A short stop in Ephesus: A warm reception for Paul: Priscilla and Aquila meet Apollos

Acts 18:19-28

• A warm reception in Ephesus for Paul.
• Apollos grows in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ through Aquilla and Priscilla.

A warm reception in Ephesus for Paul.
“And he came to Ephesus, and left them there…” Acts 18:19a

The “them” in this verse refers to Priscilla and Aquila, and the one who left them there was Paul. When Paul decided to sail for Syria, he brought Priscilla and Aquila with him from Corinth, as described in the post on Acts 18:18. On the way to Syria, they stopped in Ephesus, and that is where Paul would leave them. While Priscilla and Aquila stayed in Ephesus, Paul went to Caesarea, Antioch at Syria, and the regions of Galatia and Phrygia, as described in the coming verses of this post [Acts 18:22-23].

On the map below, Corinth can be seen to the far west of the image and about halfway up. Paul, his companions, with Aquila and Priscilla sailed from Corinth with the main destination being Syria. Syria is seen to the far east of the image and about halfway up. On the way to Syria, they stopped at Ephesus, underlined in yellow and east of Corinth. Aquila and Priscilla would remain in Ephesus as Paul sailed for Caesarea, [underlined in yellow to the bottom of the image, to the far right and west of Jerusalem]. From Caesarea, Paul finally reached Syria where he went to Antioch, known as Antioch at Syria]. Antioch at Syria is due north of Jerusalem and underlined in yellow. There is another Antioch, which is called Antioch at Pisidia, in the region of Phrygia [not shown on the map]. After visiting Antioch at Syria, Paul went to the regions of Galatia and Phrygia. Galatia is northwest of Antioch at Syria and Phrygia is west and a little south of Galatia.

“…but he himself entered the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews. When they asked him to stay a longer time with them, he did not consent, but took leave of them, saying, “I must by all means keep this coming feast in Jerusalem; but I will return again to you, God willing.” And he sailed from Ephesus.” Acts 18:19b-21

While Aquila and Priscilla were left somewhere in Ephesus, Paul went to a synagogue somewhere else in Ephesus. The work of the Holy Spirit is to make known the testimony of Jesus Christ and He is who was motivating Paul to speak to the Jewish people. The Jewish people there were receptive to the message of Jesus as being the Christ and Son of God. As followers of Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit is He who opens the door to share our born-again testimony, which is the Gospel of Christ written on our heart.

There is a difference between being persuaded by the kindness, goodwill, and love of human sentiments and being guided by the will of the Holy Spirit. The warmth of the people in Ephesus towards Paul wanted him to stay longer with them, but the Holy Spirit was guiding Paul towards Jerusalem.

I’ve heard some people say that love is love, and peace is peace no matter the source, whether from the human heart or from the Holy Spirit. Not so. The “hippies” of the 60’s era were huge, very huge, on promoting love and peace, but we all know how much different that is from the love and peace that God offers us through Jesus Christ. One love comes through emotions and physical sexual relations, but God’s love reaches into the spirit and soul. One peace comes by a worldly definition of peace, which caused the “hippies” to protest and riot against war. Jesus gives us peace that is not the peace of this world but is a peace with God and within the spirit and soul. God calls us to peace, not to riots and protests. One movement for peace and love exists through a generational movement and passes away with the coming of an “evolved” generation, but the love and peace of God is eternal through Jesus Christ.

Paul promised the Ephesians that he would return, God willing, and he did return to Ephesus as described in the posts on Acts 19:1-22.

“And when he had landed at Caesarea, and gone up and greeted the church, he went down to Antioch. After he had spent some time there, he departed and went over the region of Galatia and Phrygia in order, strengthening all the disciples.” Acts 18:22-23

Paul went on to Caesarea and left Aquila and Priscilla in Ephesus. He greeted the Church in Caesarea in the name of Jesus Christ then went to Antioch at Syria. He stayed there for a while in the fellowship of Jesus Christ. Then Paul went to the regions of Galatia and Phrygia to strengthen the Believers to grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ. These places can be seen on the map at the beginning of this post.

As followers of Jesus Christ, our desire is for fellowship in the name of Jesus Christ and to help one another to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Apollos grows in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ through Aquilla and Priscilla.
“Now a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man and mighty in the Scriptures, came to Ephesus.” Acts 18:24 

Paul left Ephesus and was visiting Caesarea [in Israel], and Antioch at Syria, and the regions of Galatia and Phrygia [in the area where Turkey is marked], as seen on the map below and better described on the map of the post in Acts 18:19-23. During this time, a Jewish man named Apollos came to Ephesus, who was born in Alexandria. As seen on the map below, Alexandria is part of Egypt, and Ephesus is north [across the Mediterranean Sea] and about where the orange dot is located.

Apollos was eloquent and mighty in the handling of the Scriptures, the Scriptures being the Old Testament. The same as Paul who was skillful in the Scriptures in showing Jesus as the fulfillment of Bible prophecy. The New Testament hadn’t been put together yet, which is obvious since many of the 27 Books were written by Paul after his missionary journeys. While the Books of the New Testament were written before 70AD, the actual Book of the New Testament was put together and canonized a couple hundred years after that. In the days of the Apostles, faith came by hearing the Good News of Jesus Christ and living the born-again experience. Jesus is referred to as the “Word made flesh” [John1:14], meaning His verbal word meant as much, and more, as every word written in the Scriptures of the Old Testament. Our born-again experience is the Gospel of Jesus Christ written on our heart.

“This man had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things of the Lord, though he knew only the baptism of John.” Acts 18:25

Apollos was taught the way of Jesus Christ according to what he heard and experienced through the Baptism of John. Apollos was baptized by water, for the repentance of sin, and he taught accurately all he knew about preparing for the coming of Jesus Christ [according to the baptism of John]. The faith of Apollos came by hearing the word of John the Baptist, not through the written laws of Judaism.

As followers of Jesus Christ, we all come to repent of rejecting God, Jesus Christ, and fighting against the Holy Spirit. In that repentance, we share with others about the need to reconcile to God and prepare for the coming of Jesus Christ. We do this accurately and with all the strength within our heart and spirit. Even then, we may not understand all there is to know about the Holy Spirit, nor will we know everything contained in the Bible from Genesis to Revelation. We may not be perfect in the letter of the law and in our knowledge of all of the Scriptures, nor will we ever be perfect in living a life of Holiness. But knowing our born-again experience through Jesus Christ is something we can always share, with perfection. We grow in our sanctification by growing in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ, “…but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” 2 Peter 3:18

“So he began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Aquila and Priscilla heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately” Acts 18:26

Aquilla and Priscilla were a husband-and-wife team who knew more than the water baptism of John the Baptist. They knew about the Holy Spirit and were living and walking in the Spirit. They knew about the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead and the resurrection of spirit that comes by being born of the Spirit. They knew that Jesus was alive, ascended into heaven, and would return to bring all His children into the eternal new Jerusalem.

Aquilla and Prisicilla heard Apollos teaching boldly in the Jewish synagogues about repentance through water baptism. But Apollos needed to know more, he needed to know about repentance through Jesus Christ who gives the Holy Spirit and eternal life. Aquilla and Priscilla took Apollos aside to explain to him the way of God more accurately.

As followers of Jesus Christ, when we gather with one another in His name, it’s a time of growing in the grace and knowledge of Jesus. By sharing with one another, we learn more Scriptures and gain inspiration through the Holy Spirit. We learn more of how God is working in this world. Where two or more Believers gather in the name of Jesus, that is the Church.

 “And when he desired to cross to Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him; and when he arrived, he greatly helped those who had believed through grace; for he vigorously refuted the Jews publicly, showing from the Scriptures that Jesus is the Christ.” Acts 18:27-28

After Aquila and Priscilla explained the way of God more accurately to Apollos, he was ready to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ, the message of the Cross, the resurrection, receiving the Holy Spirit, and eternal life in the New Jerusalem. He went from Ephesus and crossed the sea to the region of Achaia. On the map below, Ephesus is seen just under the word “Phrygia”, just to the left. Achaia is west of Ephesus. As followers of Jesus Christ, that is the mission God gives to us through the Holy Spirit, to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Aquilla and Priscilla wrote a letter to encourage the brothers and sisters of Jesus Christ, in the region of Achaia, to receive Apollos. Apollos would have carried that letter with him, and everywhere he went he would reveal that letter to them. Today, the letter the Apostles write to commend us to other Christians is the letter written on our heart, “Do we begin again to commend ourselves? Or do we need, as some others, epistles of commendation to you or letters of commendation from you? You are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read by all men; clearly you are an epistle of Christ, ministered by us, written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of flesh, that is, of the heart.” 2 Corinthians 3:1-3

Apollos was a tremendous help to those who believed through grace. They didn’t believe through the written laws of Judaism, they believed by the grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ. When Apollos learned the way of God more clearly, he became a great help to those living in grace. As followers of Jesus Christ, we need to grow in the grace, mercy, and forgiveness of God so that we can help others to grow in His grace. “For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” John 3:17

Apollos vigorously refuted the Jewish people publicly who tried to keep others in bondage to the laws of Judaism. Apollos was able to show from the Old Testament Scriptures that Jesus is the fulfillment of prophecy of the coming of the Christ. He taught that Salvation and living for God is not through the laws of the Old Testament, but through faith in Jesus Christ. As followers of Jesus, we know the phrase “scarlet cord” refers to the Old Testament scriptures pointing to Jesus Christ in the New Testament. Today, we see how the Old and New Testaments are really just one Book about Jesus Christ.

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“….to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan’s so-called deep secrets,“
‘I will not impose any other burden on you, except to hold on to what you have until I come.’”
“I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.”
Revelation 2:24-25, 3:11