SEV Biblia, Chapter 18:27
Y queriendo l pasar a Acaya, los hermanos exhortados, escribieron a los discípulos que le recibiesen; y venido l, aprovech mucho por la gracia a los que habían creído;
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Acts 18:27
Verse 27. When he was disposed to pass into Achaia] There is a very long and important addition here in the Codex Bezae, of which the following is a translation: But certain Corinthians, who sojourned at Ephesus, and heard him, entreated him to pass over with them to their own country. Then, when he had given his consent, the Ephesians wrote to the disciples at Corinth, that they should receive this man. Who, when he was come, &c. The same addition is found in the later Syriac, and in the Itala version in the Codex Bezae. Which had believed through grace.] These words may either refer to Apollo, or to the people at Corinth. It was through grace that they had believed; and it was through grace that Apollo was enabled to help them much.
The words dia thv caritov, through grace, are wanting in the Codex Bezae, the later Syriac, the Vulgate, one copy of the Itala, and in some of the fathers. But this omission might have been the effect of carelessness in the writers of those copies from which the foregoing were taken: the words convey the same idea that is expressed by St. Paul, 1 Cor. iii. 6: Paul planted, and Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. Though this eminent man became the instrument of mightily helping the believers in Corinth, yet he was also the innocent cause of a sort of schism among them. For some, taken by his commanding eloquence, began to range themselves on his side, and prefer him to all other teachers. This evil St. Paul reprehends and corrects in his first epistle to the Corinthians. St. Jerome says that Apollo became bishop of Corinth.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 27. And when he was disposed to pass into Achaia , etc. The chief city of which was Corinth, and whither Apollos went, as appears from ( Acts 19:1). What disposed him to go thither, after he had received a greater degree of light and knowledge, was no doubt that he might communicate it, to the good of others, to which he was moved by the Holy Ghost, who had work for him to do there: according to Bezas most ancient copy, there were Corinthians sojourning in Ephesus, who when they had heard him (Apollos), besought him that he would go with them into their country; to which he agreeing, the Ephesians wrote to the disciples at Corinth to receive him, as follows: the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him ; that is, the brethren at Ephesus, among whom Aquila was a principal one, wrote letters of recommendation to the brethren of the churches in Achaia, particularly at Corinth, not only that they would receive him into their houses, and hospitably entertain him as a Christian man, but admit him, and behave towards him as a preacher of the Gospel: who when he was come ; into Achaia, and to Corinth: helped them much which had believed through grace ; the phrase through grace, is omitted in the Vulgate Latin version, but is in all the Greek copies, and may be connected either with the word helped; as the Syriac version, he helped through grace; and then the sense is, that Apollos, through the gifts of grace bestowed on him, or by the assistance of the grace of God, or both, greatly helped and contributed much to the advantage of the believers in those parts; as to the encouragement of their faith, and the increase of the joy of it; for the quickening, and comforting, and establishing them in the truths and doctrines of the Gospel, by his affectionate, fervent, and nervous way of preaching: or it may be connected with the word believed, as it is in the Arabic version and in ours; and the meaning is, that he greatly assisted such who were already believers; and who became so, not of themselves, but through the grace of God; for faith is not of nature, nor the produce of mans free will, but is the gift of Gods grace; it is a fruit of electing grace, an instance of distinguishing grace, it is owing to efficacious grace, and comes along with effectual calling grace, through the word preached, the means of grace; and is supported and maintained by the grace of God; the Ethiopic version renders it, he preached much to them, who believed in the grace of God; that is, in the Gospel, the doctrine of the grace of God, which they had received and professed; or in the love and favour of God, they were rooted and grounded in, and persuaded of.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 24-28 - Apollos taught in the gospel of Christ, as far as John's ministry woul carry him, and no further. We cannot but think he had heard of Christ' death and resurrection, but he was not informed as to the mystery of them. Though he had not the miraculous gifts of the Spirit, as the apostles, he made use of the gifts he had. The dispensation of the Spirit, whatever the measure of it may be, is given to every man to profit withal. He was a lively, affectionate preacher; fervent i spirit. He was full of zeal for the glory of God and the salvation of precious souls. Here was a complete man of God, thoroughly furnishe for his work. Aquila and Priscilla encouraged his ministry, be attendance upon it. They did not despise Apollos themselves, or undervalue him to others; but considered the disadvantages he ha laboured under. And having themselves got knowledge in the truths of the gospel by their long intercourse with Paul, they told what the knew to him. Young scholars may gain a great deal by converse with ol Christians. Those who do believe through grace, yet still need help. A long as they are in this world, there are remainders of unbelief, an something lacking in their faith to be perfected, and the work of fait to be fulfilled. If the Jews were convinced that Jesus is Christ, eve their own law would teach them to hear him. The business of minister is to preach Christ. Not only to preach the truth, but to prove an defend it, with meekness, yet with power __________________________________________________________________
Greek Textus Receptus
βουλομενου 1014 5740 V-PNP-GSM δε 1161 CONJ αυτου 846 P-GSM διελθειν 1330 5629 V-2AAN εις 1519 PREP την 3588 T-ASF αχαιαν 882 N-ASF προτρεψαμενοι 4389 5671 V-AMP-NPM οι 3588 T-NPM αδελφοι 80 N-NPM εγραψαν 1125 5656 V-AAI-3P τοις 3588 T-DPM μαθηταις 3101 N-DPM αποδεξασθαι 588 5664 V-ADN αυτον 846 P-ASM ος 3739 R-NSM παραγενομενος 3854 5637 V-2ADP-NSM συνεβαλετο 4820 5639 V-2AMI-3S πολυ 4183 A-ASN τοις 3588 T-DPM πεπιστευκοσιν 4100 5761 V-RAP-DPM δια 1223 PREP της 3588 T-GSF χαριτος 5485 N-GSF
Vincent's NT Word Studies
27. Exhorting (protreyamenoi). Originally, to turn forward, as in flight. Hence, to impel or urge. The word may apply either to the disciples at Corinth, in which case we must render as A.V., or to Apollos himself, as Rev., encouraged him. I prefer the former. Hackett very sensibly remarks that Apollos did not need encouragement, as he was disposed to go.Helped (sunebaleto). The radical sense of the word is to throw together: hence, to contribute; to help; to be useful to. He threw himself into the work along with them. On different senses of the word, see notes on Luke ii. 19; xiv. 31; and compare Acts iv. 15; xxvii. 18; xxviii. 27; xx. 14. Through grace. Grace has the article, the special grace of God imparted. Expositors differ as to the connection; some joining through grace with them which had believed, insisting on the Greek order of the words; and others with helped, referring to grace conferred on Apollos. I prefer the latter, principally for the reason urged by Meyer, that "the design of the text is to characterize Apollos and his work, and not those who believed."
Robertson's NT Word Studies
18:27 {Encouraged him} (protreyamenoi). First aorist middle participle of protrepw, old verb, to urge forward, to push on, only here in the N.T. Since Apollos wanted (boulomenou autou, genitive absolute) to go into Achaia, the brethren (including others besides Priscilla and Aquila) wrote (egrayan) a letter of introduction to the disciples in Corinth to receive him (apodexasqai auton), a nice letter of recommendation and a sincere one also. But Paul will refer to this very letter later (#2Co 3:1) and observe that he himself needed no such letter of commendation. The Codex Bezae adds here that certain Corinthians who had come to Ephesus heard Apollos and begged him to cross over with them to Corinth. this may very well be the way that Apollos was led to go. Preachers often receive calls because visitors from other places hear them. Priscilla and Aquila were well known in Corinth and their approval would carry weight. But they did not urge Apollos to stay longer in Ephesus. {Helped them much} (sunebaleto polu). Second aorist middle indicative of sunballw used in #17:18 for "dispute," old verb to throw together, in the N.T. always in the active save here in the middle (common in Greek writers) to put together, to help. {Through grace} (dia tes caritos). this makes sense if taken with "believed," as Hackett does (cf. #13:48; 16:14) or with "helped" (#1Co 3:10; 15:10; 2Co 1:12). Both are true as the references show.
