Acts 18:25
in Acts 18He had been instructed in the way of the Lord and was fervent in spirit. He spoke and taught accurately about Jesus, though he knew only the baptism of John.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
This man had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit, he spake and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus, knowing only the baptism of John:
KJV
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.
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This verse in Acts 18
Commentary
11 notes on this verseA commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
This man was instructed - Greek: was catechised. He was instructed, in some degree, into the knowledge of the Christian religion. By whom this was done we have no information. In the way of the Lord - The word “way” often refers to doctrine, Mat 21:32. It means here that he had been correctly taught in regard to the Messiah, yet his knowledge was imperfect, Act 18:26. The amount of his knowledge seems to have been: (1) He had correct views of the Messiah to come - views which he had derived from the study of the Old Testament.
This site's exposition
well versed in the Scriptures
on Acts 18:24-26
Apollos, well versed in the Scriptures, came from Alexandria, a city known for its library and for Jewish scholars such as Philo. Yet a tentmaker and his wife, Aquila and Priscilla, explained to him the way of God more accurately.
This site's exposition
fervent in spirit
Paul uses the same Greek phrase at Romans 12:11, rendered there keep your spiritual fervor. Apollos knew only the baptism of John, as the twelve men of 19:3 did. Luke records no rebaptism for him.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers3 voices
A commentator
Didymus the BlindCATENA ON THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 18.28 · Written before 398.
proposed
Speaking somewhat accurately the things concerning Jesus is not different from laying out somewhat accurately the things concerning the way, the teaching of Christ, for it is possible that someone, having a generally precise knowledge about the things of Christ, needs a most nuanced explanation …
"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." If this man knew only the baptism of John, how is it that he was "fervent in the Spirit," for the Spirit was not given in that way? It seems to me that this was one of the hundred and twenty who were baptized with the Apostles: or, if not so, then the same that took place in the case of Cornelius, took place also in the case of this man. Though not knowing all, by his zeal he attracted the Holy Spirit, in the same manner as Cornelius and his company.
"though he only knew the baptism of John." It is worth asking how, if he knew only John's baptism, he could therefore be filled with the Spirit. For the Spirit was not given in that way. And if those who came after him needed John's …
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
This man had been instructed - Though not perfectly, in the way of the Lord - In the doctrine of Christ. Knowing only the baptism of John - Only what John taught those whom he baptized, namely, to repent and believe in a Messiah shortly to appear.
4 And he reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks. 5 And when Silas and Timotheus were come from Macedonia, Paul was pressed in the spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus was Christ. 6 And when they opposed themselves, and blasphemed, he shook his raiment, and said unto them, Your blood be upon your own heads;
quarantine:scripture (2026-07-29) — verbatim-scripture
3 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
This man was instructed in the way of the Lord,....
(1.) He was a lively affectionate preacher; as he had a good head, so he had a good heart; he was fervent in Spirit. He had in him a great deal of divine fire as well as divine light, was burning as well as shining. He was full of zeal for the glory of God, and the salvation of precious souls.
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
This man was instructed in the way of the Lord - Κατηχημενος; He was catechized, initiated, in the way, the doctrine, of Jesus as the Christ. Being fervent in the spirit - Being full of zeal to propagate the truth of God, he taught diligently, ακριβως accurately, (so the word should be translated), the things of Christ as far as he could know them through the ministry of John the Baptist; for it appears he knew nothing more of Christ than what John preached. Some suppose we should read ουκ, not, before ακριβως, correctly, or accurately, because it is said that Aquila and Priscilla expounded the way of the Lord, ακριβεϚερον, more perfectly, rather more accurately; but of this emendation there is not the slightest necessity; for surely it is possible for a man to teach accurately what he knows; and it is possible that another, who possesses more information on the subject than the former, may teach him more accurately, or give him a larger portion of knowledge. Apollo knew the baptism of John; but he knew nothing farther of Jesus Christ than that baptism taught; but, as far as he knew, he taught accurately. Aquila and Priscilla were acquainted with the whole doctrine of the Gospel: the doctrine of Christ dying for our sins, and rising again for our justification; and in this they instructed Apollo; and this was more accurate information than what he had before received, through the medium of John’s ministry.
The words behind it
24 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| οὗτος | houtos | He | G3778 → | 1381 times |
| ἦν | en | was | G1510 → | 2333 times |
| κατηχημένος | katechemenos | instructed | G2727 → | 8 times |
| τὴν | ten | [in] the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ὁδὸν | hodon | way | G3598 → | 101 times |
| τοῦ | tou | of the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| κυρίου, | kuriou | Lord, | G2962 → | 711 times |
| καὶ | kai | And | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| ζέων | zeon | being fervent | G2204 → | |
| τῷ | to | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| πνεύματι | pneumati | in spirit | G4151 → | 378 times |
| ἐλάλει | elalei | he was speaking | G2980 → | 294 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| ἐδίδασκεν | edidasken | he was teaching | G1321 → | 96 times |
| ἀκριβῶς | akribos | earnestly | G199 → | |
| τὰ | ta | the [things] | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| περὶ | peri | concerning | G4012 → | 332 times |
| τοῦ | tou | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| Ἰησοῦ | iesou | Jesus | G2424 → | 908 times |
| ἐπιστάμενος | epistamenos | knowing | G1987 → | 14 times |
| μόνον | monon | only | G3441 → | 110 times |
| τὸ | to | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| βάπτισμα | baptisma | baptism | G908 → | 19 times |
| Ἰωάννου· | ioannou | of John; | G2491 → | 134 times |
οὗτοςHe
houtosG3778 →1381 times
ἦνwas
enG1510 →2333 times
κατηχημένοςinstructed
katechemenosG2727 →8 times
τὴν[in] the
tenG3588 →19766 times
ὁδὸνway
hodonG3598 →101 times
τοῦof the
touG3588 →19766 times
κυρίου,Lord,
kuriouG2962 →711 times
καὶAnd
kaiG2532 →9120 times
ζέωνbeing fervent
zeonG2204 →
τῷ<the>
toG3588 →19766 times
πνεύματιin spirit
pneumatiG4151 →378 times
ἐλάλειhe was speaking
elaleiG2980 →294 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
ἐδίδασκενhe was teaching
edidaskenG1321 →96 times
ἀκριβῶςearnestly
akribosG199 →
τὰthe [things]
taG3588 →19766 times
περὶconcerning
periG4012 →332 times
τοῦ<the>
touG3588 →19766 times
ἸησοῦJesus
iesouG2424 →908 times
ἐπιστάμενοςknowing
epistamenosG1987 →14 times
μόνονonly
mononG3441 →110 times
τὸthe
toG3588 →19766 times
βάπτισμαbaptism
baptismaG908 →19 times
Ἰωάννου·of John;
ioannouG2491 →134 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Romans 12:11Do not let your zeal subside; keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.
it leads to
- Hebrews 6:10–11
For God is not unjust. He will not forget your work and the love you have shown for His name as you have ministered to the saints and continue to do so.
- Proverbs 13:4
The slacker craves yet has nothing, but the soul of the diligent is fully satisfied.
- Revelation 3:15–16
I know your deeds; you are neither cold nor hot. How I wish you were one or the other!
- 1 Peter 4:8
Above all, love one another deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.
- Colossians 3:22–24
Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything, not only to please them while they are watching, but with sincerity of heart and fear of the Lord.
- Hebrews 6:10–11
Through
Hosea 14:9Whoever is wise, let him understand these things; whoever is discerning, let him know them. For the ways of the LORD are right, and the righteous walk in them but the rebellious stumble in…
it leads to
- Proverbs 10:29
The way of the LORD is a refuge to the upright, but destruction awaits those who do evil.
- Psalms 107:43
Let him who is wise pay heed to these things and consider the loving devotion of the LORD.
- John 8:47
Whoever belongs to God hears the words of God. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God.”
- Proverbs 10:29
Where this verse is studied
About Acts
This page draws on 11 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Albert Barnes, Notes on Acts; Didymus the Blind, CATENA ON THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 18.28; John Calvin, Commentary upon the Acts of the Apostles; John Chrysostom, Homily on Acts 40; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Lightfoot, Horae Hebraicae et Talmudicae; John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible and Oecumenius, Commentary on Acts.