Even though Corinth was the wickedest city on earth, Paul found a fruitful ministry there, staying for 1 ½ years. But it’s now time to move on. There is a sense of closure to this phase of his ministry. He’s heading home.

Ephesus was another one of the great cities of Paul’s day. It was the capital of Asia, had a population of 300,000, and was home to the great temple of Diana (or, Artemis) which was one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. It was one of the major seaports on the Aegean Sea, Paul’s coming to Ephesus is a bit like having a "layover" in Dallas on a flight to the East Coast. He’s probably only here long enough to catch a ship sailing for Caesarea.

It’s kind of ironic that a few years earlier, Paul had wanted to go into Asia to preach, but had been "forbidden by the Holy Ghost" (Acts 16:6). Now he’s here, in the capital of Asia, but he no longer has a desire to stay and preach.

Aquila and Priscilla are going to stay in Ephesus.

reasoned – "dialogued"

Here’s an amazing thing! Here are some Jews in a synagogue wanting to hear more from Paul, and he turns them down! Why did he turn them down?

Did Paul ever make it back to Ephesus? Yes! In fact, it will be the city that he stays the longest at, about three years (Acts 19).

Caesarea was the capital of Palestine, with an important seaport. It’s another of those "hubs" in the sea-liner business. It was a 500 mile sea voyage from Ephesus.

Referring to going "up" to Jerusalem, which is up in the hills.

This marks the end of Paul’s second missionary journey.

Alexandria – Alexander the Great founded this city of northern Egypt in 332 BC and placed a colony of Jews there. By Paul’s day, the population was about 600,000, one third of which were Jews. There was a great university there and library with 700,000 volumes there.

eloquent – logios – learned, a man of letters, skilled in literature and the arts, esp. versed in history and the antiquities; skilled in speech, eloquent; rational, wise

mighty – dunatos – able, powerful, mighty, strong, lit., "came to Ephesus being able in the Scriptures"

fervent – zeo – to boil with heat, be hot. Apollos wasn’t just an egghead with a lot of knowledge. He also had fire in his belly.

diligently – akribos – exactly, accurately, diligently

knowing – epistamai – to be acquainted with

John’s baptism was known as a baptism of repentance. It was a baptism that simply stood for a turning away from sins (Acts 19:4).

Apparently Apollos had been exposed at some point to the ministry of John the Baptist.

Apollos had a ministry, but it was incomplete. He didn’t know all he should have known.

took him – proslambano – to take to, to take as one's companion, to take by the hand in order to lead aside, to take or receive into one's home, grant one access to one's heart, to take into friendship. It’s kind of like having someone over to the house for supper.

more perfectly – same word used of Apollos’ teaching in verse 25, akribos, except in a greater measure. He used to know the Scriptures "exactly", but now they show him the Scriptures more exactly, more accurately, more diligently.

There’s a sense of tenderness and gentleness here.

He’ll end up in Corinth (Acts 19:1), the capital of Achaia.

It helps to know if someone is trustworthy or valuable in ministry, and so recommendations are valuable. Aquila’s recommendation would go far.

Apollos had a tremendous ministry in Corinth.

convinced – diakatelegchomai – to answer conclusively against a rival as in a contest; 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.