“Apollos Was Going Around Baptizing People With John’s Baptism”
THE CLAIM
Apollos was traveling around baptizing people with John’s baptism, which explains the men Paul later encounters in Acts 19.
SHORT ANSWER
Acts 18 never says Apollos baptized anyone. It says he knew only the baptism of John and taught diligently the things of the Lord. Turning “knew only” into “was administering it to people” adds an action Luke did not record.
WHAT WOULD HAVE TO BE TRUE
The claim must produce a verse stating or necessarily implying that Apollos personally baptized other people. Acts 18:25 does neither.
Quick Bible Check
Read the Actual Statement
“This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John.”
The participles describe what Apollos knew and taught. They do not state that he administered baptism.
What Priscilla and Aquila Did
They took him and “expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly.” Luke still does not say Apollos had been baptizing converts or that he produced the Acts 19 group.
Bottom Line
“Apollos knew only John’s baptism” is textual fact. “Apollos was going around baptizing people with John’s baptism” is not established.
BOTTOM LINE
The stronger Church of Christ conclusion must be proved from the text. Where the passage establishes less than the claim, the added conclusion is not established.