Acts 18:22–28

He departed from Ephesus, and descending, he went up to Caesarea and greeted the church. He says Caesarea, the metropolis of Cappadocia. For he had not yet come to Syria of Phoenicia. Formerly called Mosacha from Mosoc, the son of Japheth, later it received the name Caesarea from Caesar Augustus.

"And when he had landed at Caesarea, and gone up, and saluted the Church, he went down to Antioch. And after he had spent some time there, he departed, and went over all the country of Galatia and Phrygia in order, strengthening all the disciples." He came again to those places which he had previously visited. Through these regions also he merely passes again, just enough to establish them by his presence.

To visit the faithful and strengthen them was the constant rule of Paul, so that, if he found them growing weak, he might lighten their burden with pastoral instruction.

He was learned in the Scriptures, able to dispute with those who questioned him and able to demonstrate that the recent events were in agreement with the Old Testament.

"And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the Scriptures, came to Ephesus." Lo, even learned men are now urgent, and the disciples henceforth go abroad. Do you mark the spread of the preaching? For he was an awakened man, travelling in foreign parts for this very purpose. Writing of him the Apostle said, "Now concerning Apollos our brother." (1 Cor. xvi. 12.)

Some say that this Apollo is the same as Apelles, the bishop of the Corinthians, about whom it is said elsewhere: "I planted, Apollos watered." (1 Cor. 3:6) The man with the two names then either altered one of the names afterwards, or otherwise. [DIDYMUS]

Some assert that this "Apollos" is Apollos, Bishop of Corinth, about whom Paul writes: "As for brother Apollos, I strongly urged him" (1 Cor. 16:12); also: "I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth" (1 Cor. 3:6).

Speaking somewhat accurately the things concerning Jesus is not different from laying out somewhat accurately the things concerning the way, the teaching of Christ, for it is possible that someone, having a generally precise knowledge about the things of Christ, needs a most nuanced explanation of them. Apollos, being a Jew, had the opportunity to know the Old Testament that gives witness concerning Jesus. Therefore, being learned, he was speaking in the Spirit, and he was teaching in the synagogues what he knew about Jesus. Being students of the apostle Paul, Priscilla and Aquila take him, being full of eagerness, aside in order to pass on to him the entire way of the gospel. It is probable that Apollos knew that Jesus had lived among humankind and had commanded these things of the way, but it is unlikely that he knew why he had come among us.

"This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the Spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John." If this man knew only the baptism of John, how is it that he was "fervent in the Spirit," for the Spirit was not given in that way? It seems to me that this was one of the hundred and twenty who were baptized with the Apostles: or, if not so, then the same that took place in the case of Cornelius, took place also in the case of this man. Though not knowing all, by his zeal he attracted the Holy Spirit, in the same manner as Cornelius and his company.

"though he only knew the baptism of John." It is worth asking how, if he knew only John's baptism, he could therefore be filled with the Spirit. For the Spirit was not given in that way. And if those who came after him needed John's baptism, much more would this man have needed it. What then is one to say? For he did not simply place both in succession. It therefore seems that this man is one of the one hundred and twenty who were baptized after the apostles. If not that, what happened in the case of Cornelius may have happened here as well. But he is not baptized. When this matter is examined precisely, it seems this is not the case, since he too ought to have been baptized. For the other twelve knew nothing precisely, not even about Jesus. It is plausible then that he was baptized. And if those of John, after the baptism, again baptized, then it was necessary for the disciples to do the same. [CHRYSOSTOM]

How did this man, who had only been baptized according to John's baptism, have the Holy Spirit, but his followers did not? To this it must be said that for this reason was he boiling with the Spirit: being enlightened by the grace of God, he knew precisely and taught from the Scriptures that Jesus is the Christ. And this very knowledge did not allow him to keep quiet, but he himself, doing the work of an evangelist, taught, as did his disciples, about Jesus.

It must be noted that we must believe that women passed on the faith: see how completely desirous of salvation Apollos was, for even though he was an educated man and was well versed in the Scripture's secrets, he did not consider it worthless to learn the fullness of the faith from a woman. He did not become conceited as if he were receiving a rebuke from a woman that "you should learn more fully the things concerning God the Word's ordaining." Therefore [Priscilla] explained to him in her teaching the things of faith, and Apollos listened and received them, for while he knew that Jesus was the Christ and the servant of God and concluded so from the Scriptures, his knowledge was imperfect, since he did not know what had been spoken and prophesied to the apostles through the Holy Spirit. And so the circle of Aquila, being followers of Paul, laid out more clearly to him the way of God, such as worship in the Spirit and the circumcision not by hands and whatever else had been spoken for the perfection of the church.

The boldness of the man was great: he spoke precisely about Jesus, but he was in need of precision, of other further teaching. And still, in this way, even though [Apollos] did not know all, he had, because of his eagerness, drawn to himself the Holy Spirit, just as those at the house of Cornelius.

"And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly." It was not for nothing that Paul left them at Ephesus, but for Apollos' sake, the Spirit so ordered it, that he might come with greater force to the attack upon Corinth. What may be the reason that to him they did nothing, but Paul they assault? They knew that he was the leader, and great was the name of the man. Great was the boldness of the man. He taught diligently the things concerning Jesus, but he needed more diligent teaching.

If Apollos was baptized only with the baptism of John, then how did he burn with the Spirit? The Holy Spirit was not communicated in that manner. And if his followers needed the baptism of Christ, then he himself needed it all the more. So what shall we say to this? It seems to me that Apollos was among the one hundred and twenty baptized together with the apostles, or, if not, then the same thing happened with him as with Cornelius. The baptism of John called to repentance, but did not at the same time provide cleansing from sin, so that the difference between the baptism of John and the baptism of believers consists in this: the baptism of believers grants the remission of sins, since the believer is baptized in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit and is washed clean of the errors that preceded baptism. But if those baptized by John did not have the Holy Spirit, then how did Apollos, baptized only with the baptism of John, burn with the Spirit? Yet in that case, even if he did burn with the Spirit, he still did not have the Holy Spirit, because he did not speak in various tongues nor did he prophesy; it is one thing to burn with the Spirit, and another to have the Holy Spirit. He who has the Holy Spirit has Him dwelling within himself, and the Spirit Himself speaks to him from his heart, as He spoke to the apostles — now forbidding, now commanding them to speak the word. But he who burns with the Spirit accomplishes something under the guidance of the Spirit through sanctification and outward instruction; for from the sensible one must reason to the invisible.

When he came, he conferred much with those who believed. For he vigorously confuted the Jews. Another translation has: He greatly benefited the believers by grace. This is what the Apostle writes to the Achaians: "I planted, Apollos watered" (I Cor. III).

"And when he was disposed to pass into Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him." He wished then also to depart into Achaia, and these also encouraged him to do so, having also given him letters. In faith, he did all by faith; "the brethren wrote," etc. Nowhere envy, nowhere an evil eye. Aquila teaches, or rather this man lets himself be taught. He was minded to depart, and they send letters.

For he strongly refuted the Jews, publicly showing through the Scriptures that Jesus is the Christ. In Greek, it is written: Publicly and from house to house showing; which is of an excellent teacher, thus to teach many generally, so as not to cease to exhort individuals vigorously.

"For he mightily convinced the Jews, and that publicly, showing by the Scriptures that Jesus was Christ." Now by this, that he "publicly" convinced them, his boldness was shown: by the clearness of his arguing, his power was declared: by his convicting them out of the Scriptures, his skill of learning. For neither boldness by itself contributes aught, where there is not power, nor power where there is not boldness. "He mightily convinced," it says.

Gs are placed under Thee as their Cause and Author, as He who brought all things into being out of nothing, and gave to what was unstable a firm coherence; as the connecting Band and Preserver of that which has been brought into being; as the Framer of things by nature different; as He who, with wise and steady hand, holds the helm of the universe; as the very Principle of all good order; as the irrefragable Bond of concord and peace. For in Thee we live, and move, and have our being.

"He powerfully refuted the Jews publicly, proving from the Scriptures." To refute "publicly" means to show boldness; to refute powerfully means to manifest strength; and to refute "proving from the Scriptures" means to bear witness to one's knowledge. Neither does boldness accomplish anything without strength, nor strength without boldness.