that Jesus
Apollos' ministry seems to have gone no further; Jesus was the long expected Messiah. Of Paul's doctrine of justification through the blood, and sanctification through the Spirit, he seems at that time to have known nothing. See Acts 19:3-6 .
Context Summary
Acts 18:18-28 - New Helpers In The Gospel
In unimportant matters Paul was still amenable to Hebrew customs and rites, Acts 18:18. Probably he desired to conciliate his Judaizing opponents so far as he could without surrendering vital principles. He took his new-found friends with him to Ephesus. Though none of them realized it, there was important work awaiting them in that mighty city. The plans of Apostles, and of ordinary travelers as well, must be subordinated to the divine will. See 1 Corinthians 4:19; James 4:15.
Apollos combined the eloquence of the Greek with the religious instinct of the Jew. A student from the great university at Alexandria, a convert to the gospel, deeply conversant with the Old Testament, gifted with marvelous eloquence, he was a strong ally of the Christian forces of his age. But he needed to know of the death, resurrection, and ascended power of Christ, and to experience the Pentecostal gift. Into all these he was led by Aquila and Priscilla. How wonderful is that holy wisdom which the Spirit of God gives to simple and humble believers, so that they can become teachers of men who are intellectually their superiors! [source]
Chapter Summary: Acts 18
1Paul labors with his hands, and preaches at Corinth to the Gentiles 9The Lord encourages him in a vision 12He is accused before Gallio the deputy, but is dismissed 18Afterwards passing from city to city, he strengthens the disciples 24Apollos, being instructed by Aquila and Priscilla, preaches Christ boldly
Greek Commentary for Acts 18:28
Powerfully [ευτονως] Adverb from ευτονος eutonos (ευ eu well, τεινω teinō to stretch), well-strung, at full stretch. [source]
Confuted [διακατηλεγχετο] Imperfect middle of the double compound verb διακατελεγχομαι diȧkaṫelegchomai to confute with rivalry in a contest, here alone. The old Greek has διελεγχω dielegchō to convict of falsehood, but not this double compound which means to argue down to a finish. It is the imperfect tense and does not mean that Apollos convinced these rabbis, but he had the last word. Publicly (δημοσιαι dēmosiāi). See note on Acts 5:18; and note on Acts 16:37. In open meeting where all could see the victory of Apollos. Shewing Present active participle of επιδεικνυμι epideiknumi old verb to set forth so that all see. By the Scriptures (δια των γραπων dia tōn graphōn). In which Apollos was so “mighty” (Acts 18:24) and the rabbis so weak for they knew the oral law better than the written (Mark 7:8-12). That Jesus was the Christ Infinitive and the accusative in indirect assertion. Apollos proclaims the same message that Paul did everywhere (Acts 17:3). He had not yet met Paul, but he had been instructed by Priscilla and Aquila. He is in Corinth building on the foundation laid so well by Paul (1 Corinthians 3:4-17). Luke has here made a brief digression from the story of Paul, but it helps us understand Paul better There are those who think that Apollos wrote Hebrews, a guess that may be correct. [source]
Publicly [δημοσιαι] See note on Acts 5:18; and note on Acts 16:37. In open meeting where all could see the victory of Apollos. [source]
Shewing [επιδεικνυς] Present active participle of επιδεικνυμι epideiknumi old verb to set forth so that all see. By the Scriptures (δια των γραπων dia tōn graphōn). In which Apollos was so “mighty” (Acts 18:24) and the rabbis so weak for they knew the oral law better than the written (Mark 7:8-12). That Jesus was the Christ Infinitive and the accusative in indirect assertion. Apollos proclaims the same message that Paul did everywhere (Acts 17:3). He had not yet met Paul, but he had been instructed by Priscilla and Aquila. He is in Corinth building on the foundation laid so well by Paul (1 Corinthians 3:4-17). Luke has here made a brief digression from the story of Paul, but it helps us understand Paul better There are those who think that Apollos wrote Hebrews, a guess that may be correct. [source]
By the Scriptures [δια των γραπων] In which Apollos was so “mighty” (Acts 18:24) and the rabbis so weak for they knew the oral law better than the written (Mark 7:8-12). [source]
That Jesus was the Christ [ειναι τον Χριστον Ιησουν] Infinitive and the accusative in indirect assertion. Apollos proclaims the same message that Paul did everywhere (Acts 17:3). He had not yet met Paul, but he had been instructed by Priscilla and Aquila. He is in Corinth building on the foundation laid so well by Paul (1 Corinthians 3:4-17). Luke has here made a brief digression from the story of Paul, but it helps us understand Paul better There are those who think that Apollos wrote Hebrews, a guess that may be correct. [source]
Convinced [διακατηλέγχετο] Only here in New Testament. See on tell him his fault, Matthew 18:15. The compound here is a very strong expression for thorough confutation. Confute (Rev.) is better than convince. Note the prepositions. He confuted them thoroughly ( διά )against ( κατά ) all their arguments. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Acts 18:28
Luke 23:10Vehemently [εὐτόνως] Only here and Acts 18:28, of the preaching of Apollos. Originally the word means well-strung; hence, in medical language, of a well-toned body. [source]
Luke 23:10Stood [ιστηκεισαν] Second perfect active intransitive of ιστημι histēmi with sense of imperfect. They stood by while Herod quizzed Jesus and when he refused to answer, they broke loose with their accusations like a pack of hounds with full voice Old word, but in the N.T. only here and Acts 18:28. [source]
Acts 19:27To be set at nought [εἰς ἀπελεγμὸν ἐλθεῖν] Lit., to come into refutation or exposure; hence, disrepute, as Rev. Compare Acts 18:28, and see note there. Ἀπελεγμός , refutation, occurs only here in New Testament. [source]
What do the individual words in Acts 18:28 mean?
PowerfullyfortheJewshe was refutingpubliclyshowingbytheScripturesto betheChristJesus
Parse: Verb, Imperfect Indicative Middle or Passive, 3rd Person Singular
Root: διακατελέγχομαι
Sense: to confute with rivalry and effort or in a contest.
Greek Commentary for Acts 18:28
Adverb from ευτονος eutonos (ευ eu well, τεινω teinō to stretch), well-strung, at full stretch. [source]
Imperfect middle of the double compound verb διακατελεγχομαι diȧkaṫelegchomai to confute with rivalry in a contest, here alone. The old Greek has διελεγχω dielegchō to convict of falsehood, but not this double compound which means to argue down to a finish. It is the imperfect tense and does not mean that Apollos convinced these rabbis, but he had the last word. Publicly (δημοσιαι dēmosiāi). See note on Acts 5:18; and note on Acts 16:37. In open meeting where all could see the victory of Apollos. Shewing Present active participle of επιδεικνυμι epideiknumi old verb to set forth so that all see. By the Scriptures (δια των γραπων dia tōn graphōn). In which Apollos was so “mighty” (Acts 18:24) and the rabbis so weak for they knew the oral law better than the written (Mark 7:8-12). That Jesus was the Christ Infinitive and the accusative in indirect assertion. Apollos proclaims the same message that Paul did everywhere (Acts 17:3). He had not yet met Paul, but he had been instructed by Priscilla and Aquila. He is in Corinth building on the foundation laid so well by Paul (1 Corinthians 3:4-17). Luke has here made a brief digression from the story of Paul, but it helps us understand Paul better There are those who think that Apollos wrote Hebrews, a guess that may be correct. [source]
See note on Acts 5:18; and note on Acts 16:37. In open meeting where all could see the victory of Apollos. [source]
Present active participle of επιδεικνυμι epideiknumi old verb to set forth so that all see. By the Scriptures (δια των γραπων dia tōn graphōn). In which Apollos was so “mighty” (Acts 18:24) and the rabbis so weak for they knew the oral law better than the written (Mark 7:8-12). That Jesus was the Christ Infinitive and the accusative in indirect assertion. Apollos proclaims the same message that Paul did everywhere (Acts 17:3). He had not yet met Paul, but he had been instructed by Priscilla and Aquila. He is in Corinth building on the foundation laid so well by Paul (1 Corinthians 3:4-17). Luke has here made a brief digression from the story of Paul, but it helps us understand Paul better There are those who think that Apollos wrote Hebrews, a guess that may be correct. [source]
In which Apollos was so “mighty” (Acts 18:24) and the rabbis so weak for they knew the oral law better than the written (Mark 7:8-12). [source]
Infinitive and the accusative in indirect assertion. Apollos proclaims the same message that Paul did everywhere (Acts 17:3). He had not yet met Paul, but he had been instructed by Priscilla and Aquila. He is in Corinth building on the foundation laid so well by Paul (1 Corinthians 3:4-17). Luke has here made a brief digression from the story of Paul, but it helps us understand Paul better There are those who think that Apollos wrote Hebrews, a guess that may be correct. [source]
See on Luke 23:10. [source]
Only here in New Testament. See on tell him his fault, Matthew 18:15. The compound here is a very strong expression for thorough confutation. Confute (Rev.) is better than convince. Note the prepositions. He confuted them thoroughly ( διά )against ( κατά ) all their arguments. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Acts 18:28
Only here and Acts 18:28, of the preaching of Apollos. Originally the word means well-strung; hence, in medical language, of a well-toned body. [source]
Second perfect active intransitive of ιστημι histēmi with sense of imperfect. They stood by while Herod quizzed Jesus and when he refused to answer, they broke loose with their accusations like a pack of hounds with full voice Old word, but in the N.T. only here and Acts 18:28. [source]
Lit., to come into refutation or exposure; hence, disrepute, as Rev. Compare Acts 18:28, and see note there. Ἀπελεγμός , refutation, occurs only here in New Testament. [source]