Acts 18:23-28 Paul's third missionary trip; Apollos receives the full gospel

Acts 18:23 Paul departs on his third missionary trip, revisiting Galatia. The specific stops on this trip are not mentioned until Acts 19.

Acts 18:24-28 The story of Apollos in Ephesus is a bit of a sidebar. Priscilla and Aquila had stayed in Ephesus, and ran across Apollos. Where Apollos heard the gospel is not stated, but he had been accurately teaching about Jesus. He was acquainted with water baptism. He was teaching in the synagogue and there is no record that his teachings were rejected. But Priscilla and Aquila heard him and then explained the way of God more accurately to him. What does this mean? He was already teaching things concerning Jesus accurately. John the Baptist had spoken of the coming of Messiah, and had told people to be baptized for repentance as a preparation for His coming. The text does not indicate exactly what Apollos was teaching, but it must have been derived from John the Baptist's teaching. So although Apollos could speak from the Old Testament law and prophets about the coming Messiah, he was apparently unaware of Jesus' death and resurrection, and of the details of the atonement, the new birth, and the Baptism of the Holy Spirit.

          We can infer that this means that Christianity is more than the doctrines concerning Jesus. It is also about a life lived in the power of the Holy Spirit. At this time, being mighty in the scriptures would imply that he knew the Old Testament very well, and was able to explain how Jesus fulfilled all that the Law and the Prophets had promised. So one can only make the interpolation that Aquila and Priscilla explained to him about being empowered by the Holy Spirit, about hearing the voice of the Holy Spirit speaking, and welling up from a person's innermost being to become a river of living water. In other words, the presentation of the gospel is not just about apologetics; giving the evidence can persuade a person's mind, but it is the work of the Holy Spirit to change a person's heart in response to the gospel and bring about the new birth.

          Subsequently, Apollos wanted to go to Achaia (Greece), the believers in Ephesus encouraged him, and he went there. The only specifically named city he visited was Corinth (Acts 19:1) but perhaps he itinerated through Cenchrea, Berea, and Philippi. He did not lose any of his powerful eloquence in explaining the Scriptures and was able to refute the Jews in public debate from their own scriptures.