Acts 18 27

Acts 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:

Acts 18:27 nkjv

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;

Acts 18:27 niv

When Apollos wanted to go to Achaia, the brothers and sisters encouraged him and wrote to the disciples there to welcome him. When he arrived, he was a great help to those who by grace had believed.

Acts 18:27 esv

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,

Acts 18:27 nlt

Apollos had been thinking about going to Achaia, and the brothers and sisters in Ephesus encouraged him to go. They wrote to the believers in Achaia, asking them to welcome him. When he arrived there, he proved to be of great benefit to those who, by God's grace, had believed.

Acts 18 verses

Acts 18 27 Meaning

Acts 18:27 describes Apollos's transition from Ephesus to Achaia. Desiring to minister in the latter region, the believers in Ephesus supported his journey by providing letters of commendation to the disciples there. Upon his arrival in Achaia, specifically Corinth, Apollos rendered significant help and strengthening to those who had already believed, his effectiveness stemming from divine grace. The verse highlights the communal support for ministry, the practice of inter-church communication, and the divine enablement behind successful evangelism and discipleship.

Acts 18 27 Context

Acts chapter 18 details Paul's missionary activities in Corinth, the establishment of the church there, and his subsequent journey back to Antioch, effectively concluding his second missionary journey. However, the chapter then introduces Apollos, a Jewish Christian from Alexandria, initially described as eloquent and mighty in the Scriptures, but knowing only John's baptism. Priscilla and Aquila, Paul's fellow tentmakers and ministry partners from Corinth, met Apollos in Ephesus and, discerning the gap in his understanding, explained the way of God to him more accurately. Verse 27 follows this refining of Apollos's theological understanding. He then desires to extend his ministry into Achaia, specifically to Corinth (Acts 19:1 explicitly states he arrived in Corinth). This verse sets the stage for Apollos's significant ministry in Corinth, which would later lead to unforeseen challenges for the church as reported in Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians. The commendation letters underscore a practical, unified approach to inter-church cooperation in the early Christian movement.

Acts 18 27 Word analysis

• And when he was desirous (βουλόμενος - boulomenos): This indicates Apollos's own will or intention to travel. It suggests an inward prompting and initiative, likely guided by the Holy Spirit. His desire aligned with God's broader plan for evangelism.
• to pass into Achaia (εἰς τὴν Ἀχαΐαν - eis tēn Achaïan): Achaia was a Roman senatorial province in Greece, which included the significant city of Corinth, a major commercial hub and home to a burgeoning Christian community. This shows strategic mission planning towards a key urban center.
• the brethren (οἱ ἀδελφοί - hoi adelphoi): Refers to the fellow believers, the Christian community in Ephesus where Apollos had been ministering and where Priscilla and Aquila were. It signifies collective church action and support.
• wrote (ἐπιστέλλαντες - epistellantes): Past tense, indicating a completed action. This refers to the writing of letters of commendation, a recognized practice in the early church for itinerant ministers, confirming their character, doctrine, and purpose to a new congregation. This validated his ministry.
• exhorting (προτρεψάμενοι - protrepsamenoi): This implies encouragement or urging. The letters did not merely inform but also actively persuaded the disciples in Achaia to warmly receive Apollos, affirming his suitability and gifting.
• the disciples (τοὺς μαθητὰς - tous mathētas): Literally "the learners" or "followers," referring to the Christian believers in Achaia, particularly in Corinth. This emphasizes their identity as Christ's followers, receptive to spiritual instruction.
• to receive him (ἀποδέξασθαι - apodechēsthai): To welcome him, accept him warmly, or show him hospitality. This encompassed not just physical reception but also acceptance of his teaching and ministry within their community.
• who, when he was come (ὃς παραγενόμενος - hos paragenomenos): "Who, having come/arrived." This emphasizes the immediate outcome of his arrival in Achaia as anticipated by the commendation.
• helped them much (συνεβάλετο πολὺ - synebaleto polu): "He contributed much," "he helped greatly." This highlights the significant impact and effectiveness of Apollos's ministry in Achaia, reinforcing his giftedness and the wisdom of the Ephesians in sending him. It implies spiritual growth and edification among believers.
• which had believed (τοῖς πεπιστευκόσιν - tois pepisteukosin): This is a perfect participle, indicating those who had already come to faith and continued to believe. Apollos's ministry primarily served to strengthen, establish, and further equip existing believers, rather than solely for initial evangelism, though he was certainly capable of that (Acts 18:28).
• through grace (διὰ τῆς χάριτος - dia tēs charitos): This is a pivotal phrase. It clarifies that his effectiveness, and indeed their initial belief, was not due to human ability or effort alone, but by divine enablement and the unmerited favor of God. It places the ultimate credit on God's grace for the work accomplished. This highlights the theological grounding of Apollos's powerful ministry in divine power and underscores the sovereign role of grace in salvation and spiritual growth.

• "when he was desirous to pass into Achaia, the brethren wrote...": This phrase signifies the cooperative nature of early Christian ministry. Apollos's personal spiritual ambition to expand his ministry was recognized and formally supported by the Ephesian church community through a commendation. This practice established legitimacy and fostered unity between churches.
• "exhorting the disciples to receive him: who, when he was come, helped them much": This section demonstrates the tangible results of church networking. The urging to receive him proved effective, and Apollos's arrival led to significant spiritual benefit for the established believers in Corinth, validating both the Ephesian church's discernment and Apollos's capabilities.
• "helped them much which had believed through grace": This grouping connects the efficacy of Apollos's ministry directly to divine grace. It is not merely his eloquence or scriptural knowledge but God's enabling grace that makes his help effective. Moreover, the recipients were those who had believed, emphasizing that their very faith was also "through grace," a theological bedrock for Paul himself (and the early church). This highlights grace as the wellspring of both salvation and service.

Acts 18 27 Bonus section

The commendation letter in Acts 18:27 is a significant early example of formal inter-church communication and credentialing, similar to letters in Roman society used for official business or introductions. This practice was vital in a world with extensive travel and no established denominational structures, helping new communities distinguish true teachers from false ones (cf. 2 Cor 11:4). Apollos's ministry in Achaia (Corinth) became so influential that later, it unintentionally contributed to divisions in the Corinthian church, with factions proclaiming allegiance to him or Paul (1 Cor 1:12; 3:4). However, it is crucial to understand that neither Apollos nor Paul fostered such divisions; they viewed each other as co-laborers, planting and watering what God Himself had caused to grow (1 Cor 3:6-9). The phrase "helped them much" can imply Apollos's strong scriptural arguments (as mentioned in Acts 18:28 where he "powerfully refuted the Jews in public debate, proving from the Scriptures that Jesus was the Messiah"), which strengthened the faith of believers and enabled them to withstand opposition. His intellectual prowess, now fully aligned with a comprehensive understanding of Christ and the Spirit, was used powerfully by God's grace for the edification of the saints.

Acts 18 27 Commentary

Acts 18:27 is a concise yet significant verse, shedding light on the mechanics of early church ministry. Apollos, having had his understanding of Christ sharpened by Priscilla and Aquila in Ephesus, felt called to serve in Achaia. This verse portrays the Ephesian brethren's wisdom and proactive support in validating his ministry through commendation letters. Such letters served to authenticate a traveling minister's character and message, ensuring smooth integration and reception within a new Christian community. Upon arriving in Achaia (specifically Corinth), Apollos's ministry was profoundly effective, evidenced by the significant help he rendered to the existing believers. His impactful contributions were not attributed to his remarkable eloquence or profound knowledge alone, but fundamentally "through grace." This underscores a core Christian theological truth: genuine and lasting spiritual work is a work of divine grace, empowering both the minister and the spiritual growth of those they serve. It showcases a beautiful synergy of human gifting submitted to divine purpose, facilitated by inter-church unity and practical wisdom.