²⁴ Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos,^(A) a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus.^(B) 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](C) and taught about Jesus accurately, though he knew only the baptism of John.^{(D) 26} He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila^(E) 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,^(F) the brothers and sisters^(G) 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^(H) that Jesus was the Messiah.^(I)

Paul in Ephesus

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

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

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

“John’s baptism,” they replied.

⁴ Paul said, “John’s baptism^(N) was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus.”^{(O) 5} On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.^(P)

⁵ What, after all, is Apollos?^(A) And what is Paul? Only servants,^(B) through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task. ⁶ I planted the seed,^(C) Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. ⁷ So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. ⁸ The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor.^{(D) 9} For we are co-workers in God’s service;^(E) you are God’s field,^(F) God’s building.^(G)

¹⁰ By the grace God has given me,^(H) I laid a foundation^(I) as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care. ¹¹ For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.^{(J) 12} If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, ¹³ their work will be shown for what it is,^(K) because the Day^(L) will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work.^{(M) 14} If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward.^{(N) 15} If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames.^(O)

¹⁸ Do not deceive yourselves. If any of you think you are wise^(A) by the standards of this age,^(B) you should become “fools” so that you may become wise. ¹⁹ For the wisdom of this world is foolishness^(C) in God’s sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness”^[a];^{(D) 20} and again, “The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile.”^{[b](E) 21} So then, no more boasting about human leaders!^(F) All things are yours,^{(G) 22} whether Paul or Apollos^(H) or Cephas^[c](I) or the world or life or death or the present or the future^(J)—all are yours, ²³ and you are of Christ,^(K) and Christ is of God.