By Jay T. Robertson, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Christian Studies, University of Mobile
INCOMPLETE PICTURE
Acts 18:24–28; 19:1–7
A Partial Witness (18:24–26)
Acts is the unfolding story of the people of God, filled with the Spirit of God, engaging in the mission of God. In these verses we see Paul setting out on the third missionary journey to proclaim the gospel and strengthen the disciples. While he was moving through the region of Galatia and Phrygia, a Jew named Apollos came to Ephesus.
Apollos was a well-educated man from Alexandria, Egypt. He appears to be a believer. He accurately taught the way of the Lord. He was an eloquent man, a man of words and ideas. He was competent in the Scriptures. He was fervent in spirit. He taught the truth passionately and boldly.
Apollos taught about Jesus accurately, being a disciple of John. He accepted John the Baptist’s message that Messiah was coming. He even believed that Jesus was the Lamb of God (John 1:29) and the Messiah. He unpacked the Scriptures that pointed to Jesus. But he did not understand the new covenant baptism practice established by Jesus.
Aquila and Priscilla needed to explain baptism “more accurately” (v. 26).
This godly couple would have taught him how, in Christian baptism, the triune God places His name on His people (Matt. 28:19).
Priscilla and Aquila took the eloquent Apollos aside privately and explained the way of the Lord more accurately. This is a good model of how to correct a brother as well as how to receive the correction. They did not rebuke him publicly.
Apollos, far more educated than Priscilla and Aquila, had a teachable heart. He listened to their instruction and adopted their position. This is a reminder that we should never think we are beyond the need for further instruction in God’s Word, no matter how long we have been a Christian or how many seminary degrees we may hold.
A Complete Witness (18:27–28)
The believers in Ephesus wrote a letter of recommendation for Apollos to the saints in Achaia (Corinth). When Apollos arrived there, he was a great help to the people who had been saved by the grace of God. Apollos watered what Paul had planted, but Paul was quick to point out the real hero behind their success: “God gave the growth” (1 Cor. 3:6). God greatly used Paul and Apollos in the lives of the young believers in Corinth.
Apollos had a powerful evangelistic ministry in Corinth. He explained how the Messiah must suffer and rise and that Jesus was the Messiah. Apollos’ thorough knowledge of the Old Testament equipped him to be an effective evangelist to the Jews in Corinth.
An Incomplete Faith (19:1–7)
While Apollos was ministering in Corinth, Paul arrived in Ephesus, the major stop on his third missionary journey.
He encountered some disciples of John who had an incomplete faith. They resembled Apollos in some ways but the differences outweighed the similarities.
Paul observed something in their behavior that led him to ask them some important clarifying questions. After hearing their responses, Paul shared with them about the Holy Spirit, baptism and the Christ. After proclaiming the gospel to these 12 men, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Paul then laid hands on them and they experienced the Holy Spirit’s presence and power.
These disciples of John had not heard of the fulfillment of John’s ministry — the coming of the Holy Spirit into the lives of believers. Now they experienced a complete faith, including faith in Jesus as the Messiah and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
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