When God uses "ordinary" people to train "extraordinary" leaders.
- Thad DeBuhr
- 2 days ago
- 8 min read
Study Guide: Acts 18:18-28
The Kitchen Table Relay
Think about a time you had to leave a job or a project you spent years building. You probably wondered, “Is this all going to fall apart once I’m gone?” Or maybe you’ve been on the other side—you were the "new person" stepping into a role, feeling like you had a lot to say but realizing you still had a lot to learn.
In Acts 18:18–28, we see a transition that looks like a high-speed relay race. Paul, the star runner, finishes his leg of the race in Corinth and hands the baton to his friends. Then, those friends hand the baton to a brilliant newcomer named Apollos. This story isn't just about travel and speeches; it’s about how God uses everyone—from leather-workers to scholars—to make sure the message of Jesus never stops moving.
Before you dig into the rest of the study guide, I would suggest reading or listening to the passage in two different bible translations from this list: NIV, NLT, NASB, ESV, NKJV
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Setting the Scene
To understand this passage, we have to look at the "travel map" and the deep Jewish traditions Paul carried with him.
The Geography: Paul is moving from Corinth (in Greece) across the sea to Ephesus (in modern-day Turkey). Ephesus was a massive city, famous for the Temple of Artemis. It was the "gateway" to the east. After that, he sails all the way to Caesarea and goes up to Jerusalem before returning to his home base in Antioch.
The Vow at Cenchreae: Before Paul boards the ship, he stops at a port called Cenchreae and shaves his head. This is a huge clue. In Jewish culture, specifically in Numbers 6, this was the sign of a "Nazirite Vow." It was a way to say a massive "Thank You" to God. Paul had just spent 18 months under God's protection in a dangerous city, and he was finishing a season of deep gratitude.
The Team: Paul doesn't travel alone. He takes Priscilla and Aquila with him. They aren't "pastors" in the way we think today; they are tentmakers and leather-workers. But as we see in Ephesus, they are the secret weapons of the early church.
Summary: Moving Forward and Filling the Gaps
In our live teaching, we looked at how the mission grew even when Paul wasn't the one doing the talking. Here is a deeper look at the transition points:
1. The Meaning of the Haircut (v. 18–22)
Paul stays in Corinth for quite a while after his court case, then decides to head home. The detail about him shaving his head (v. 18) tells us that Paul remained a faithful Jew even while preaching to the Greeks. He wasn't trying to "earn" his way to God; he was honoring a promise. He leaves his best friends, Priscilla and Aquila, in Ephesus. Even though the people there begged him to stay, he said, "I will come back if it is God’s will" (v. 21). He knew he had to finish his vow in Jerusalem first.
2. The Arrival of the "Silver-Tongued" Apollos (v. 24–25)
While Paul is traveling, a man named Apollos shows up in Ephesus. He is from Alexandria, Egypt—the center of education and the world’s largest library. The Bible says he was "eloquent" (a great speaker) and had a "thorough knowledge of the Scriptures" (v. 24). He was passionate and taught accurately about Jesus, but there was a catch: he only knew about the Baptism of John. This means he knew Jesus was the Messiah, but he likely didn't know the full story of the Cross, the Resurrection, or the Holy Spirit coming at Pentecost.
3. The Secret to Christian Mentoring (v. 26)
When Priscilla and Aquila heard him speak, they didn't heckle him or call him out in public. Instead, they invited him into their home—likely over a meal—and "explained to him the way of God more adequately." Think about the humility here: Apollos was a genius, but he was willing to listen to two people who worked with their hands all day. Because of their "kitchen table seminary," Apollos went from being a good teacher to a great one.
4. Watering the Seeds in Corinth (v. 27–28)
Apollos eventually goes to the very place Paul just left—Corinth (Achaia). Paul had "planted" the church there, and now Apollos arrived to "water" it. He was a powerhouse, using his debating skills to prove to everyone from the Hebrew Scriptures that Jesus was the Christ. The mission was officially bigger than one man.
Why We Look at "Wrong" and "Right" Applications
This passage is a bridge. It connects Paul’s work in Corinth to his future work in Ephesus. If we just see it as a "travel log," we miss the point. We discuss the application because we need to see that God’s work involves different types of people and that we are all "works in progress."
🛑 Applying it Wrong: The Common Pitfalls
The "Anti-Jewish" Error: Some people use Paul’s vow to say he was "falling back into legalism." They try to force a view that Christians should have zero Jewish traditions. But scholars like NT Wright point out that Paul didn't see a conflict—he was a Jew who found the Messiah, and honoring a vow was a beautiful way to show he still belonged to God's family.
The "PhD Only" Error: We often act like you need a degree to teach the Bible. If we apply this wrong, we think Priscilla and Aquila had no right to teach a scholar like Apollos. But "Walking the Text" reminds us that in this culture, knowing the Story was more important than having a title.
The "One Man Show" Error: Some churches try to build everything around one "superstar" leader. If that leader leaves, the church fails. That is the opposite of what happens here.
✅ Applying it the Right Way:
Look at the Geography: Ephesus was the crossroads of the world. By leaving Priscilla and Aquila there, Paul was strategically placing "teachers" in the busiest hub of the Empire.
Understand the "Baptism of John": To read this correctly, realize that Apollos was like a person with a map that ended at the border. He knew the King was coming (John's message), but he didn't know the King had already conquered death.
Focus on the Hospitality: In the ancient world, "teaching" happened mostly in homes. When you read "explained more adequately," visualize a meal, leather scraps on the floor, and a scroll on the table.
Questions to Chew on and Discuss:
These questions are designed to help you personally dig deeper into the passage and help guide your discussions in your Journey Groups and Me & 3 small groups.
The Facts (What does it say?)
Goal: To ensure everyone is grounded in the actual text before moving to interpretation.
Where did Paul shave his head, and why did he do it?
What are the two specific things the Bible says Apollos was "mighty" or "thorough" in?
What did the believers in Ephesus give Apollos to help him when he moved to Corinth? (See v. 27).
The Meaning (What does it mean?)
Goal: To dig into the "Why" behind the history and the culture.
Why did Paul leave his most trusted partners (Priscilla and Aquila) in Ephesus instead of taking them home with him?
What does it mean that Apollos knew "only the baptism of John"? What was he missing?
Why is it significant that Priscilla is often listed before her husband Aquila in these verses
The Heart (What am I hearing?)
Goal: To let the Holy Spirit use the text as a mirror for our own lives.
Apollos was an expert, yet he was humble enough to learn from others. In what area of your life is God asking you to be a "student" again?
Paul was comfortable leaving a church he started in the hands of others. Is there something you are "holding onto" too tightly that you need to hand off to someone else?
How does it make you feel to know that God uses "ordinary" people (leather-workers) to train "elite" scholars?
The Hands (What will I do?)
Goal: To move from "interesting thoughts" to "Kingdom action."
The Invitation: Who is one person you could invite to your "kitchen table" this week just to talk about life and God?
The Encouragement: Apollos was encouraged by the brothers to move forward. Who can you send an encouraging text or note to today to "water" what God is doing in them?
The Vow: What is one specific thing you want to "vow" to thank God for this week?
Journey Group Discussion Starter:
Whether you're helping facilitate a small group, talking about this passage one-on-one with a friend, or even just need a topic to guide the conversation at the dinner table, these ideas can help start a good group conversation before you dive into the passage and questions in this study guide.
The Relay Race: Talk about a time when you had to take over for someone else or hand off a project. What made it successful? What made it difficult? How does that compare to how Paul and Apollos shared the work in Corinth?
The Humble Teacher: Why do you think some people find it hard to be "corrected" or taught more accurately? How can we create a culture where we are all "helpable" like Apollos?
Sum it Up
Acts 18:18–28 shows us that the Gospel is a team effort. Paul finished his season in Corinth with a heart full of gratitude, and he was wise enough to leave behind leaders who could train others. We see that no matter how much we know, we all have "gaps" that need filling, and God uses the hospitality of everyday people to make the Church complete. The message of Jesus doesn't belong to any one leader; it belongs to the whole body.
Experience the God of the Wilderness
Throughout the Bible, the desert isn't just a place of heat and sand; it is God’s favorite classroom. It’s where He took Moses to see the burning bush, where He shaped the Israelites into a nation, and where Jesus was prepared for His ministry.
There is something about stepping away from the "safe structures" of the city and into the stillness of the high desert that clears the noise and lets you hear God's voice.
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