The Apostolical History, Chapter 6 · Section 2 – Section 3
SECT. II.
IN the mean time, whilſt the Apoſtle is thus confirming the Churches formerly planted in Galatia and Phrygia (ſee Chap. 16.6.), a certain man born of Jewiſh Parents at Alexandria in Egypt by nam… Apollos, being a judicious, learned and eloquent man, and mighty in the Scriptures, and ſomething inſtructed in the way of the Lord, that is, the Doctrine of the Goſpel (though as yet but imperfectly), came to Epheſus, and being of great zeal and fervency o… ſpirit, he taught boldly in the Jewiſh Synagogues, the Doctrine of the Goſpel according to his knowledg: for he knew only ſo much of it, as John Baptiſt had taught his Diſciples, and confirmed and ſealed with Baptiſm, by which the extraordinary gifts of the Holy Ghoſt were not imparted, as they were to many by the Baptiſm of the Apoſtles Act. 8.15, 16, 17. And poſſibly he had been in Judaea in John Baptiſts time, and ſo either was baptized by him, or elſe by ſome of his Diſciples, who were now diſperſed abroad. Aquila and Priſcilla hearing him preach, and perceiving that he wanted ſomething of that knowledg, that they had attained to, they took him home to them, and in private conference informed him more fully and clearly concerning Chriſt and the Goſpel; ſhewing him what Chriſt had done and ſuffered to ſave ſinners, and what was required of thoſe that ſhall be ſaved by him. Apollos being thus more full… inſtructed in the Doctrine of the Goſpel deſires to travel into Achaia (viz. to Corinth, the chief City thereof), that he might preach the Goſpel there. The Brethren therefore at Epheſus, incouraging him in this deſign, and accompanying him with their Letters Teſtimonial to the Brethren at Corinth; when he was come thither, he watered what Paul had before planted [1 Cor. 3.6.]; and much confirmed the Diſciples in that place; and mightily convinced the Jews (who were his great oppoſers), that Jeſus was the true and only Meſſias promiſed to the Fathers.
Act. 18. v. 24. And a certain Jew, named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the Scriptures, came to Epheſus.
v. 25. This man was inſtructed in the way of the Lord, and being fervent in the ſpirit, he ſpake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the b…pti…m of John.
v. 26. And he b…gan to ſpeak boldly in the ſynagogue: whom when Aquila and Priſcilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of G d more perfectly.
v. 27. And when he was diſpoſed to paſs into Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the di…cipl…s to receive him: who when he was come, helped them much which had believed through grace.
v. 28. For he mightily convinc…d the Jews, and that publickly, ſhewing by the ſcriptures, that Jeſus was Chriſt.
v. 24 foreign] Vir eloquens, vel, vir prudens & ſapiens.v. 25. Initiatus vtà Domini] prima elementa Chriſtianiſmi acceperat, & docebat diligenter ea quae ſunt Domini pro modo cognitionis quam acceperat. Sciens tantum Baptiſma Johannis] h. e. Doctrinam ejus; nem…e ſcivit, Exhibitum eſſe Meſſiam, & aliquo modo ejus officium & beneficia; ſed ignoravit quod Jeſus ſit Meſſias, quòdque ſit crucifixus pro genere humano, reſuſcitatus, & glorificatus, & alia non pauca huc pertinentia. Per baptiſma Johannis intelligenda eſt Doctrina de Chriſto quam Johannes tradiderat, & baptiſmate obſignuverat diſcipulis ſais. Synecdoche Metonymica. Piſcator.SECT. III.
VVHil'ſt Apollos was thus imployed at Corinth, Paul having viſited the Churches in Phrygia and Galatia, came to Epheſus (a)Epheſus erat Metropolis Ioniae, clara conditoribus Amazonibus, gra…i diluvio quod p…ſſa est, templo D…n e ejuſque incen…io, viris doctis, & artificibus inde ortis, arte magic… ibi uſitat…; epistol… Pau…i ad era ſcripta, n e non diuturni Johannis Evangeli…ta in hac urbe reſilentiâ; epistol…que ad ca… ſcripta, Apoc. 2.1., (according to his promiſe made to them, chap. 18. v. 21.), and there he found Twelve Diſciples, no further inſtructed in Chriſtianity than the Doctrine by John; having received Baptiſm from him, or ſome of his Diſciples ſcattered abroad, as was the caſe of Apollos before mentioned. Paul asks them whether they had received the Holy Ghoſt? They anſwer, they had not ſo much as heard whether there were any Holy Ghoſt; that is, that there were now any miraculous Gifts imparted by the Holy Ghoſt. In which words, they ſeem to ſpeak after the common Tenet of the Jewiſh Nation, which was, That after the death of Ezra, Haggai, Zachary, and Malachi the Holy Ghoſt departed from Iſrael; and they profeſs they never heard of his being a new given, with his miraculous Gifts. He asks them then, Ʋnto what were ye baptized? they ſay, unto Johns baptiſm; that is, into the Doctrine which John taught, and ſealed by Baptiſm; which being publiſhed to them, and by them own'd and profeſs'd, they were baptized; by which Baptiſm, the extraordinary Gifts of the Holy Ghoſt were not given or imparted to any. To this Paul replies, that the miniſtry of John was not to gather Diſciples to himſelf; but he exhorted his hearers to repent and believe in him that was ſhortly to appear and manifeſt himſelf, viz. in Chriſt Jeſus, and to expect remiſſion of ſins only by Him. Which they, to wit Johns hearers, underſtanding and conſenting unto, they were baptized by him in the Name of the Lord Jeſus.
Paul having thus inſtructed them concerning the true tendency of Johns Baptiſm, and how it pointed to Chriſt, he laid his hands on them, and the miraculous Gifts of the Holy Ghoſt were immediately conferred on them. And they ſpake divers Tongues, which before they underſtood not, and were indued with the Gift of propheſying, that is, of declaring things to come and interpreting the writings of the Prophets, that they might be fit Teachers of others.
Act. 19.1. And it came to paſs, that while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having paſſed thorow the upper coaſts, came to Epheſus, and finding certain diſciples,
v. 2. He ſaid unto them, Have ye received the holy Ghoſt ſince ye believed? And they ſaid unto him, We have not ſo much as heard whether there be any holy Ghoſt.
v. 3. And he ſaid unto them; Unto what then were ye baptized? And they ſaid, Unto Johns baptiſm.
v. 4. Then ſaid Paul, John verily baptized with the baptiſm of repentance, ſaying unto the p…ople, that they ſhould believe on him which ſhould come after him, that is, on Chriſt Jeſus.
v. 5. When they heard this, they were baptized in the Name of the Lord Jeſus.
v. 6. And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the holy Ghoſt came on them, and they ſp…ke with tongues, and propheſied.
v. 7. And all the men were about twelve.