This is what I mean: One of you says, “I follow Paul,” and another person says, “I follow Apollos.” Another person says, “I follow Cephas (Peter),” and another person says, “I follow Christ.”
The people of Israel were divided into two groups. Half of the people followed Tibni the son of Ginath and wanted to make him king. The other half of the people followed Omri.
Then Andrew brought Simon to Jesus. Jesus looked at Simon and said, “You are Simon, the son of John. You will be called Cephas.” (“Cephas” means “Peter. {\cf2\super [29]} ”)
A Jew named Apollos came to Ephesus. Apollos was born in the city of Alexandria. He was an educated man. He knew very much about the Scriptures. {\cf2\super [370]}
While Apollos was in the city of Corinth, Paul was visiting some places on the way to the city of Ephesus. In Ephesus Paul found some followers \{of the Lord\}.
I tell you this, brothers and sisters: Flesh and blood (a physical body) cannot have a part in the kingdom of God. A thing that will ruin cannot have a part in something that never ruins.
Now about our brother Apollos: I strongly encouraged him to visit you with the other brothers. But he was sure that he did not want to go now. But when he has the opportunity, he will go to you.
Brothers and sisters, I have used Apollos and myself as examples for you in these things. I did this so that you could learn from us the meaning of the words, “Follow only what the Scriptures {\cf2\super [24]} say.” Then you will not be proud of one man and hate another.
Brothers and sisters, this is what I mean: We don’t have much time left. So starting now, people who have wives should use their time \{to serve the Lord\} like they don’t have wives.
We have the right to bring a believing wife with us when we travel, don’t we? The other apostles {\cf2\super [53]} and the Lord’s brothers and Cephas all do this.
You must look at the facts before you. If a person feels sure that he belongs to Christ, then he must remember that we belong to Christ the same as that person.
James, Peter, and John seemed to be the leaders. They saw that God had given me this special grace (gift). So they accepted Barnabas and me. Peter, James, and John said, “Paul and Barnabas, we agree that you should go to the people who are not Jews. We will go to the Jews.”
This is what I mean: The agreement \{that God gave to Abraham\} was made official long before the law {\cf2\super [38]} came. The law came 430 years later. So the law could not take away the agreement and change God’s promise.