Acts 18:24-28
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24 A Jew named Apollos, a native Alexandrian, an eloquent man who was powerful in the use of the Scriptures, arrived in Ephesus. 25 This man had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught the things about Jesus accurately, although he knew only John’s baptism. 26 He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. After Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him home and explained the way of God to him more accurately. 27 When he wanted to cross over to Achaia, the brothers wrote to the disciples urging them to welcome him. After he arrived, he greatly helped those who had believed through grace. 28 For he vigorously refuted the Jews in public, demonstrating through the Scriptures that Jesus is the Messiah.
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Paul made three great missionary journeys, followed by his final trip to Jerusalem and Rome. The first journey began in and ends at the close of the fourteenth chapter of the book of Acts, with the account of Paul returning to Antioch to report to the church about the work that had been done. The second journey begins in and ends in . The third journey begins in and ends in .
Left in Ephesus by Paul, Priscilla and Aquila met a gifted speaker named Apollos, who had great passion for Christ but an incomplete knowledge of the gospel. Equipping him with a more accurate message, they sent him on to Achaia, where he was used powerfully by God.
Another Lucan meanwhile, this time with the actual word inserted. We need to know what happened in Ephesus before Paul arrived, so Luke breaks into the narrative of Paul’s ministry to tell us about a new character—Apollos. A native of Alexandria
I. Man of Speech.
(24c) “an eloquent man”
Eloquent: logios, log'-ee-os; fluent, i.e. an orator-eloquent. This word does not describe his disposition, but his declaration. He was eloquent in speech. He was a master at delivering a message through the use of words. Apollos’ upbringing in Alexandria contributed to his speaking. He obviously was a learned man, trained, and known for his communication skills. Luke tells us of his notoriety. He was a man of speech.
II. Mighty in the Scriptures.
(24d) “and mighty in the Scriptures, came to Ephesus.” This mighty man of the word came to Ephesus. God was doing a work in Ephesus and He was supplying the need of the people with servants that knew His word. Mighty: dunatos, doo-nat-os'; powerful or capable (literal or figurative); neuter possible-able, could, (that is) mighty (man), possible, power, strong. This refers to Apollos’ wisdom and knowledge of the Word of God. To be strong in the Scriptures refers to his ability to declare the Bible and defend his faith. Apollos was well versed in the Law and the Prophets—he had knowledge of the Songs and the Proverbs— he was intimate with the Words of Moses! Apollos had the reputation that he was a man of the Word! He emphasized the Word of God in his ministry!
David Jeremiah wrote, “Many young pastors and preachers today are more driven with growing mega-churches by the use of clever marketing and management principles than they are with being mighty in the Scriptures. But cultural relevancy never saved anyone. As Paul has demonstrated, we have to be in touch with our cultural surroundings; but as both he and Apollos proved, being mighty in the Scriptures is what changes lives.” Are you mighty in the Scriptures? I want to be a man of God that is mighty in the Word of God!
“This man had been instructed in the way of the Lord” Luke tells us that Apollos had been instructed in the way of the Lord! Again—we emphasize the fact that he knew his Old Testament Bible. Instructed: katecheo, kat-ay-kheh'-o; to sound down into the ears, i.e. (by implication) to indoctrinate (“catechize”) or (genitive) to apprise of. inform, instruct, teach. This word tells us that Apollos had some formal training. He had been instructed by those in the know! Apollos was a teacher of the Word of God and he was teachable as well. We will study later about his teachable spirit. Someone had taken time to teach Apollos and Apollos took time to hear, to learn, to study, and to take in the Word of God. Apollos was serious about his study of the Word of God! You cannot know the Word of God or be a teacher of God’s word without being taught!
At the 2012 Masters Tournament in Augusta, Georgia the tournament was won on the 2nd playoff hole by former Georgia Bulldog golfer Bubba Watson. Bubba Watson is a professing Christian—he seeks to glorify the Lord Jesus in his life. He often tweets out words of praise for the Lord. He has an unusual Golf Swing—he is known as a long hitter. He averages over 315 yards a drive! Bubba Watson is a self-taught golfer. He has never had lessons and he even now doesn’t have a golf coach. He does not watch film to evaluate his swing—he simply plays golf. Bubba has won 5 golf tournaments thus far and now is a Major Winner and has won the Green Jacket at the Masters. You may do well, Bubba is a living testimony of that, at playing golf and you may have the talent to ascend through the ranks. We may not need instruction in playing golf, but it’s imperative to have instruction when you are preaching for God!
III. Motivating in Spirit
“and being fervent in spirit,
Luke tells us of the reputation of Apollos. He was a faithful and fervent servant! Luke is about to tell us what he was teaching, but before he does we note the wav he was teaching. Fervent: zeo, dzeh'-o; to be hot (boil, of liquids; or glow, of solids), i.e. (figurative) be fervid (earnest) be fervent. He had a heart aglow with passion for God and His word. Apollos came to Ephesus with a purpose. He came preaching and teaching with passion what he knew about the Lord. Apollos puts many “born again” Christians to shame with his zeal and fire for the Lord. Apollos was fervent in spirit. We get fervent in spirit sometimes, but it is not always about the things of God! We are fervent about football or fishing and not the Father. We are passionate about programs and products and not about Preaching.
He Was Right in What He Taught.
(25c) “he spoke and taught accurately the things of the Lord” Luke tells us that in what he knew he faithfully taught. He was right in what he spoke and what he taught up to what he knew. Apollos didn’t talk out of school—he was not speaking about things that he didn’t know about. He taught what he knew and he taught it well. ￫He taught it with passion and with precision. Spoke: means “to say, to preach, to tell, to utter.” He communicated with the people in Ephesus. He opened his mouth and declared God’s Word. He not only spoke, but he taught—he taught by speaking! He spoke and taught the things of the Lord. Those things concerning the will of God, what is required of God, what God is concerned about! He spoke and taught accurately. That means he was right in what he taught. Accurately: (KJV: diligently) akribos, ak-ree-boce'; exactly-circumspectly, diligently, perfect (-ly). Luke points out the fact that Apollos taught exactly about the Lord. There are so many in the world teaching inaccurately about the Lord. There are apostates, charlatans, false prophets that abound today! Apollos didn’t know it all— but what he knew he faithfully and accurately proclaimed. He was right in what he taught. We also note:
He Was Restricted in What He Taught.
(25d) “though he knew only the baptism of John.” Luke tells us that Apollos was right in what he taught, but he was also restricted in what he taught. Warren W. Wiersbe wrote, “Apollos’ message was not inaccurate or insincere; it was just incomplete.” In what he knew he taught with precision, and passion, fervor, and fire, but he lacked some critical information concerning the gospel. Knew: (KJV: Knowing) epistamai, ep-is'-tam-ahee; to put the mind upon, i.e. comprehend, or be acquainted with-know, understand. Apollos was only acquainted with or understood about the baptism of John. John came preaching a baptism of repentance. He called Israel to repent of their sins and to prepare the way for the coming Messiah! Apollos was obviously preaching about repentance and he was declaring about the coming of the Messiah! Apollos did not deny the facts, but he was limited in his understanding. Those who taught him in Alexandria did not know the gospel message!
Joseph Parker wrote, “If he could be so eloquent about water, what will he be when he comes to speak of blood?
We shall find this man doing wonders in the Church. If he could bum so in the very soul when he knew only the initial baptism, what will he be when he sees and feels the Cross, the Blood, the Sacrifice, and understands somewhat of the forgiveness of sins, and the glory of immortality, and the splendor of the Christian heaven?” Apollos was not a false teacher—he just didn’t have a fuller revelation. He was restricted in what he taught.
In the 1990’s CBS had a show on entitled “Early Edition.” This man in Chicago would receive every morning the “Chicago Sun” for tomorrow. He didn’t receive today’s paper, but tomorrow’s paper. He had a jump on everyone! He would read tomorrow’s paper and relate it to the people of that day. He was to use his gift of inside information to help the needy, rescue those in danger, save lives, and promote good. As Christians, you and I have an Early Edition! It tells us of the things to come—it tells us about life after death— how to miss hell and how to make heaven! We are to be relating the Good News of the Gospel to a desperate world in need. Apollos had the Old News of the Old Testament and he taught accurately, but he didn’t have the New Testament truth. Are we faithfully sharing the gospel? What kind of reputation do you have? Are you fervent in spirit for the Lord Jesus? Luke tells us about the reputation of Apollos.
The Jack Andrews Expository Studies - The Jack Andrews Expository Studies – Understanding Acts - Volume 5.
He was a man of speech.
The Jack Andrews Expository Studies - The Jack Andrews Expository Studies – Understanding Acts - Volume 5.
George Brooks Preaching Commentary - George Brooks Preaching Commentary – Expositions from the Book of Acts: Volume 2.
Life Application Bible Commentary - Life Application Bible Commentary – Acts.