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Christ, without conforming to the law of Moses. Of these things Apollos was ignorant, having left Judæa immediately after the preaching of John, and having heard nothing of the subsequent events.

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, rather, "he helped the brethren that believed, by his gift," i. e. his knowledge of the scriptures before mentioned.

28. For he mightily convinced the Jews, and that publicly, showing by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ.

By his superior knowledge of the scriptures, he removed the obstacles arising from false interpretations of them, which prevented the Jews from receiving Christ as the Messiah, and confirmed the faith of those who had already believed, but were still embarrassed by some of the objections of their countrymen.

This visit of Apollos to Achaia or to Corinth, which was the capital of that province, is noticed in the first epistle to the Corinthians. "I have also planted," says Paul, "Apollos watered *."

REFLECTIONS.

1. Let us learn from the example of the apostle to carry on every undertaking with a sense of our de

1 Cor. iii. 6.

pendence upon Providence for its success. When intending to visit his friends at Ephesus, to give them further instruction in the gospel of Christ, he says, If the Lord will, I will come unto you. The advice which the apostle James gives corresponds with the language of this great apostle of the Gentiles: "Go to now ye that say, To-day or to-morrow we will go into such a city and continue there a year, and buy and sell and get gain; whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow; for what is your life? It is even a vapour that appeareth for a little time and vanisheth away; for that ye ought to say, If the Lord will we shall live and do this or that." In pursuing schemes of business or of pleasure or of doing good to mankind, remember then the uncertainty of human life, and the various obstacles which Heaven may interpose to the execution of your designs; not indeed by changing the course of nature, but by pursuing plans which are inconsistent with yours; and prepare yourselves for the disappointments which may arise from any of these

sources.

2. The conduct of Priscilla and Aquila, in giving, and of Apollos in receiving instruction, is highly worthy of commendation. He knew the way of the Lord in some degree, but he did not know it perfectly, and he is willing to receive further information upon the subject, although that information comes from private persons and in an ordinary situation of life. Christians of the present day are often in a like situation, and happy would it be for them if they were disposed to act in the same manner. There are many

over whose heads not a few years have passed, who are far from having been inattentive to religion, who yet, from the influence of education, or the want of opportunity for inquiry, know the way of God but imperfectly. There are many who possess much learning on other subjects, yet remain ignorant of the, pure and simple doctrine of the gospel. Let not such persons be displeased or offended, if their inferiors in age and acquirements attempt to give them instruction. Vol. 3.]

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It is not presumption or arrogance, but proceeds from a desire of promoting your welfare, which is intimately connected with a more comprehensive acquaintance with the truth. They impute not guilt nor charge you with any crime: they only suppose that you may be mistaken, where you have inquired, or ignorant, where you have not been favoured with opportunities of knowing better; disadvantages to which wise and excellent persons may be liable. They only suppose that you are willing to become wiser and better informed, which is a tribute to the excellence of your disposition, if not to your knowledge. Treat not with disdain persons who come to you in this character; attend to what they offer, and receive their instructions with a desire to be better informed, whereever there may be occasion.

Acts xix. 1-20.

Paul, returning to Ephesus, baptizes in the name of Jesus several persons who were before acquainted only with the baptism of John, and bestows on them miraculous powers. The Jews showing their usual obstinacy and violence, he withdraws from them to the Gentiles, among whom he continues to preach at Ephesus (and in the neighbourhood) for two years. During this time extraordinary miracles are performed by the apostle, which some Jews attempting to imitate are disappointed and disgraced.

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1. And it came to pass that while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul, having passed through the 66 upper coasts, upper part," of the country, i. e. Phrygia and Galatia, as mentioned in the last chapter, came to Ephesus, agreeably to his promise, Acts xviii. 21. and finding certain disciples,

2. He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Spirit since ye ye believed? rather, "Did ye receive the Holy Spirit when ye believed?"

This question he asked, because he had not observed among them those miraculous powers which he had seen in other churches.

And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Spirit.

That is, We have not so much as heard whether there be those miraculous powers which are denominated the Holy Spirit, of which we may partake. To account for their ignorance on this subject, it must be supposed either that these Jews left Judæa immediately after the preaching of John, and before Jesus had manifested the extraordinary powers with which he was endowed, or before they had been communicated to his followers; or that they were proselytes to Apollos, who, we are told, knew only the baptism of John. On either of these suppositions their ignorance is easily accounted for.

It is plain from this answer that by the term Holy Spirit we are not to understand a being; for had there been such a being, these Jews must have heard of his existence; but miraculous powers, such as the power of healing distempers, the gift of tongues and of knowledge. These gifts, which constituted the Holy Spirit, these disciples had not yet received nor even heard of; but as soon as they received the Holy Spirit, by the laying on of the hands of Paul, as we read in the sixth verse of this chapter, they spake with tongues and prophesied *.

3. And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized?

Lardner, Vol. xii. pp. 154, 165.

Had they been baptized in the name of Jesus, they must necessarily have heard of those miraculous powers with which he was endowed, and which he likewise communicated to his followers; but their ignorance on this subject led the apostle to suppose that they were not Christians, and their answer confirmed his apprehensions.

And they said, Unto John's baptism.

4. Then said Paul, John, verily, baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him who should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus, or, on Jesus," as it is found in some copies and versions*.

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John the Baptist called upon the people to repent, and to prepare themselves for the kingdom of Heaven, which he declared to be at hand, and which was to be introduced by a prophet far superior to himself, He referred the people to Jesus, as a superior prophet; but he seemed to be doubtful whether he were the Messiah, To believe in John, therefore, and to be baptized by him, did not constitute men Christians; but it was necessary that such believers should profess faith in Jesus as the Messiah, and undergo the ceremony of baptism a second time in order to be entitled to that honour. To this the apostle's present audience are willing to submit.

5. When they heard that, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

By submitting to this ceremony they acknowledged their faith in Jesus as a divine messenger and the

*See Griesbach.

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