Acts 18:27
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:
Acts 18:27 (KJV)
Context
Acts 18:27 focuses on Apollos, a Jewish Christian from Alexandria, who was disposed to pass into Achaia, a Roman province in Greece whose chief city was Corinth. The brethren, fellow believers likely in Ephesus, wrote a letter of commendation, exhorting the disciples in Achaia to receive him. This is one of the earliest mentions of letters of commendation among the disciples, used to make a believer known to strangers and to commend him to their fellowship. The letter served as an exhortation to welcome Apollos and listen to his teaching, reflecting the interconnectedness and unity of early Christian communities.
Meaning
When Apollos arrived in Achaia, he helped them much which had believed through grace. His help was practical and spiritual: he used his knowledge, experience, and gifts to strengthen and guide the believers. The phrase believed through grace is an incidental expression showing that faith is a production of God’s grace in the heart—a truth taken for granted by the early church. Salvation and faith are not achieved by human effort but are gifts of God’s unmerited favour.
Apollos had previously been instructed in the way of the Lord and taught accurately the things of Jesus, though he knew only the baptism of John. Priscilla and Aquila had taken him aside and explained the way of God more accurately. His desire to go to Achaia was likely to share his greater light and knowledge for the good of others, moved by the Holy Ghost. The brethren wrote not only for lodging but also that he should teach, recognizing his gifts for the edification of the church.
Biblical connections
The practice of commendation and mutual support among churches appears elsewhere in the New Testament, such as in Romans 16:1-2, where Paul commends Phoebe. This verse also connects to Acts 18:28, where Apollos powerfully refuted the Jews publicly, showing by the Scriptures that Jesus was the Christ. His effective ministry in Achaia fulfilled the brethren’s commendation and helped the believers greatly.
Application
This passage teaches the importance of unity and support among believers. The brethren’s letter and Apollos’s visit demonstrate the mutual encouragement among early Christian communities. We too should support and encourage fellow believers in their faith journeys, whether through a word of recommendation, prayer, or practical help.
Apollos’s example reminds us of our responsibility to strengthen and help others in their spiritual walk. As recipients of God’s grace, we are called to extend that grace through acts of kindness, guidance, and teaching.
The phrase believed through grace reminds us that our faith is not something we earn but a gift from God. We cannot boast in our own efforts but should humbly acknowledge God’s grace as the foundation of our faith. This passage encourages us to be generous in commending and supporting fellow workers, so that the gifts of the Holy Spirit are not buried but used for the church’s edification.
Reflection
Consider how you can help those who have believed through grace. Who might need your encouragement, a letter of recommendation, or a word of support? How can you use your gifts to strengthen the body of Christ, just as Apollos did?
