Acts Chapter 18 Verses 18-23 

Acts 18:18 “And Paul after this tarried there yet a good while, and then took his leave of the brethren, and sailed thence into Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila; having shorn his head in Cenchrea: for he had a vow. 19 And he came to Ephesus, and left them there: but he himself entered into the synagogue, and reasoned with the Jews.  20  When they desired him to tarry longer time with them, he consented not; 21 But bade them farewell, saying, I must by all means keep this feast that cometh in Jerusalem: but I will return again unto you, if God will. And he sailed from Ephesus. 22 And when he had landed at Caesarea, and gone up, and saluted the church, he went down to Antioch. 23 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.”

“And Paul after this tarried there yet a good while, and then took his leave of the brethren, and sailed thence into Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila; having shorn his head in Cenchrea: for he had a vow.”  I suspect the shearing of the head was a signification of being under a vow at that time.  It does not seem to have any precedent in the scriptures that I can find.  The vow appears to be to go up to Jerusalem for the upcoming feast. 

“And he came to Ephesus, and left them there: but he himself entered into the synagogue, and reasoned with the Jews.”  Again this is according to the pattern of the Apostle Paul to go first to the synagogue and reason with the Jews concerning the gospel of Jesus Christ.  Also, we note that he left Aquila and Priscilla at Ephesus. 

“When they desired him to tarry longer time with them, he consented not; But bade them farewell, saying, I must by all means keep this feast that cometh in Jerusalem: but I will return again unto you, if God will.”  We note that Paul concluded his plans with “if God will.”  Too often we try to make definite plans without considering whether they are according to the will of God.  James also taught this lesson: James 4:13 “Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: 14 Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. 15 For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.” 

“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.”  Paul was not content with just making disciples, but he was concerned with their growth in the faith as he made trips back to where he had previously gone to strengthen the disciples.  It has been my experience that often the missionaries in Africa have gone over and started churches or fellowships, but then leave and do not continue to teach or train those who they have established as leaders and left them.  While I do not agree with much of the missionaries doctrines, I note that they leave a great burden on those pastors they leave behind who struggle to know what the bible teaches and what to teach their congregations. 

Verses 24-28

Acts 18:24 “And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures, came to Ephesus. 25 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. 26 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. 27 And when he was disposed to pass into Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him: who, when he was come, helped them much which had believed through grace: 28 For he mightily convinced the Jews, and that publicly, showing by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ.” 

“And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures, came to Ephesus.”  In this verse we are told several things about Apollos, of which two stand out:

1.  Apollos was an eloquent man.  God had been him a talent to be able to speak in a very understandable and moving way.

 

2. Apollos was mighty in the scriptures.  A person cannot be mighty in the scriptures unless he has spent a lot of time reading, studying, and meditating on the scriptures.

“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.”  This tells us that Apollos had been baptized by John the Baptist and was a disciple of John the Baptist.  Moreover, he was devoted to knowing the way of the Lord.  Moreover, Apollos had a great zeal for the things of the Lord as he was fervent in spirit.  In addition he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord.  Apollos was a good example to us in the ministry today. 

“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.”  Since Apollos instruction was limited to that which John the Baptist had taught him, Aquila and Priscilla having heard him took him aside and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly.  Notice that both the husband and wife instructed him privately.  While neither Aquila nor Priscilla were considered to be public preachers of he gospel, yet they were teachers as they taught Apollos.  They set a good example to God’s people in the church who are not called to preach the gospel publicly.  When opportunity arises God people in the church should be willing and prepared to instruct others privately the way of the Lord more perfectly. 

“And when he was disposed to pass into Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him: who, when he was come, helped them much which had believed through grace: For he mightily convinced the Jews, and that publicly, showing by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ.”  The brethren at Ephesus wrote to the brethren in Achaia, to receive Apollos.  Sometimes when a brother who we are not familiar with comes among us it is helpful when those who are familiar with him recommend him to us.  Here the church at Ephesus recommended Apollos to the church in Achaia.  Apollos’ God given talents are manifest here as he mightily convinced the Jews publicly showing by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ.  Additionally, Apollos through his knowledge of the scriptures was able to help the disciples in Achaia much which had believed through grace.