Acts 18:27

And when he was disposed to pass into Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him: who, when he was come, helped them much which had believed through grace:

And {G1161} when he {G846} was disposed {G1014} to pass {G1330} into {G1519} Achaia {G882}, the brethren {G80} wrote {G1125}, exhorting {G4389} the disciples {G3101} to receive {G588} him {G846}: who {G3739}, when he was come {G3854}, helped them {G4820} much {G4183} which had believed {G4100} through {G1223} grace {G5485}:

When he made plans to cross over into Achaia, the brothers encouraged him and wrote the talmidim there to welcome him. On arrival, he greatly helped those who through grace had come to trust;

When Apollos resolved to cross over to Achaia, the brothers encouraged him and wrote to the disciples there to welcome him. On his arrival, he was a great help to those who by grace had believed.

And when he was minded to pass over into Achaia, the brethren encouraged him, and wrote to the disciples to receive him: and when he was come, he helped them much that had believed through grace;

Commentary

Acts 18:27 describes a pivotal moment in the early Christian ministry of Apollos, an eloquent and powerful speaker. This verse highlights the communal support within the nascent church and the profound impact of Apollos's teaching, particularly among those who had come to faith through God's grace.

Context

Following his instruction by Priscilla and Aquila in Ephesus (see also Acts 18:24-25), Apollos felt led to minister in Achaia, a Roman province in Greece that included the significant city of Corinth. The "brethren" in Ephesus, recognizing his zeal and deepened understanding of Christ, provided him with a letter of commendation. This practice was common in the early church, serving to introduce traveling ministers and vouch for their character and doctrine, ensuring they would be received and supported by local believers. This verse sets the stage for Apollos's impactful work in the Corinthian church, which Paul later references.

Key Themes

  • Communal Support and Commendation: The act of the Ephesian believers writing a letter of exhortation demonstrates the vital role of mutual support and endorsement within the Christian community. Such letters fostered unity and facilitated the spread of the Gospel by validating ministers.
  • The Power of Grace: The phrase "helped them much which had believed through grace" underscores the theological foundation of their faith. It emphasizes that salvation and spiritual growth are ultimately a work of God's unmerited favor, not human effort. Apollos's ministry served to strengthen and clarify this understanding for the believers.
  • Effective Ministry: Apollos's ability to "help them much" signifies the effectiveness of his teaching and preaching. His eloquence, combined with his now more complete understanding of Christian truth, made him a powerful instrument in building up the church. This echoes Paul's later description of Apollos as 'watering' what Paul had 'planted' in Corinth.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "believed through grace" (Greek: dia tฤ“s charitos - ฮดฮนแฝฐ ฯ„แฟ†ฯ‚ ฯ‡ฮฌฯฮนฯ„ฮฟฯ‚) directly emphasizes the instrumental role of God's grace in their faith. It highlights that their belief was not merely a human decision but enabled and sustained by divine favor. This concept is central to Pauline theology, as seen in passages like Ephesians 2:8-9, which states, "For by grace are ye saved through faith."

Practical Application

Acts 18:27 offers several timeless lessons for believers today:

  • Value of Endorsement: Just as Apollos benefited from a letter of commendation, recognizing and affirming the gifts and character of fellow believers can strengthen the church and facilitate ministry.
  • Focus on Grace: Our faith and growth are rooted in God's grace. This verse reminds us to constantly rely on and preach the message of God's unmerited favor, which empowers believers and offers hope.
  • Impactful Teaching: Effective spiritual leadership and teaching are crucial for nurturing believers. Like Apollos, those who serve in ministry should strive to deepen their understanding of Scripture and communicate it clearly, helping others to grow in their faith.
Note: If the commentary doesnโ€™t appear instantly, please allow 2โ€“5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated โ€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • 2 Thessalonians 2:13

    ยถ But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:

  • 2 Thessalonians 2:14

    Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

  • James 1:16

    Do not err, my beloved brethren.

  • James 1:18

    Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

  • 1 Peter 1:2

    Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.

  • 1 Peter 1:3

    ยถ Blessed [be] the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

  • Titus 3:4

    But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,
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