And it happened that while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed through the inland country and came to Ephesus. There he found some disciples. And he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” And they said, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” And he said, “Into what then were you baptized?” They said, “Into John’s baptism.” And Paul said, “John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, Jesus.” On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking in tongues and prophesying. There were about twelve men in all.
And he entered the synagogue and for three months spoke boldly, reasoning and persuading them about the kingdom of God. But when some became stubborn and continued in unbelief, speaking evil of the Way before the congregation, he withdrew from them and took the disciples with him, reasoning daily in the hall of Tyrannus. This continued for two years, so that all the residents of Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks
Comment: I have included a map of Paul’s second missionary journey which was mainly through Syria, Turkey and Greece around the north-eastern tip of the Mediterranean and Aegean seas. Apollos had a Ministry in both Ephesus and Corinth but mainly it seems in Corinth.
Starting his third missionary journey Paul travelled into other smaller areas and found believers already there before reaching Ephesus. It seems fairly true that the believers whom Paul found there believed in Jesus but they didn’t have the whole story of the end of His life, His death, and Resurrection. Nor had they received the Holy Spirit. Thinking about it probably some had heard John the Baptist and His proclamation of Jesus as the Messiah and believed but returned to their country prior to the end of Jesus life on earth. Was this person Apollos prior to Aquilla and Priscilla meeting him and taking him back to Corinth? Paul gave them the full gospel and some received it with joy. Some as is usual and even to this day scoffed and caused trouble.
Prayer: Thank You that we have heard the full gospel. Forgive us that we fall away from living it to the full! Thank You, Father, for those who laboured under difficulty and much opposition to spread the Good News of Jesus.
As I read it! 