Acts 18:21-25
 
Acts 18:21 (KJB)
But bade them farewell, saying, I must by all means keep this feast that cometh in Jerusalem: but I will return again unto you, if God will. And he sailed from Ephesus.
 
Paul then left Ephesus to keep a feast in Jerusalem. It is not known what feast Paul was going to keep but perhaps it may have been the Passover. Paul then makes a promise to them that if the Lord wills, he will return again to visit them. Paul’s outlook should be the outlook of every Christian. We must always say and believe when planning something, “if the Lord wills.” We never know what the next day may hold. We may be able to fulfill what we have planned or the Lord may have other plans.
 
Acts 18:22 (KJB)
And when he had landed at Caesarea, and gone up, and saluted the church, he went down to Antioch.
 
He had landed in Caesarea and went to Jerusalem which was about 60 miles (97 KM). Luke does not report that there was any incident while he was there. So Paul had greeted the church in Jerusalem but did not stay. Instead he went to the feast and then departed to Antioch. Notice the language in this verse. He went up to Jerusalem but down to Antioch. Jerusalem was southeast of Caesarea and Antioch was north of Jerusalem. What Luke had in mind was the elevation. Jerusalem was higher in elevation than Caesarea and Antioch was lower in elevation than Jerusalem. An interesting way of describing the trip. Since a person would be walking up and down, it would affect the length of the trip. This visit to Antioch had brought Paul’s second missionary journey to a close.
 
Acts 18:23 (KJB)
And after he had spent some time there, he departed, and went over all the country of Galatia and Phrygia in order, strengthening all the disciples.
 
Paul had remained in Antioch for some time, probably until the fall of 53 AD. This was Paul’s last visit to Antioch. Then he began his third missionary journey as he had headed northwest into the provinces of Galatia and Phrygia. Paul’s third missionary journey encompassed about 1500 miles (2414 km). Paul never started a church and then forget about them. His desire was to go back and establish and strengthen the disciples with teaching and fellowship. He was also concerned about the doctrines being taught and to make sure the churches were not welcoming false teachers and teaching. This was the reason for the various epistles he wrote.
 
Acts 18:24 (KJB)
And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures, came to Ephesus.
 
Eloquent - Learned
 
While Paul was ministering in Galatia and Phrygia, a man named Apollos had come to Ephesus. He was born in Alexandria, Egypt on the north coast of Egypt and was the second largest city in the Roman Empire. Alexandria was well known for its large library of books but in the second century it became the center of Gnosticism. Many of the Greek New Testament manuscripts were changed by means of omissions and additions. All the modern versions of the Bible are patterned after the Gnostic influence from Alexandria and are therefore corrupted. Apollos was named after the Apollo the Greek god but his name was short for Apollonius which meant “pertaining to Apollo.” He was called an eloquent man who was very learned in the Scriptures.
 
Acts 18:25 (KJB)
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 baptism of John.
 
Fervent - Boiling
Diligently - Accurately
 
He no doubt was well taught in the Scriptures and he had a great zeal to bring the message of the Lord Jesus Christ to many people. The verse states that he was speaking very accurately. He was like the prophets of old who carried the message of the Lord and spoke it very strongly to the people. However, he only knew the baptism of John. This means the whole ministry of John concerning the remission of sins and repentance. So he did not only speak about water baptism but spoke of the things John spoke of such as being baptized with fire and the Holy Ghost. He may not have known that much of the ministry of Christ such as the miracles or His teachings. Up to the point of where he was in his understanding of the Scriptures and the ministry of John, he had clear understanding and shared what he knew with great zeal.

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