Acts 18:18-19:8

New International Version

Priscilla, Aquila and Apollos

¹⁸Paul stayed on in Corinth for some time. Then he left the brothers and sisters^(A) and sailed for Syria,^(B) accompanied by Priscilla and Aquila.^(C) Before he sailed, he had his hair cut off at Cenchreae^(D) because of a vow he had taken.^(E) ¹⁹They arrived at Ephesus,^(F) where Paul left Priscilla and Aquila. He himself went into the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews. ²⁰When they asked him to spend more time with them, he declined. ²¹But as he left, he promised, “I will come back if it is God’s will.”^(G) Then he set sail from Ephesus. ²²When he landed at Caesarea,^(H) he went up to Jerusalem and greeted the church and then went down to Antioch.^(I)

²³After spending some time in Antioch, Paul set out from there and traveled from place to place throughout the region of Galatia^(J) and Phrygia,^(K) strengthening all the disciples.^(L)

²⁴Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos,^(M) a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus.^(N) He was a learned man, with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures. ²⁵He had been instructed in the way of the Lord, and he spoke with great fervor^[a]^(O) and taught about Jesus accurately, though he knew only the baptism of John.^(P) ²⁶He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila^(Q) heard him, they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately.

²⁷When Apollos wanted to go to Achaia,^(R) the brothers and sisters^(S) 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. ²⁸For he vigorously refuted his Jewish opponents in public debate, proving from the Scriptures^(T) that Jesus was the Messiah.^(U)

Paul in Ephesus

19 While Apollos^(V) was at Corinth,^(W) Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus.^(X) There he found some disciples ²and asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit^(Y) when^[b] you believed?”

They answered, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.”

³So Paul asked, “Then what baptism did you receive?”

“John’s baptism,” they replied.

⁴Paul said, “John’s baptism^(Z) was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus.”^(AA) ⁵On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.^(AB) ⁶When Paul placed his hands on them,^(AC) the Holy Spirit came on them,^(AD) and they spoke in tongues^[c]^(AE) and prophesied. ⁷There were about twelve men in all.