"Paulus, Apollos en Efeze" - Handelingen 18:23 - 19:7

Abstract

In this master-thesis we have investigated the question which role and function the person of Paul has in contrast to Apollos in Acts 18,23-19,7, in the context of the whole of the book of Acts. We therefor investigated the main issues in Acts 19,1-7 (Chapter 1) and the parallel text of Acts 18,23-28 (Chapter 2). In the third chapter we paid attention to baptism and the laying on of hands, and investigated some functions of the Holy Spirit related to our purpose. Finally we looked in a more general way to Paul’s stay in Ephesus, which for Luke is a climax of his missionary activity within the book of Acts. The main conclusion regarding Paul and Apollos is that Apollos plays an important role, but as a precursor of Paul, who, according to Luke, makes important decisions concerning baptism in the name of the Lord Jesus, and the necessity to receive the Holy Spirit before getting a leading role in the Ephesian community, which for Luke represents the model of Pauline Christianity.