Jerusalem was not the spiritual centre of Paul's activity, but rather Antioch; and it is to Antioch, where he first

received the definite call to evangelize the Gentiles, that his footsteps now turn. After a little time spent among

friends, a short period of refreshment, we once again find the apostle on the road. The call to service, and the needs

of his spiritual family could not be ignored:

`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' (Acts 18:23).

The fact that he visited the churches `in order' enables us to follow the apostle's footsteps as he visits the church

which was founded when he and Barnabas had responded to the call in Acts 13. Passing through the `upper coasts'

(i.e. the highland district of the Western Taurus range), he at length arrives at Ephesus, and so is able to fulfil his

promise that, `if God will', he would return to them again (Acts 19:1 and 18:21).

Before we deal with Acts 19, however, and Paul's great work at Ephesus, we have another incident to consider,

that took place while Paul was absent from Ephesus:

`A certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the Scriptures, came to

Ephesus. 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. 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' (Acts 18:24-26).

Apollos had many natural and spiritual advantages. He was born at Alexandria, a seat of learning, and was

instrumental in the diffusion of the Greek language and the production of the Greek version of the Old Testament

known as the Septuagint. According to the A.V. Apollos is described as `an eloquent man'. The word is logios,

which, according to Philo (Vit. Mos. i. 5) means `learned' and according to Josephus `eloquent'(Ant. xvii. vi. 2).

Josephus speaks of Judas and Matthias as `two of the most eloquent men among the Jews, and most celebrated

interpreters of the Jewish laws'. The word must not, however, be made to include all that is conveyed by the word

`eloquence' today, or as it would have been understood by the Greek rhetorician. Nevertheless it is clear that

Apollos must have had a natural gift that surpassed that possessed by Paul, for the apostle reminded the Corinthians

that, according to their standards, they had said of him: `His bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible'

(2 Cor. 10:10).

Apollos was not merely eloquent; he was also `mighty in the Scriptures', and `instructed in the way of the Lord'.

On the other hand, we read that he knew `only the baptism of John'. There are some who think that Apollos was not

a believer in the Lord Jesus, though true so far as he went. The texts, however, read in verse 25: `He taught

diligently the things concerning Jesus'. The word `diligently' is akribos, `accurately', and is found again in verse 26

- `more perfectly'. Apollos had the foundation of the faith, but he stopped short at the baptism of John. He could,

however, be a very convincing speaker, so far as proving the Messiahship of the Lord Jesus was concerned, for

John's baptism was appointed for the very purpose of making the Messiah manifest to Israel (John 1:30-34).

When Priscilla and Aquila heard Apollos speak, they felt as some of our readers have probably often felt when

listening to an earnest man, preaching with fervour and grace, but knowing only the truth as far as Acts 28. We have

personal knowledge of more than one instance, in which readers of The Berean Expositor have emulated the kindly

act of Aquila and Priscilla, and have been able to `expound the way of God more perfectly'. Apollos evidently

profited by their gracious ministry, and, when he wished to pass into Achaia, the brethren commended him by letter.

We read that he `helped them much which had believed', and `mightily convinced the Jews, and that publicly,

showing by the Scriptures that Jesus was Christ'.

While Apollos is at Corinth, Paul arrives at Ephesus, and he too is met with the same limitations as were found

in Apollos. This time, however, instead of one man, it is twelve disciples who `knew only the baptism of John'.

The controversy that has arisen over this passage (Acts 19:1-12), as to whether Paul baptized these believers, or

whether verse 5 refers to what took place when men heard and believed John the Baptist's testimony, will perhaps

remain a moot point until we know `even as we are known'. We give below the structure of the passage as set out in

The Companion Bible. According to this structure, the words of verse 5: `When they heard this, they were baptized