Acts 18:24–28 (NIV)
24 Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was a learned man, with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures. 25 He had been instructed in the way of the Lord, and he spoke with great fervor and taught about Jesus accurately, though he knew only the baptism of John. 26 He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately.
27 When Apollos wanted to go to Achaia, the brothers and sisters encouraged him and wrote to the disciples there to welcome him. When he arrived, he was a great help to those who by grace had believed. 28 For he vigorously refuted his Jewish opponents in public debate, proving from the Scriptures that Jesus was the Messiah.
Setting:
In Acts 18, we see Pastor Paul get the itch to “Go” and make disciples as a missionary again as he departs Ephesus on his way to Jerusalem. We also need to note that Priscilla and Aquilla are a key part of this story as they are an immovable pillar in the church at Ephesus.
Then enter this guy named Apollos. Apollos was from a key city in Africa called Alexandria. This city was THE key city in North Africa, situated in Egypt. Alexandria also had a substantial Jewish population which more than likely explains the strong knowledge that Apollos had of scripture. Apollos has entered the scene at Ephesus and is found preaching about Christ, the only issue is that we find out that he doesn’t quite have the whole story. It is the heroes of our story, formally sidekicks to Paul, that humbly enter into our story to come alongside an inexperienced, but promising leader.
4 small lessons that make a BIG difference:
Something is always better than nothing
Acts 18:24–25 (NIV)
24 Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was a learned man, with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures. 25 He had been instructed in the way of the Lord, and he spoke with great fervor and taught about Jesus accurately, though he knew only the baptism of John.
Apollos was a man who had a very solid knowledge of the Old Testament. We know he was a smart dude because Luke, (a doctor and author of Acts) described him saying Apollos was a “learned man” and he had a “thorough knowledge of scripture”.
Apollos was a passionate teacher and he spoke with a fire in his chest about Jesus. At some point, however, it became clear that he has SOME of the story of Jesus, but not the WHOLE thing. It is written that he knew of the baptism of John, which John explains to us in Mark 1:8:
7 And this was his message: “After me comes the one more powerful than I, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. 8 I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
In other John’s baptism was one of repentance but not of the Holy Spirit. One source I found said it like this: Apollos knew of the forerunner (John the Baptist and his baptism of repentance), but did not know that Messiah had come. He knew the way (the path, the conduct), and the water baptism (repent, expect) but did not know Messiah.
Apollos heard that Jesus was coming and that was enough for him to acknowledge that all of the Old Testament was pointing to Christ alone. Although his knowledge of the messiah was incomplete, what he knew was enough to move him to action.
You and I have the whole story about Jesus. How much passion, discipline, and learning does it encourage us towards?
Humility leads to Teachability
Acts 18:26 (NIV)
26 He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately.
The dynamic that unfolds in verse 26 is one that every single person in this room needs to learn and apply to our lives, myself included. Apollos was an extremely educated man in the Old Testament, yet Persilla and Aquilla were fairly new on the scene. We can assume that they knew about Old Testament teaching, but had learned most of what they understood from the Apostle Paul. Yet, with gentleness and grace, they invited this brother into their house and broke the news that Jesus had not only already come once, but died, came again, ascended to Heaven, and promised to come back for one last time.
Can you imagine the look on Apollos’ face when they broke the news to him?
Proverbs 1:5 (NIV)
5 let the wise listen and add to their learning…
Never underestimate who you can learn from
Acts 18:26 (NIV)
26 He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately.
Paul found Jesus and was discipled by Barnabas
Priscilla and Aquilla found Jesus and was discipled by Paul
Apollos found Jesus through Priscilla and Aquilla, then was discipled by them
Discipleship is rooted into the sidekick/hero dynamic. Who is discipling you and who are you discipling?
Acts 4:13 (ESV)
13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus.
The right tools make a big difference
Acts 18:27–28 (NIV)
27 When Apollos wanted to go to Achaia, the brothers and sisters encouraged him and wrote to the disciples there to welcome him. When he arrived, he was a great help to those who by grace had believed. 28 For he vigorously refuted his Jewish opponents in public debate, proving from the Scriptures that Jesus was the Messiah.
Apollos learned and served without the Spirit because he had not been taught or experienced the Spirit in his life. We have been taught and received the Spirit so without Him we cannot serve, worship, or learn effectively.
Are you tired of working twice as hard because you are using a dull axe? In other words, are you sick and tired of being sick and tired? Or maybe God has you in a sweet season right now, but you aren’t quite sure what is next? This is so much more than just a few life lessons from the bible, it’s a growth plan that took an inexperienced man and made him a leader in the early church.
Church, God wants that same thing for you.
22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. James 1:22 (NIV)
