Acts 18:26
in Acts 18And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him in and explained to him the way of God more accurately.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
and he began to speak boldly in the synagogue. But when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more accurately.
KJV
And he began 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 God more perfectly.
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This verse in Acts 18
Commentary
13 notes on this verseHow did this man, who had only been baptized according to John's baptism, have the Holy Spirit, but his followers did not? To this it must be said that for this reason was he boiling with the Spirit: being enlightened by the grace of God, …
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
the way of God more accurately
Luke uses one Greek word twice, accurately in verse 25 and more accurately here. Apollos taught correctly what he knew, and the couple supplied what he lacked. They did it in their own home.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers3 voices
A commentator
Ammonius of AlexandriaCATENA ON THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 18.25 · Written before 300.
proposed
It must be noted that we must believe that women passed on the faith: see how completely desirous of salvation Apollos was, for even though he was an educated man and was well versed in the Scripture's secrets, he did not consider it worthless to …
A commentator
John ChrysostomCATENA ON THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 18.26-27 · Written before 407.
proposed
The boldness of the man was great: he spoke precisely about Jesus, but he was in need of precision, of other further teaching. And still, in this way, even though [Apollos] did not know all, he had, because of his eagerness, drawn to himself the Holy Spirit, just as those at the house of Cornelius.
"And he began 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 God more perfectly." It was not for nothing that Paul left them at Ephesus, but for Apollos' sake, the Spirit so ordered it, that he might come with greater force to the attack upon Corinth. What may be the reason that to him they did nothing, but Paul they assault? They knew that he was the leader, and great was the name of the man. Great was the boldness of the man. He taught diligently the things concerning Jesus, but he needed more diligent teaching.
The Medieval Church1 voice
If Apollos was baptized only with the baptism of John, then how did he burn with the Spirit? The Holy Spirit was not communicated in that manner. And if his followers needed the baptism of Christ, then he himself needed it all the more. So …
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
Probably he returned to live at Alexandria, soon after he had been baptized by John; and so had no opportunity of being fully acquainted with the doctrines of the Gospel, as delivered by Christ and his apostles. And explained to him the way of God more perfectly - He who knows Christ, is able to instruct even those that are mighty in the Scriptures.
5 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
), and he owns that they had been his helpers in Christ Jesus, Rom. xvi. This is an example to those who are going to service to seek for those services in which they may have the best help for their souls. Choose to work with those that are likely to be helpers in Christ Jesus.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — leading-punctuation+unbalanced-parens
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
And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue,....
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
They took him unto them - This eloquent man, and mighty in the Scriptures, who was even a public teacher, was not ashamed to be indebted to the instructions of a Christian woman, in matters that not only concerned his own salvation, but also the work of the ministry, in which he was engaged. It is disgraceful to a man to be ignorant, when he may acquire wisdom; but it is no disgrace to acquire wisdom from the meanest person or thing.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
And expounded - Explained. The way of God - Gave him full and ample instructions respecting the Messiah as having already come, and respecting the nature of his work.
The words behind it
23 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| οὗτός | houtos | He | G3778 → | 1381 times |
| τε | te | then | G5037 → | 213 times |
| ἤρξατο | erxato | began | G757 → | 85 times |
| παρρησιάζεσθαι | parresiazesthai | to speak boldly | G3955 → | 8 times |
| ἐν | en | in | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| τῇ | tea | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| συναγωγῇ. | sunagogea | synagogue. | G4864 → | 56 times |
| ἀκούσαντες | akousantes | Having heard | G191 → | 425 times |
| δὲ | de | however | G1161 → | 2765 times |
| αὐτοῦ | autou | him | G846 → | 5565 times |
| Πρίσκιλλα | priskilla | Priscilla | G4252 → | 3 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| Ἀκύλας | akulas | Aquila | G207 → | 6 times |
| προσελάβοντο | proselabonto | they took to [them] | G4355 → | 12 times |
| αὐτὸν | auton | him | G846 → | 5565 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| ἀκριβέστερον | akribesteron | more accurately | G197 → | 4 times |
| αὐτῷ | auto | to him | G846 → | 5565 times |
| ἐξέθεντο | exethento | they expounded | G1620 → | 4 times |
| τὴν | ten | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ὁδὸν | hodon | way | G3598 → | 101 times |
| τοῦ | tou | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| θεοῦ. | theou | of God. | G2316 → | 1312 times |
οὗτόςHe
houtosG3778 →1381 times
τεthen
teG5037 →213 times
ἤρξατοbegan
erxatoG757 →85 times
παρρησιάζεσθαιto speak boldly
parresiazesthaiG3955 →8 times
ἐνin
enG1722 →2738 times
τῇthe
teaG3588 →19766 times
συναγωγῇ.synagogue.
sunagogeaG4864 →56 times
ἀκούσαντεςHaving heard
akousantesG191 →425 times
δὲhowever
deG1161 →2765 times
αὐτοῦhim
autouG846 →5565 times
ΠρίσκιλλαPriscilla
priskillaG4252 →3 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
ἈκύλαςAquila
akulasG207 →6 times
προσελάβοντοthey took to [them]
proselabontoG4355 →12 times
αὐτὸνhim
autonG846 →5565 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
ἀκριβέστερονmore accurately
akribesteronG197 →4 times
αὐτῷto him
autoG846 →5565 times
ἐξέθεντοthey expounded
exethentoG1620 →4 times
τὴνthe
tenG3588 →19766 times
ὁδὸνway
hodonG3598 →101 times
τοῦ<the>
touG3588 →19766 times
θεοῦ.of God.
theouG2316 →1312 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
Hebrews 6:1Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith in God,
it leads to
- Hebrews 5:12–14
Although by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to reteach you the basic principles of God’s word. You need milk, not solid food!
- Hebrews 9:14
how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself unblemished to God, purify our consciences from works of death, so that we may serve the living God!
- 2 Corinthians 7:1
Therefore, beloved, since we have these promises, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that defiles body and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
- Hebrews 12:13
Make straight paths for your feet, so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed.
- Acts 26:20
First to those in Damascus and Jerusalem, then to everyone in the region of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, I declared that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds worthy of…
- Hebrews 5:12–14
Through
Acts 14:3So Paul and Barnabas spent considerable time there, speaking boldly for the Lord, who affirmed the message of His grace by enabling them to perform signs and wonders.
it leads to
- Hebrews 2:4
and was affirmed by God through signs, wonders, various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to His will.
- Acts 20:32
And now I commit you to God and to the word of His grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all who are sanctified.
- Ephesians 6:18–20
Pray in the Spirit at all times, with every kind of prayer and petition. To this end, stay alert with all perseverance in your prayers for all the saints.
- Hebrews 2:4
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies10
On this verse
About Acts
Who and where
2 names in this verse with a page on the site.
This page draws on 12 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); Ammonius of Alexandria, CATENA ON THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 18.25; J. A. Alexander, The Acts of the Apostles Explained; John Chrysostom, CATENA ON THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 18.26-27; 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; R. J. Knowling, The Acts of the Apostles, Expositor's Greek Testament and Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Acts.