Acts 18:25

“This man was instructed in the way of the Lord, etc.] Which John, whose baptism he only knew, came to prepare: the word here used signifies “catechised”; and suggests, that he was trained up by his parents in this way, who might have been the disciples of John, though afterwards removed from Judea to Alexandria; and that he only had been taught the rudiments of the Christian religion, or doctrine of the Gospel; here called the way of the Lord, or which directs and leads unto him, as the only Saviour, and is the path of faith and truth; or as some copies read, “the word of the Lord”; and which accounts for what is afterwards said of him: and being fervent in the spirit; either in or by the…”

“This man was instructed in the way of the Lord . . . knowing only the baptism of John--He was instructed, probably, by some disciple of the Baptist, in the whole circle of John's teaching concerning Jesus, but no more: he had yet to learn the new light which the outpouring of the Spirit at Pentecost had thrown upon the Redeemer's death and resurrection; as appears from Act 19:2-3. being fervent in the spirit--His heart warm, and conscious, probably, of his gifts and attainments, he burned to impart to others the truth he had himself received. he spake and taught diligently--rather, "accurately" (it is the same word as is rendered "perfectly" in Act 18:26).”

“This man was instructed - Greek: was catechised. He was instructed, in some degree, into the knowledge of the Christian religion. By whom this was done we have no information. In the way of the Lord - The word “way” often refers to doctrine, Matthew 21:32. It means here that he had been correctly taught in regard to the Messiah, yet his knowledge was imperfect, Acts 18:26. The amount of his knowledge seems to have been: (1) He had correct views of the Messiah to come - views which he had derived from the study of the Old Testament. He was expecting a Saviour that would be humble, obscure, and a sacrifice, in opposition to the prevailing notions of the Jews. (2) He had heard of John; had…”

“This man had been instructed - Though not perfectly, in the way of the Lord - In the doctrine of Christ. Knowing only the baptism of John - Only what John taught those whom he baptized, namely, to repent and believe in a Messiah shortly to appear. Acts 18:26”

“instructed: Act 13:10, Act 16:17, Act 19:9, Act 19:23; Gen 18:19; Jdg 2:22; Sa1 12:23; Psa 25:8, Psa 25:9; Psa 119:1; Isa 40:3; Jer 6:16; Hos 14:9; Mat 3:3; Mar 1:3, Mar 12:14; Luk 3:4; Joh 1:23 fervent: Rom 12:11; Col 1:28, Col 1:29; Ti2 2:4; Jam 5:16 knowing: Act 19:3; Matt. 3:1-17; Luke 3:1-38; John 1:19-36 Acts 18:26”