Lesson 38: Acts 18:23-28, Acts 19:1-9

Acts 18:23–28 — The Ministry of Apollos and the Strengthening of the Churches

Paul stayed in Corinth for 1.5 year. He then sailed to Syria for Ephesus. He then arrived in Antioch. He begins his third journey.

I. Paul Strengthens the Churches (v. 23)

Acts 18:23 “After spending some time there, he departed and went from one place to the next through the region of Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples.”

A. Departure from Antioch

Paul begins his third missionary journey.

B. Strengthening the disciples

Travels through Galatia and Phrygia, visiting established churches.

Focus: Encouragement, discipleship, and doctrinal grounding.

The Stories of Priscilla and Aquila

II. Apollos’ Ministry in Ephesus (vv. 24–26)

Acts 18:24–26 “Now a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was an eloquent man, competent in the Scriptures. He had been instructed in the way of the Lord. And being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus, though he knew only the baptism of John. He 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.”

A. Introduction of Apollos

Ephesus: the hub of all culture and commerce in western Asia. It was a free city. Since it was the seat of provincial government, the proconsul lived here, along with some 200,000 to 250,000 other residents, making this the largest city of Asia Minor and the third-largest city in the Empire after Rome and Alexandria. It is important to stress the strategic location of the city, both in terms of the land routes that led to the interior of Asia and the sea routes from Asia west.

A Jew from Alexandria, eloquent and mighty in the Scriptures.

Well-versed in the Old Testament, instructed in the way of the Lord.

Spoke with zeal, but his understanding was incomplete—he knew only the baptism of John.

B. Priscilla and Aquila’s Instruction

Heard him preaching boldly in the synagogue.

Took him aside and explained the way of God more accurately.

Model of humble correction and discipleship in ministry.

III. Apollos’ Ministry in Achaia (vv. 27–28)

Acts 18:27–28 “And when he wished to cross to Achaia, the brothers encouraged him and wrote to the disciples to welcome him. When he arrived, he greatly helped those who through grace had believed, for he powerfully refuted the Jews in public, showing by the Scriptures that the Christ was Jesus.”

A. Sent with commendation by the Ephesian believers.

B. Powerful defense of the gospel

Refuted the Jews publicly, showing from Scripture that Jesus is the Christ.

C. Apollos becomes a key teacher in Corinth (cf. 1 Cor. 1–3).

1 Corinthians 3:4–5 “For when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not being merely human? What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, as the Lord assigned to each.”

Acts 19:1–9 — Paul’s Ministry in Ephesus Begins

Acts 19:1–9 (ESV)

And it happened that while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed through the inland country and came to Ephesus. There he found some disciples. And he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” And they said, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” And he said, “Into what then were you baptized?” They said, “Into John’s baptism.” And Paul said, “John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, Jesus.” On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking in tongues and prophesying. There were about twelve men in all. And he entered the synagogue and for three months spoke boldly, reasoning and persuading them about the kingdom of God. But when some became stubborn and continued in unbelief, speaking evil of the Way before the congregation, he withdrew from them and took the disciples with him, reasoning daily in the hall of Tyrannus.

I. Paul Arrives in Ephesus (vv. 1–2)

A. Encounters “disciples”

Likely followers of John the Baptist.

Acts 1:5 “for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”” Acts 11:16 “And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he said, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’” Acts 13:25 “And as John was finishing his course, he said, ‘What do you suppose that I am? I am not he. No, but behold, after me one is coming, the sandals of whose feet I am not worthy to untie.’” Acts 18:25 “He had been instructed in the way of the Lord. And being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus, though he knew only the baptism of John.”

B. Paul’s diagnostic question:

“Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?”

Their reply: “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.”

II. Clarifying the Nature of Their Baptism (vv. 3–5)

A. They were baptized into John’s baptism

Romans 6:3 “Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?” 1 Corinthians 1:13 “Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?” 1 Corinthians 1:15 “so that no one may say that you were baptized in my name.” Galatians 3:27 “For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.”

A baptism of repentance pointing forward to Christ.

**B. Paul explains the fulfillment in Jesus.

**C. They are baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

III. The Holy Spirit’s Coming (v. 6–7)

A. Paul lays hands on them

The Holy Spirit comes upon them.

They speak in tongues and prophesy.

B. The group totals about twelve men—symbolic of a new Israel-like community in Ephesus.

IV. Paul’s Ongoing Ministry in the Synagogue (vv. 8–9)

A. Bold preaching for three months

Reasoning and persuading about the kingdom of God.

B. Opposition and rejection

Some hardened their hearts and spoke evil of the Way.

C. Paul separates the disciples

Moves ministry to the lecture hall of Tyrannus, marking a shift to Gentile outreach and broader teaching.

He taught there for 2 years. Acts 19:10 “This continued for two years, so that all the residents of Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks.”