The Return Trip to Antioch

18 So Paul, having stayed on for many days, said good-bye to the brothers and sailed away to Syria. Priscilla and Aquila were with him. He shaved his head at Cenchreae because he had taken a vow.(A) 19 When they reached Ephesus(B) he left them there, but he himself entered the synagogue and engaged in discussion with[a] the Jews. 20 And though they asked him to stay for a longer time, he declined, 21 but he said good-bye and stated,[b] “I’ll come back to you again, if God wills.”(C) Then he set sail from Ephesus.

22 On landing at Caesarea, he went up and greeted the church[c] and went down to Antioch.(D) 23 And after spending some time there, he set out, traveling through one place after another in the Galatian territory and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples.(E)

The Eloquent Apollos

24 A Jew named Apollos,(F) a native Alexandrian, an eloquent man who was powerful in the use of the Scriptures, arrived in Ephesus. 25 This man had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit,[d] he spoke and taught the things about Jesus accurately, although he knew only John’s baptism.(G) 26 He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. After Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him home[e] and explained the way of God to him more accurately.(H) 27 When he wanted to cross over to Achaia, the brothers wrote to the disciples urging them to welcome him. After he arrived, he greatly helped those who had believed through grace.(I) 28 For he vigorously refuted the Jews in public, demonstrating through the Scriptures that Jesus is the Messiah.(J)

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Footnotes

  1. Acts 18:19 Or and addressed
  2. Acts 18:21 Other mss add “By all means it is necessary to keep the coming festival in Jerusalem. But
  3. Acts 18:22 The church in Jerusalem
  4. Acts 18:25 Or in the Spirit
  5. Acts 18:26 Lit they received him

Priscilla, Aquila and Apollos

18 Paul 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) 19 They arrived at Ephesus,(F) where Paul left Priscilla and Aquila. He himself went into the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews. 20 When they asked him to spend more time with them, he declined. 21 But as he left, he promised, “I will come back if it is God’s will.”(G) Then he set sail from Ephesus. 22 When he landed at Caesarea,(H) he went up to Jerusalem and greeted the church and then went down to Antioch.(I)

23 After 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)

24 Meanwhile 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. 25 He 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) 26 He 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.

27 When 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. 28 For he vigorously refuted his Jewish opponents in public debate, proving from the Scriptures(T) that Jesus was the Messiah.(U)

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Footnotes

  1. Acts 18:25 Or with fervor in the Spirit