Acts 19:1

Paul at Ephesus

1 It happened that while 1Apollos was at 2Corinth, Paul passed through the 3upper country and came to 4Ephesus, and found some disciples.

Acts 19:1 Meaning and Commentary

Acts 19:1

And it came to pass that while Apollos was at Corinth
Whither he came after the Apostle Paul, and where he watered what the apostle had planted, and where he became very famous and eminent; insomuch that he was set up, though not with his will, at the head of a party, in opposition to the chief of the apostles, Peter and Paul; see ( 1 Corinthians 1:12 ) ( 3:4-6 ) ( 4:6 ) .

Paul having passed through the upper coasts;
that is, of Phrygia, Galatia, Pontus, Bithynia, Lydia, Lycaonia, and Paphlagonia;

came to Ephesus;
into Ionia, of which Ephesus was the chief city, and lay near the sea; wherefore the other countries are called the upper coasts; hither he came, according to his promise in ( Acts 28:21 )

And finding certain disciples;
such as believed in Christ, made a profession of him, and had been baptized in his name, for such were commonly called disciples: these do not seem to be persons, who were either converted by Paul, when he was at Ephesus before, or by Apollos, who had been there since, and was gone; but rather some who came hither from other parts, since the apostle was at this place; though indeed his stay at Ephesus before was so short, that they might be here, and he not hear of them, or meet with them.

Acts 19:1 In-Context

1 It happened that while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed through the upper country and came to Ephesus, and found some disciples.
2 He said to them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?" And they said to him, "No, we have not even heard whether there is a Holy Spirit."
3 And he said, "Into what then were you baptized?" And they said, "Into John's baptism."
4 Paul said, "John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in Him who was coming after him, that is, in Jesus."
5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

Cross References 4

  • 1. Acts 18:24; 1 Corinthians 1:12; 1 Corinthians 3:5, 6, 22; 1 Corinthians 4:6; 1 Corinthians 16:12; Titus 3:13
  • 2. Acts 18:1
  • 3. Acts 18:23
  • 4. Acts 18:21, 24; Acts 19:17, 26, 28, 34; Acts 20:16; Acts 21:29; 1 Corinthians 15:32; 1 Corinthians 16:8; Ephesians 1:1; 1 Timothy 1:3; 2 Timothy 1:18; 2 Timothy 4:12; Revelation 1:11; Revelation 2:1
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