Definition: 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:

Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this verse from Acts 18:27. It’s a really important and slightly mysterious passage about how the early church responded to Paul. Here's what it means in simpler terms: The Basic Idea: This verse is saying that after Paul had been traveling around and feeling like he might have to leave, his followers – the disciples – were encouraging him to go to a place called Achaia (which is part of Greece). They wanted him to stay there because they believed he was helping them. Let’s unpack it piece by piece: “And when he was disposed to pass into Achaia…” This means Paul felt like he might have to leave his current situation – perhaps a place where he was traveling or living. He was thinking about going somewhere else. “…the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him:” "The brethren" refers to Paul’s followers – the people who were with him on his journey. They wrote a message, encouraging the disciples – the ones he was meeting with – to welcome him back. “who, when he was come, helped them much which had believed through grace:” This is the key part! "When he was come" means when Paul actually arrived . “helped them much” signifies they were actively supporting and aiding him. "Which had believed through grace" means that those disciples who already believed in God – and had been given a special kind of help from Him – were being especially grateful for his presence. In short, this verse tells us that Paul's followers were incredibly thankful for the faith of people who had already accepted Jesus as their savior. It highlights their desire to welcome him back home because they recognized the positive impact of their belief in God. What does it tell us about Paul and the early church? Gratitude: It shows that the early Christians were deeply grateful for the faith of others, even those who hadn’t fully understood or embraced the message of Jesus yet. Support: It speaks to the importance of supporting and encouraging believers – a fundamental principle in Christianity. --- Do you want me to: Explain another verse? Discuss what this passage might mean in terms of Paul's journey?