ACT 18:23-28

Paulʼs Third Missionary Journey Begins

23After spending some time there, he departed and went from place to place through the region of Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples.

24Now a certain Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, arrived at Ephesus. He was a learned and eloquent man, powerful in the scriptures.

25This man had been catechized in the Way of the Lord and, being fervent in spirit, he was speaking and teaching accurately the things about Jesus, though he knew only the baptism of John.

26This man began to speak 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.

27When he wanted to cross over to Achaia, the brothers encouraged him and wrote to the disciples to welcome him. Having arrived, he greatly helped those who through grace had believed,

28for he was vigorously refuting the Judean authorities publicly, demonstrating through the scriptures that Jesus is the Christ.

In the world it was spoken into

In the 1st-century Mediterranean world, Apollos, described as (learned and eloquent), would have been recognized as a skilled rhetorician, a highly valued figure in Greco-Roman society. His Alexandrian origin suggests he was steeped in Hellenistic Jewish thought, likely familiar with Philoʼs allegorical methods and Septuagint interpretation. Apollosʼs fervor aligns with the cultural expectation of passionate public speaking, a hallmark of effective teachers and philosophers. His initial knowledge of only Johnʼs baptism reflects the diversity of Jewish messianic movements at the time, where Johnʼs followers were distinct from Jesusʼs disciples. Priscilla and Aquila, as tentmakers and co-workers with Paul, represent the fluidity of roles in early Christian communities, where women like Priscilla could instruct male leaders. Apollosʼs boldness in the synagogue underscores the tension between emerging Christian teachings and traditional Jewish frameworks, a recurring theme in Acts.

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How other translations render this

ACT 18:23

KJV: 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.
BSB: After Paul had spent some time in Antioch, he traveled from place to place throughout the region of Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples.
Koinōnos: After spending some time there, he departed and went from place to place through the region of Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples.

ACT 18:24

KJV: And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures, came to Ephesus.
BSB: Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was an eloquent man, well versed in the Scriptures.
Koinōnos: Now a certain Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, arrived at Ephesus. He was a learned and eloquent man, powerful in the scriptures.

ACT 18:25

KJV: 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.
BSB: 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.
Koinōnos: This man had been catechized in the Way of the Lord and, being fervent in spirit, he was speaking and teaching accurately the things about Jesus, though he knew only the baptism of John.

ACT 18:26

KJV: 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.
BSB: And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately.
Koinōnos: This man began to speak 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.

ACT 18:27

KJV: 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:
BSB: When Apollos resolved to cross over to Achaia, the brothers encouraged him and wrote to the disciples there to welcome him. On his arrival, he was a great help to those who by grace had believed.
Koinōnos: When he wanted to cross over to Achaia, the brothers encouraged him and wrote to the disciples to welcome him. Having arrived, he greatly helped those who through grace had believed,

ACT 18:28

KJV: For he mightily convinced the Jews, and that publickly, shewing by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ.
BSB: For he powerfully refuted the Jews in public debate, proving from the Scriptures that Jesus is the Christ.
Koinōnos: for he was vigorously refuting the Judean authorities publicly, demonstrating through the scriptures that Jesus is the Christ.

Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.

Translator's notes

ACT 18:24

eloquent,:The word translated 'eloquent' here describes someone who is not only skilled in speaking but also learned and well-versed in various subjects, suggesting a depth of knowledge behind their words.

ACT 18:25

instructed:The term translated 'instructed' implies a teaching process that involves oral instruction, often in a systematic way, like catechism, rather than just general learning.
being fervent:The phrase 'being fervent' uses a word that literally means 'to boil' or 'to be hot,' conveying an intense, passionate, and burning zeal or enthusiasm.

ACT 18:26

to speak boldly:The phrase 'to speak boldly' uses a word that means to speak with freedom, openness, and confidence, often implying a lack of fear or hesitation in expressing one's message.