Bible Strands
Acts 18:27
When Apollos resolved to cross over to Achaia, the brothers encouraged him and wrote to the disciples there to welcome him. On his arrival, he was a great help to those who by grace had believed.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Luke records Apollos preparing to leave Ephesus for Achaia. The Ephesian brothers encourage his departure and send a letter to the Achaian disciples to receive him.
The words — βουλομένου (boulomenou) means “resolving” or “being willing,” marking Apollos’s deliberate decision to travel. προτρεψάμενοι (protrepsamenoi) translates as “having strongly encouraged,” describing the brothers’ active support for his mission.
The thread — The description of those “who by grace had believed” aligns with the grace-based faith in John 1:12 and the elect believers in 2 Thessalonians 2:13. The brothers’ written encouragement mirrors the epistolary coordination seen in Acts 18:26 and early church practice.
Why it lands — The text states that Apollos greatly helped believers who trusted by grace, not by human merit. It requires readers to acknowledge that spiritual strengthening depends on divine grace and coordinated community support.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
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:
Cross-references
- 2 Thessalonians 2:13 But we should always thank God for you, brothers who are loved by the Lord, because God chose you from the beginning to be saved by the sanctification of the Spirit and by faith in the truth.
- James 1:16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers.
- John 1:12 But to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God—
- Acts 9:27 Then Barnabas brought him to the apostles and described how Saul had seen the Lord, who had spoken to him on the road to Damascus, and how Saul had spoken boldly in that city in the name of Jesus.
- Acts 18:18 Paul remained in Corinth for quite some time before saying goodbye to the brothers. He had his head shaved in Cenchrea to keep a vow he had made, and then he sailed for Syria, accompanied by Priscilla and Aquila.
- Acts 19:1 While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed through the interior and came to Ephesus. There he found some disciples
- Romans 1:5 Through Him and on behalf of His name, we received grace and apostleship to call all those among the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith.
- Romans 16:1 I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a servant of the church in Cenchrea.
- 1 Corinthians 3:10 By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one must be careful how he builds.
- 1 Corinthians 15:10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace to me was not in vain. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.