by the Word'
'And when Silas and Timotheus were come from Macedonia, Paul was pressed in the spirit, and testified.'--ACTS xviii. 5. The Revised Version, in concurrence with most recent authorities, reads, instead of 'pressed in the spirit,' 'constrained by the word.' One of these alterations depends on a diversity of reading, the other on a difference of translation. The one introduces a significant difference of meaning; the other is rather a change of expression. The word rendered here 'pressed,' and by the …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture: The ActsPaul at Corinth
'After these things Paul departed from Athens, and came to Corinth; 2. And found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, lately come from Italy, with his wife Priscilla; (because that Claudius had commanded all Jews to depart from Rome:) and came unto them. 3. And because he was of the same craft, he abode with them, and wrought: for by their occupation they were tent-makers. 4. And he reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks. 5. And when Silas and Timotheus …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture: The Acts Gallio
'And when Paul was now about to open his mouth, Gallio said unto the Jews, If it were a matter of wrong: or wicked lewdness, O ye Jews, reason would that I should bear with you: 15. But if it be a question of words and names, and of your law, look ye to it; for I will be no judge of such matters.'--ACTS xviii. 14, 15. There is something very touching in the immortality of fame which comes to the men who for a moment pass across the Gospel story, like shooting stars kindled for an instant as they …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture: The Acts The Civil Trial
In the chapter before last we saw the Sanhedrim pass a death sentence on Jesus. Gladly would they have carried it out in the Jewish fashion--by stoning. But, as was then explained, it was not in their power: their Roman masters, while conceding to the native courts the power of trying and punishing minor offences, reserved to themselves the prerogative of life and death; and a case in which a capital sentence had been passed in a Jewish court had to go before the representative of Rome in the country, …
James Stalker—The Trial and Death of Jesus Christ The Old Faiths and the New
SECOND GROUP OF EPISTLES GALATIANS. FIRST AND SECOND CORINTHIANS. ROMANS. PROBLEMS OF EARLY CHRISTIANITY The new faith in Christ made large claims for itself. It marked an advance upon Judaism and maintained that in Christ was fulfilled all the promises made by the prophets of the coming of the Jewish Messiah. It radically antagonized the heathen religions. It had a double task to win men out of Judaism and heathenism. Only by a careful study of these great doctrinal Epistles, and the …
Henry T. Sell—Bible Studies in the Life of Paul Third Missionary Journey
Scripture, Acts 18:23-21:17 [Illustration: Outline map illustrating the third missionary journey of Paul and the voyage to Italy.] …
Henry T. Sell—Bible Studies in the Life of Paul There Also is Said at what Work the Apostle Wrought. ...
22. There also is said at what work the Apostle wrought. "After these things," it says, "he departed from Athens and came to Corinth; and having found a certain Jew, by name Aquila, of Pontus by birth, lately come from Italy, and Priscilla his wife, because that Claudius had ordered all Jews to depart from Rome, he came unto them, and because he was of the same craft he abode with them, doing work: for they were tent-makers." [2549] This if they shall essay to interpret allegorically, they show what …
St. Augustine—Of the Work of Monks. Jewish Homes
It may be safely asserted, that the grand distinction, which divided all mankind into Jews and Gentiles, was not only religious, but also social. However near the cities of the heathen to those of Israel, however frequent and close the intercourse between the two parties, no one could have entered a Jewish town or village without feeling, so to speak, in quite another world. The aspect of the streets, the building and arrangement of the houses, the municipal and religious rule, the manners and customs …
Alfred Edersheim—Sketches of Jewish Social Life Flight into Egypt and Slaughter of the Bethlehem Children.
(Bethlehem and Road Thence to Egypt, b.c. 4.) ^A Matt. II. 13-18. ^a 13 Now when they were departed [The text favors the idea that the arrival and departure of the magi and the departure of Joseph for Egypt, all occurred in one night. If so, the people of Bethlehem knew nothing of these matters], behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise [this command calls for immediate departure] and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt [This land was ever the …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel The Kingdom Conquering the World
Acts Page Paul's Epistles Page Outline for Study of Epistles Page I Thessalonians Page I Corinthians Page Romans Page Philippians Page II Timothy Page The General Epistles Page Questions on the Book of James Page Studies in I and II Peter Page I John Page THE ACTS I. Author: 1. Name. 2. Number of …
Frank Nelson Palmer—A Bird's-Eye View of the Bible Sources and Literature on St. Paul and his Work.
I. Sources. 1. The authentic sources: The Epistles of Paul, and the Acts of the Apostles 9:1-30 and 13 to 28. Of the Epistles of Paul the four most important Galatians, Romans, two Corinthians--are universally acknowledged as genuine even by the most exacting critics; the Philippians, Philemon, Colossians, and Ephesians are admitted by nearly all critics; the Pastoral Epistles, especially First Timothy, and Titus, are more or less disputed, but even they bear the stamp of Paul's genius. On the coincidences …
Philip Schaff—History of the Christian Church, Volume I Jewish views on Trade, Tradesmen, and Trades' Guilds
We read in the Mishnah (Kidd. iv. 14) as follows: "Rabbi Meir said: Let a man always teach his son a cleanly and a light trade; and let him pray to Him whose are wealth and riches; for there is no trade which has not both poverty and riches, and neither does poverty come from the trade nor yet riches, but everything according to one's deserving (merit). Rabbi Simeon, the son of Eleazer, said: Hast thou all thy life long seen a beast or a bird which has a trade? Still they are nourished, and that …
Alfred Edersheim—Sketches of Jewish Social Life King Herod's Enrollment
THE first enrollment in Syria was made in the year 8-7 BC., but a consideration of the situation in Syria and Palestine about that time will show that the enrollment in Herod's kingdom was probably delayed for some time later. Herod occupied a delicate and difficult position on the throne of Judea. On the one hand he had to comply with what was required of him by the Imperial policy; he was governing for the Romans a part of the empire, and he was bound to spread western customs and language and …
Sir William Mitchell Ramsay—Was Christ Born in Bethlehem? Luke's Attitude Towards the Roman World
The reign of Augustus, as is well known, is enveloped in the deepest obscurity. While we are unusually well informed about the immediately preceding period of Roman history, and for part of the reign of his successor, Tiberius, we possess the elaborate and accurate, though in some respects strongly prejudiced account of Tacitus, the facts of Augustus's reign have to be pieced together from scanty, incomplete and disjointed authorities. Moreover, obscure events in a remote corner of the Roman world …
Sir William Mitchell Ramsay—Was Christ Born in Bethlehem? Paul's Journeys Acts 13:1-38:31
On this third journey he was already planning to go to Rome (Acts 19:21) and wrote an epistle to the Romans announcing his coming (Rom. 1:7, 15). +The Chief City+, in which Paul spent most of his time (Acts 19:1, 8, 10), between two and three years upon this journey, was Ephesus in Asia Minor. This city situated midway between the extreme points of his former missionary journeys was a place where Ephesus has been thus described: "It had been one of the early Greek colonies, later the capital …
Henry T. Sell—Bible Studies in the Life of Paul The Supremacy of Christ
THIRD GROUP OF EPISTLES COLOSSIANS. PHILEMON. EPHESIANS. PHILIPPIANS. THE QUESTION AT ISSUE +The Supremacy of Christ.+--These Epistles mark a new stage in the writings of Paul. The great question discussed in the second group of Epistles was in regard to the terms of salvation. The question now at issue (in Colossians, Ephesians, Philippian+The Reason for the Raising of this Question+ was the development of certain false religious beliefs among which were, "asceticism, the worship of angels, …
Henry T. Sell—Bible Studies in the Life of Paul The Future of Christ's Kingdom First Group of Epistles the First and Second Epistles to the Thessalonians Introduction to the Epistles of Paul +Epistolary Writings. + --The
STUDY VII THE FUTURE OF CHRIST'S KINGDOM FIRST GROUP OF EPISTLES THE FIRST AND SECOND EPISTLES TO THE THESSALONIANS INTRODUCTION TO THE EPISTLES OF PAUL +Epistolary Writings.+--The New Testament is composed of twenty-seven books, twenty-one of which are Epistles. Of this latter number thirteen are ascribed to Paul. It is thus seen how largely the New Testament is made up of Epistles and how many of these are attributed to the Great Apostle. In the letters of men of great prominence and power of any …
Henry T. Sell—Bible Studies in the Life of Paul The Candour of the Writers of the New Testament.
I make this candour to consist in their putting down many passages, and noticing many circumstances, which no writer whatever was likely to have forged; and which no writer would have chosen to appear in his book who had been careful to present the story in the most unexceptionable form, or who had thought himself at liberty to carve and mould the particulars of that story according to his choice, or according to his judgment of the effect. A strong and well-known example of the fairness of the evangelists …
William Paley—Evidences of Christianity Moreover, if Discourse must be Bestowed Upon Any...
21. Moreover, if discourse must be bestowed upon any, and this so take up the speaker that he have not time to work with his hands, are all in the monastery able to hold discourse unto brethren which come unto them from another kind of life, whether it be to expound the divine lessons, or concerning any questions which may be put, to reason in an wholesome manner? Then since not all have the ability, why upon this pretext do all want to have nothing else to do? Although even if all were able, they …
St. Augustine—Of the Work of Monks. Here is the Sum of My Examination Before Justice Keelin, Justice Chester, Justice Blundale, Justice Beecher, Justice Snagg, Etc.
After I had lain in prison above seven weeks, the quarter-sessions were to be kept in Bedford, for the county thereof, unto which I was to be brought; and when my jailor had set me before those justices, there was a bill of indictment preferred against me. The extent thereof was as followeth: That John Bunyan, of the town of Bedford, labourer, being a person of such and such conditions, he hath (since such a time) devilishly and perniciously abstained from coming to church to hear Divine service, …
John Bunyan—Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners The Epistle to the Hebrews.
I. Commentaries on Hebrews by Chrysostom (d. 407, hermeneia, in 34 Homilies publ. after his death by an Antioch. presbyter, Constantinus); Theodoret (d. 457); Oecumenius (10th cent.); Theophylact (11th cent.); Thomas Aquinas (d. 1274); Erasmus (d. 1536, Annotationes in N. T., with his Greek Test., 1516 and often, and Paraphrasis in N. T., 1522 and often); Card. Cajetanus (Epistolae Pauli, etc., 1531); Calvin (d. 1564, Com. in omnes P. Ep. atque etiam in Ep. ad Hebraeos, 1539 and often, also Halle, …
Philip Schaff—History of the Christian Church, Volume I Links Acts 18:25 NIVActs 18:25 NLTActs 18:25 ESVActs 18:25 NASBActs 18:25 KJV
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