27 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:



Ver. 27. Helped them much, who had believed through grace] For faith is a fruit of free grace. We can glory in nothing, saith Austin, because no good thing is ours; we bring forth faith and the fruits thereof, as Sarah’s dead womb brought forth a child; it was not a child of nature, but of the mere promise; so are all our graces. Others read it thus: "He helped them through grace, who had believed:" that is, he freely communicated to the brethren that grace that he had received, as a good steward; and helped them what he could toward heaven. True grace is diffusive; and is therefore compared to fire, water, wind, light, to spices of aromatic trees, that sweat out their precious and sovereign oils for the good of others. Apollos was not of those that desire rather proficere than prodesse, to inform themselves than to instruct others; to know than to teach, to be seraphims, for illumination, than to be angels, for ministry: account, he knew, was to be given of his time and of his talents to an austere master, &c.