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)

³ He went into all the country around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.^(A)

²² This righteousness^(A) is given through faith^(B) in^[a] Jesus Christ^(C) to all who believe.^(D) There is no difference between Jew and Gentile,^{(E) 23} for all have sinned^(F) and fall short of the glory of God, ²⁴ and all are justified^(G) freely by his grace^(H) through the redemption^(I) that came by Christ Jesus. ²⁵ God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement,^[b](J) through the shedding of his blood^(K)—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished^(L)—

¹⁶ I pray that out of his glorious riches^(A) he may strengthen you with power^(B) through his Spirit in your inner being,^{(C) 17} so that Christ may dwell in your hearts^(D) through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted^(E) and established in love, ¹⁸ may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people,^(F) to grasp how wide and long and high and deep^(G) is the love of Christ, ¹⁹ and to know this love that surpasses knowledge^(H)—that you may be filled^(I) to the measure of all the fullness of God.^(J)

²⁰ Now to him who is able^(K) to do immeasurably more than all we ask^(L) or imagine, according to his power^(M) that is at work within us, ²¹ to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.^(N)

⁶ But now, by dying to what once bound us, we have been released from the law^(A) so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code.^(B)