I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. I ... planted, Apollos watered (Acts 18:1; Acts 19:1). Apollos was born in the learned city Alexandria: he originally "knew only the baptism of John;" but subsequently being taught in the Gospel by Aquila and Priscilla at Ephesus, he, at his own desire, was sent by the brethren to Corinth, and there followed up the work which Paul had begun. Eloquent and mighty in the Scripture, "he mightily convinced the Jews ... publicly, showing by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ." Paul's forte was in planting new churches.
God gave the increase - i:e., the growth (1 Corinthians 3:10; Acts 18:27). "He helped them much which had believed through grace." Ministers are nothing, and God is all in all; yet God works by instruments, and promises the Spirit in the faithful use of means. This is the dispensation of the Spirit: ours is the ministry of the Spirit.