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Lord’s will, and he will return after a number of months to witness the harvest which has been
sown and watered for quite a while.

PAUL STRENGTHENS THE DISCIPLES

Act 18:22 And when he had landed at Caesarea, and gone up and greeted the church, he went
down to Antioch.

Paul docks at Caesarea and goes to Jerusalem. He visits the church and the many saints who
were his friends. When the feast of Pentecost concludes, Paul returns to his home church of
Antioch and rests for an extended time.

Act 18:23 After he had spent some time there, he departed and went over the region of Galatia
and Phrygia in order, strengthening all the disciples.

Beginning his third missionary journey, Paul visits the same churches he has established on his
first and second trips. He goes to encourage the pastors and saints in Galatia. Since they have
a tendency toward legalism, he reminds them of their position in Christ and the walk of faith
which remains throughout the Christian life.

MINISTRY OF APOLLOS (24-28)

Apollos is strong in the scriptures and fervent in spirit but knows nothing beyond the baptism of
John. Aquila and Priscilla hear him speak boldly in the synagogue and afterward take him aside
to teach him “more accurately” about following the way of God in Jesus Christ.

Act 18:24 Now a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man and mighty
in the Scriptures, came to Ephesus.

The plan of God does not stop when the main minister leaves a city. God always has a plan and
never leaves a group of hungry people without a minister. Alexandria was a university city and
apparently Apollos is a language or speech major. He is eloquent in speech but an unbeliever
until some of John the Baptist’s followers come to the city and lead him to the Lord. He grew in
the Scriptures, which he had known since childhood, and became powerful in revealing
salvation in the Old Testament to his listeners.

He is now called by the Holy Spirit to go to Ephesus to instruct the believers and sinners in the
plans of God. He not only leads many to the Lord, but is also instructed himself by Aquila and
Priscilla.

Act 18:25 This man had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit, he
spoke and taught accurately the things of the Lord, though he knew only the baptism of John.

Since he has been led to the Lord by the disciples of John the Baptist, he only knows of the plan
of God up to the baptism of John. He knows nothing of New Testament doctrine, his position in