Apollos

24A Jew named Apollos came to Ephesus. He was born in the city of Alexandria. He spoke very well, and he knew the Scriptures well.

And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures, came to Ephesus.

NoteAlexandria was a city in Egypt famous for its books and schools. The Scriptures are the holy writings of God's people. We now call them the Old Testament.

25Apollos had been taught about the way of the Lord. He was eager and full of life. He spoke and taught carefully about Jesus. But he knew only about the baptism that John had preached.

This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John.

NoteJohn the Baptist told people to turn away from wrong and be baptized. Apollos knew that part of the story. He had not yet heard everything about Jesus.

26Apollos began to speak bravely in the synagogue. Aquila and Priscilla heard him. So they took him aside and explained God's way to him more fully.

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.

NoteAquila and Priscilla are the same friends Paul lived and worked with in Corinth.

27Apollos wanted to sail over to Achaia. The believers wrote a letter asking the followers there to welcome him. When he arrived, he helped them very much. They had come to believe through God's kindness.

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:

NoteA letter like this told strangers that a visitor could be trusted. Grace means a kind gift that nobody has to earn.

28In front of everyone, he showed the Jews that they were wrong. He used the Scriptures to prove that Jesus is the Christ.

For he mightily convinced the Jews, and that publickly, shewing by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ.

NoteHe spoke where anyone could stop and listen. People enjoyed watching two sides talk things out.

1Apollos was in the city of Corinth at this time. Paul traveled through the hill country. He came to the city of Ephesus. There he found some followers of Jesus.

And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples,

NoteEphesus was a big, busy city by the sea. Corinth was another large city, far away across the water. Apollos was a man who taught people about Jesus.

2Paul asked them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?" They said, "We have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit."

He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.

NoteThe King James Bible says "Holy Ghost." Ghost was an old word for spirit. It means the Holy Spirit, God's own Spirit.

3Paul asked, "Then what baptism did you receive?" They said, "The baptism John taught."

And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John’s baptism.

NoteJohn was a preacher who taught before Jesus began teaching. People called him John the Baptist. He dipped people in water when they were sorry for doing wrong. Baptism means being dipped in water to show a fresh start.

4Paul said, "John baptized people who were turning away from wrong. He told them to believe in the one coming after him. That one is Jesus."

Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.

Note"Christ" is a title, not a last name. It means the special king God promised to send.

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

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

6Paul put his hands on them. The Holy Spirit came on them. They spoke in other languages. They also spoke messages from God.

And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.

NotePutting your hands on someone was a way of praying for them. Speaking in tongues means talking in a language you never learned. Speaking messages from God is called prophesying.

7There were about twelve men in all.

And all the men were about twelve.

10Now I beg you, my brothers and sisters. I ask this in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Please all say the same thing. Do not split into groups that fight. Be joined together, thinking and deciding the same way.

Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.

Note"Brethren" is an old word for brothers. People who followed Jesus called each other brothers and sisters. They felt like one big family.

11Some people from Chloe's house told me about you. They said you are arguing with each other.

For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you.

NoteChloe was a woman who followed Jesus. Her "house" means everyone who lived and worked there. Some of them traveled and brought Paul the news.

12Here is what I mean. One of you says, "I follow Paul." Another says, "I follow Apollos." Another says, "I follow Cephas." Another says, "I follow Christ."

Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ.

NoteApollos was a teacher who was very good with words. Cephas was another name for Peter, one of Jesus' first friends. Cephas means "rock" in the language Jesus spoke. The people in Corinth were picking favorite teachers and arguing.

13Has Christ been cut into pieces? Was Paul the one who died on the cross for you? Were you baptized in the name of Paul? To be baptized is to be washed in water to show you belong to Jesus.

Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?

Note"Crucified" means killed on a cross. A cross was two wooden beams. Roman soldiers used it to kill people who broke their laws. To be baptized is to be dipped in water. It showed everyone that you belonged to Jesus.

14I thank God that I did not baptize any of you. I only baptized Crispus and Gaius.

I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius;

NoteCrispus and Gaius were two men in Corinth who believed in Jesus. Crispus had been a leader at the Jewish meeting place.

15So no one can say that you were baptized in my name.

Lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name.

16Oh, I also baptized the family of Stephanas. I cannot remember baptizing anyone else.

And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any other.

NoteA "household" was everyone living in one home. That meant parents, children, and helpers who worked there.

17Christ did not send me to baptize people. He sent me to tell the good news about Jesus. I do not use fancy, clever words. That would hide the real power of Christ's cross.

For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.

Note"The gospel" means the good news about Jesus. Gospel is just an old word for good news.

1Brothers and sisters, I could not talk to you as people led by God's Spirit. I had to talk to you as people who still live the world's way. You were like babies who had just begun to follow Christ.

And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.

NotePaul wrote this letter to people in a city called Corinth, far away. Calling them babies means they had only just started following Jesus.

2I gave you milk to drink, not solid food. You were not ready for solid food then. You are still not ready now.

I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.

NotePaul does not mean real milk and real food. Milk means the easy things he taught them first. Solid food means harder things.

3You still live the world's way. You are jealous of each other, and you argue and split apart. Doesn't that show you live the world's way? Aren't you acting like ordinary people?

For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?

4One of you says, "I follow Paul." Another says, "I follow Apollos." Doesn't that show you are acting like ordinary people?

For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?

NoteApollos was a teacher who told people about Jesus, just as Paul did. Some people in Corinth argued about which teacher was best.

5So who is Paul? Who is Apollos? We are only servants who helped you believe. The Lord gave each of us a job to do.

Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?

NoteA servant is someone who works for another person and does what he is asked.

6I planted the seed. Apollos gave it water. But God is the one who made it grow.

I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.

NotePaul is using a picture of a garden. Planting means telling people about Jesus first. Watering means teaching them more after that.

7So the one who plants is not the important one. Neither is the one who waters. God matters, because God makes things grow.

So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.

8The one who plants and the one who waters want the same thing. Each one will be paid for the work he did.

Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.

9We work together as God's helpers. You are God's field. You are God's building.

For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building.

NoteA field is ground where a farmer grows food. Paul says the people are like that field, and God is the farmer.

10God was kind to me and gave me this work. Like a skilled builder, I laid the foundation, the strong base under a building. Someone else is building on top of it. But each person must be careful how he builds.

According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.

NoteA foundation is the strong, flat base a builder makes first. Everything else in the building sits on top of it.

11No one can lay a different foundation. The only one is the one already laid, and that is Jesus Christ.

For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

12Someone may build on that foundation with gold, silver, or costly stones. Someone else may build with wood, hay, or straw.

Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;

NoteThis matters because of what fire does. Gold, silver, and costly stones do not burn. Wood, hay, and straw burn up fast. Straw is the dry stalk left after grain is cut.

13One day each person's work will be shown for what it is. That Day will make it clear. The work will be tested by fire. The fire will show what kind of work each person did.

Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.

Note"The day" means the day when God will look at everything people have done.

14If what a person built is still standing, he will get a reward.

If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.

15If a person's work burns up, he will lose out. He himself will still be saved. But he will be like someone who escaped through a fire.

If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

21So stop bragging about people. Everything belongs to you.

Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours;

22That means Paul, Apollos, and Cephas. It means the world, life, and death. It means things now and things still to come. All of them belong to you.

Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours;

NoteCephas was Peter's name in his own language, called Aramaic. Both names mean "rock." Cephas is another name for the same man the book calls Peter.

23And you belong to Christ. And Christ belongs to God.

And ye are Christ’s; and Christ is God’s.

1Think of us this way. We are servants who work for Christ. God trusted us to take care of his secret truths.

Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.

NoteA steward looked after a rich man's house and money. His master trusted him with everything. Paul says God trusts him the same way. Christ means God's chosen king.

2Anyone trusted with something must be someone who can be trusted.

Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.

3It matters very little to me if you judge me. It matters little if any court judges me. I do not even judge myself.

But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man’s judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self.

NoteA court is a place where people decide if someone did wrong.

4I do not know of any wrong I have done. But that does not prove I am right. The Lord is the one who judges me.

For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord.

5So do not judge anyone too soon. Wait until the Lord comes. He will bring hidden things out into the light. He will show what people really wanted inside. Then God will give each person the praise they should get.

Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.

NotePaul means the day Jesus comes back. Christians believe Jesus will return one day.

6Brothers and sisters, I used myself and Apollos as examples. I did this to help you. Learn from us not to go past what the Bible says. Then you will not puff up with pride over one leader and put down another.

And these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and to Apollos for your sakes; that ye might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another.

NotePaul wrote this letter to a church in a city called Corinth. Apollos was another teacher who told people about Jesus. Some people liked him best, and others liked Paul best. What is written means the holy books people read back then.

7Who made you better than anyone else? Everything you have was given to you. So why brag, as if you got it on your own?

For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?

12Now about our brother Apollos. I asked him again and again to visit you with the others. He did not want to go right now. He will come when the time is right.

As touching our brother Apollos, I greatly desired him to come unto you with the brethren: but his will was not at all to come at this time; but he will come when he shall have convenient time.

NoteApollos was a teacher who told people about Jesus. Many people in Corinth liked to listen to him.

13Do all you can to help Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their trip. Make sure they have everything they need.

Bring Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their journey diligently, that nothing be wanting unto them.