Acts 19:1

1 And it befell [Forsooth it was done], when Apollos was at Corinth, that Paul when he had gone the higher coasts, he came to Ephesus [came to Ephesus], and found some of the 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 And it befell [Forsooth it was done], when Apollos was at Corinth, that Paul when he had gone the higher coasts, he came to Ephesus [came to Ephesus], and found some of the disciples.
2 And he said to them, Whether ye that believe have received the Holy Ghost? And they said to him, But neither have we heard, if the Holy Ghost is. [And he said to them, If ye have received the Holy Ghost believing? And they said to him, But neither we have heard, if the Holy Ghost is.]
3 And he said, Therefore in what thing be ye baptized? And they said, In the baptism of John.
4 And Paul said, John baptized the people in the baptism of penance, and taught, that they should believe in him that was to coming after him, that is, in Jesus. [Forsooth Paul said, John baptized in baptism of penance the people, saying, that they should believe into him that was to come after him, that is, into Jesus.]
5 When they heard these things, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.