Acts 18:24-28 - Apollos: Helping Those who had Believed (i.e., Making Disciples)
24 Now a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was an eloquent man, competent in the Scriptures. 25 He had been instructed in the way of the Lord. And being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus, though he knew only the baptism of John. 26 He began to speak boldly in the synagogue, but when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately. 27 And when he wished to cross to Achaia, the brothers encouraged him and wrote to the disciples to welcome him. When he arrived, he greatly helped those who through grace had believed, 28 for he powerfully refuted the Jews in public, showing by the Scriptures that the Christ was Jesus.
Here is this man, Apollos. He is of the Jewish race and from Alexandria. He is a man with two important skills - eloquence and a good knowledge of the Scriptures. With him, I'm going to say, his two best friends, Aquila and Priscilla. Apollos comes to Ephesus and becomes acquainted with these two Christians. They provide for Apollos just the counsel and instruction he needed. Apollos was now able to use his eloquence and knowledge to refute unbelief - "showing from the Scriptures that Jesus is the Christ." And, he helped those who believed. Three good people, who still today can help us understand ourselves, better ourselves and become better engaged as God's people. Let's let Apollos help us.
APOLLOS WAS KNOWLEDGEABLE
Verse 24 says he was "mighty in the Scriptures." Apollos was a Jew born at Alexandria. It is my understanding, Jews who were raised in this Egyptian city were generally highly educated.
Historians estimate, at the time of Apollos, about one million Jews resided in Egypt. Alexandria was an important center of academic learning. You may remember, The Old Testament had been translated from Hebrew into the Greek at Alexandria. The Jews had built an enormous synagogue. Alexandria was the second city of rank in the Roman Empire, and had the distinction of being a seat of learning. Jewish students received a thorough education.
But while all of that is historically true, and played a role in terms of opportunity, being born in Alexandria didn't infuse knowledge into Apollos. Having access to books and classes and teachers will not, in itself, train or educate or make you wise. Apollos applied himself, took initiative and time.
And as he pursued his education - his primary object was apparently to become knowledgeable in the Scriptures. That doesn't happen just because you live in a certain place. Knowing Scripture is the result of personal determination, discipline, devotion and it requires much time and effort. The rewards of such work are so valuable, so abundant and so satisfying - - there is no regret about the investment of time and mental energy.
I want to encourage each of us - not only to read Scripture, but to spend time focusing on the meaning; seeing connections in the text; discovering truth you have missed before; learning more of God, becoming closer to Christ - and being challenged to live a deeply reverent life with God. Apollos was knowledgeable. But also ...
HE WAS TEACHABLE
Aquila and Priscilla "took him aside," and "explained to him the way of God more accurately." There was something Apollos didn't know yet. He listened, he was teachable, and because of that good and honest heart, he was able to bring his preaching in line with truth and reality, TO BECOME EVEN MORE POWERFUL.
This couple - Christians - took an interests in Apollos that was sincere. They could have said nothing. They could have stood up and humiliated Apollos. They could have marked him as a false teacher in front of others, but without saying anything to him. They did not take any of these immature approaches. They went directly to Apollos, taught him something he didn't know yet and the outcome was good for everybody, and pleasing to God.
Not everybody who is knowledgeable is teachable. Here's what I mean. Some students - at a certain point in their education - arrive at a place of arrogance, where they think and may say: Nobody can teach me anything! And when a student reaches that point (1) they shut themselves off from future learning, and (2) they lose their effectiveness as a teacher.
The old familiar expression is, "a know-it-all-attitude." Sometimes people who acquire vast amounts of information, fall into a pit of ignorance because they decide they know it all. Not Apollos. Though knowledgeable, he was still teachable. That shows a good heart.
And along with that, we observe a healthy willingness to stand corrected. Something every one of us ought to have. No matter how much information we take in or how much we remember or how much Scripture we can quote, our imperfection, our capacity to make mistakes and our personal tendencies toward pride and prejudice - ought to be confessed.
If you reach a place in life where you are so stubborn, you cannot accept correction, you are no longer teachable - that's decay of character. And it is not compensated for by all your previous accumulation of knowledge!
APPROACHABLE
Verse 26: "...they took him aside..." Here is a test of personal humility: Would you let someone take you aside? I've been taken aside a few times. I confess it can be unsettling. And, there is a tendency that must be suppressed to be immediately defensive.
I believe Apollos, though knowledgeable and eloquent, carried himself with people in such a way - he was approachable. I need to inquire of myself - Do people feel free to approach me. How do I carry myself; what is the message of my demeanor??
1 Cor. 10:12 tells each of us - "...let him who thinks he stands, take heed lest he fall." I should be constantly aware, I can be mistaken and I can be wrong and I can sin. I need to be teachable and approachable. It could be, some of the most valuable things you learn about yourself you learn in a context of criticism. If you automatically refuse all criticism and correction, you may shut yourself off from one of the great sources of edification available. Apollos was knowledgeable, teachable, approachable, and ...
HE WAS IMMOVABLE
"Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord," (1 Cor. 15:58).
Christians are people who are rooted and grounded in their faith. Ideally, we are determined we will not move away from Christ.
Now back to Acts 18, find verse 28, where it says that Apollos, after being corrected - now including the full truth of the gospel - "...vigorously refuted the Jews publically, showing from the Scriptures that Jesus is the Christ."
This work he did required not only knowledge, but firmness of conviction, courage and courage under fire. Apollos was immovable.
And he was immovable, not because he was an educated Alexandrian; not because he was a good public speaker and debator. He was immovable because he personally believed and practiced what he preached: Jesus Is The Christ! He really believed that, with all his heart and his preaching and living was based on that.
You know, you can be eloquent and knowledgeable, but movable; subject to compromise, yielding to temptation, and leaving the Lord and his work. If you could look behind the preacher's doors - in some cases, you would be disturbed.
There are men who are tremendous public speakers and they know their subjects well. But in the discipline of life, they do not really know the author of Scripture.
There are preachers and teachers and elders - so weak in their character, the devil has been able to move them. Move them away from the Lord into adultery, dishonest gain, or some other kind of wickedness. Though we are disturbed about those falls from the faith - we can be encouraged by the example of Apollos. And, there are many Christians today - who show the same good traits in the way they live. Pray for them, thank God for them and be like them.
APOLLOS WAS ACCEPTABLE TO THE LORD
Everything in the account leads us to believe, the Lord accepted the life of Apollos, through the cleansing blood of Christ - received by Apollos, through the activity of his faith.
In addition to the testimony of Luke in Acts, there are these mentions by Paul (1 Cor. 3:6 & 4:6), showing - Paul and Apollos worked together as fellow-workers but not competitors. So that people in Corinth would hear the gospel of Christ - and so that Christians would know how to live. Paul speaks with commendation of Apollos - and when this testimony is added to the Acts 18 account, there is every reason to believe, this man's life and work was acceptable to the Lord. He was knowledgeable, teachable, approachable, immovable and therefore, accepted by the Lord.
Finally, I wanted to make this comment about Aquila and Priscilla. Leadership doesn't mean getting people to follow you! Leadership means helping and teaching people, so that they follow the Lord more closely! Aquila and Priscilla didn't want Apollos to follow them. They wanted Apollos to follow the Lord; their purpose was - to lead Apollos to teach and follow the Lord more closely.
So, there are three good people we meet in this brief text and all three direct us to valuable points of self-examination. Am I seeking to be knowledgeable? Am I humble enough to be teachable and do I convey to people that I'm approachable? Am I - in the activity of my faith - strong and immovable? All of this is known by the Lord - and I know, each of us want to be acceptable to Him. Apollos greatly helps those who have believed through grace. I hope we are accepting the help of his example.
Acts 19:1-7 Biblical Commentary:
CONTEXT: The preceding story (18:24-28) is related to this one. It tells of Apollos, who "knew only the baptism of John" (18:25). Priscilla and Aquila "took him (Apollos) aside, and explained to him the way of God more accurately" (18:26).
ACTS 19:1. PAUL CAME TO EPHESUS, AND FOUND CERTAIN DISCIPLES
1 And it happened that while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed through the inland country and came to Ephesus. There he found some disciples.
"It happened that, while Apollos was at Corinth" (v. 1a). Luke just now told us most of what we know about Apollos (18:24-28). He was a Jew from Alexandria who came to Ephesus-eloquent and full of enthusiasm. He was well-versed in the scriptures, and "taught accurately the things concerning Jesus, although he knew only the baptism of John" (18:25). His fellow disciples, Priscilla and Aquila, "took him aside, and explained to him the way of God more accurately" (18:26). Paul refers to Apollos several times in ways that make it apparent that Apollos was a significant disciple (1 Cor 1:12; 3:4-6, 22; 4:6; 16:12; Titus 3:13).
"Paul, having passed through the upper country, came to Ephesus" (v. 1b). Ephesus is an important seaport in the province of Asia (modern Turkey)-across the Aegean Sea east of Greece.
Paul visited Ephesus on his Second Missionary Journey, accompanied by Priscilla and Aquila (18:19-28). That was a short visit, even though the Ephesian Jews asked him to stay longer (18:20). But Paul left Priscilla and Aquila in Ephesus (18:19), promising to return "if God wills" (18:21).
Now we have the account of that return. It is Paul's Third Missionary Journey. He will remain in Ephesus for three years (20:31), teaching daily in the lecture hall of Tyrannus for two of those years (19:8-10). He will found a church here, and will write his first epistle to the Corinthian church while living here (1 Corinthians 16:8-9). The Ephesian church is one of seven churches addressed in the book of Revelation (Rev. 2:1-7).
"and found certain disciples" (v. 1c). Are these disciples of Jesus or John? The text does not make that clear, and there is some scholarly debate about it. It is clear that they were baptized only into John's baptism (v. 3), but Paul's question, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?" (v. 2) sounds as if Paul is treating them as if they are believers in Jesus-disciples of Jesus.
ACTS 19:2-4. DID YOU RECEIVE THE HOLY SPIRIT?
2 And he said to them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?" And they said, "No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit."3 And he said, "Into what then were you baptized?" They said, "Into John's baptism." 4 And Paul said, "John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, Jesus."
"Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?" (v. 2a). Why does Paul ask this question? It isn't a
standard question that he routinely asks of believers wherever he goes. He must have noticed some sort of deficiency in these Ephesian believers that prompted his question.
We have been hearing about the Holy Spirit from the beginning of the book of Acts (1:2). Jesus promised, "you will be baptized in the Holy Spirit not many days from now" (1:5) and"you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you" (1:8). This promise was fulfilled on the Day of Pentecost, when the apostles "were all filled with the Holy Spirit" (2:4; see also 2:33, 38; 4:8, 25, 31; 5:32; 6:5, etc.). The frequent mention of the Spirit reminds us again and again of the importance of the Spirit in empowering the work of the apostles and the early church. The Spirit is just as important in today's church. It brings the power of God. Without the Spirit, we can have pews that are full and coffers that are running over-but to have any spiritual power, we must be Spirit-powered.
In his Pentecost sermon, Peter told the crowd, "Repent, and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit" (2:38)-so the gift of the Holy Spirit is related to baptism. Acts 2:38 and 19:1-7 suggest that the gift of the Holy Spirit is usually dependent on baptism. However:
"No, we haven't even heard that there is a Holy Spirit" (v. 2b). Like Apollos, (18:25), their understanding is deficient. Until Priscilla and Aquila took him aside to explain the Way of God to him, Apollos knew only of the baptism of John. These Ephesian believers know nothing about the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit was part of the Christian message from the beginning. John the Baptist spoke of "he comes who is mightier than I... He will baptize you in the Holy Spirit and fire" (Luke 3:15). Scholars either wonder how these Ephesian believers could have missed hearing about the Spirit or assume that they have heard of the Spirit (Polhill, 399; Bock, 599). However, it seems an unnecessary leap of faith to assume that, because John taught about the Spirit, these believers know about the Spirit. They claim never to have heard of the Holy Spirit, and I accept that at face value.
"He said, 'Into what then were you baptized?' They said, 'Into John's baptism'" (v. 3). John the Baptist "came into all the region around the Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for remission of sins" (Luke 3:3). Jews routinely baptized Gentile proselytes, but John was unusual in that he baptized Jews-something that most good Jews could not imagine that any Jew would need. John said that he was preparing the way of the Lord (Luke 3:4) so that "All flesh will see God's salvation" (Luke 3:6).
At the instigation of his wife and daughter, Herod executed John (Luke 9:7-9; Mark 6:14-29). John's disciples buried his body (Matthew 14:12). Some of John's disciples, but not all of them, became Jesus' disciples (John 1:35-42; Acts 18:24-26).
John made it clear to his followers that he was not the messiah, but was preparing the way for the messiah. He said, "I indeed baptize you with water, but he comes who is mightier than I, the latchet of whose sandals I am not worthy to loosen. He will baptize you in the Holy Spirit and fire" (Luke 3:16; see also John 1:20; 3:28). The repeated emphasis on the subordination of John to Jesus was made necessary by the fact that John continued to have loyal disciples long after his death (Filson, ISBE, II-1110).
"John indeed baptized with the baptism of repentance" (v. 4a). Paul explains that, while John's baptism was good, it was preliminary and incomplete. It was a baptism of repentance, which is still an important aspect of Christian baptism (2:38). But Paul initiated this conversation by asking whether they had received the Holy Spirit, which they had not (v. 2). This verse does not say that he goes on to tell them that they need to be rebaptized so they can receive the Holy Spirit, but we can infer from the report of their baptism in verse 5 that he does so.
"saying to the people that they should believe in the one who would come after him, that is, in Jesus" (v. 4b). Paul emphasizes John's role in pointing to Jesus. As great as John is, he is subordinate to Jesus in every way (Luke 3:15).
Much has happened since the time that John was baptizing. John is dead, and Jesus has gone through the death, resurrection and ascension cycle. It is now time for these disciples (whether disciples of John or Jesus) to complete their understanding and their discipleship. Among other things, that means experiencing Christian baptism and receiving the Holy Spirit.
ACTS 19:5-7. THEY WERE BAPTIZED IN THE NAME OF THE LORD JESUS
5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 When Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke with other languages and prophesied. 7They were about twelve men in all.
"When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus" (v. 5). This is the only rebaptism recorded in the New Testament. Apollos knew only the baptism of John (18:25), but there is no indication that he was required to submit to another baptism.
In the Great Commission, Jesus commanded his disciples to baptize "in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit" (Matthew 28:19), and that triune formula is used by most churches today. But Paul baptizes these Ephesian disciples "in the name of the Lord Jesus." There are two other instances in Acts where people were baptized in the name of Jesus (2:38; 10:48).
"When Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them" (v. 6a). These people receive the Holy Spirit, not when they are baptized, but when Paul lays his hands on them following their baptism. Earlier, "they (Peter and John) laid their hands on them (a group of Samaritans), and they received the Holy Spirit" (8:17). But there was no standard pattern:
"and they spoke with other languages and prophesied" (v. 6b). Speaking in tongues and prophesying are two manifestations of the Spirit. On the day of Pentecost, the apostles "were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other languages, as the Spirit gave them the ability to speak" (2:4). On that same day, Peter quoted the prophet Joel, saying, "I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh. Your sons and your daughters will prophesy" and "in those days, I will pour out my Spirit, and they will prophesy" (2:16-17)
"They were about twelve men in all" (v. 7). Scholars differ regarding this number. Most consider it to have no special significance, but a few think of the number twelve as pointing to the twelve tribes of Israel. However, if that were the case, Luke would almost certainly have said that there were twelve of them instead of saying that there were about twelve of them. The indefiniteness of the number argues against any symbolism.
BLB COMMENTARY - ACTS 18:24-28; 19:1-7 - The Ministry of Apollos in Ephesus.
24 Now a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was an eloquent man, competent in the Scriptures. 25 He had been instructed in the way of the Lord. And being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus, though he knew only the baptism of John. 26 He began to speak boldly in the synagogue, but when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately. 27 And when he wished to cross to Achaia, the brothers encouraged him and wrote to the disciples to welcome him. When he arrived, he greatly helped those who through grace had believed, 28 for he powerfully refuted the Jews in public, showing by the Scriptures that the Christ was Jesus.
A. Ephesian disciples are baptized in the Holy Spirit.
1. (Acts 19:1-2) In Ephesus, Paul finds some disciples who had not yet received the Holy Spirit.
1 And it happened that while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed through the inland[a] country and came to Ephesus. There he found some disciples.2 And he said to them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?" And they said, "No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit."
2. (Acts 19:3-4) Paul distinguishes between the baptism of John and baptism in the name of the Jesus.
3 And he said, "Into what then were you baptized?" They said, "Into John's baptism." 4 And Paul said, "John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, Jesus."
3. (Acts 19:5-7) The twelve Ephesian disciples believe on Jesus, are baptized, and receive the Holy Spirit with His gifts.
5 On hearing this, they were baptized in[b] the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 And when Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking in tongues and prophesying. 7 There were about twelve men in all.
4. What happened here?
ACTS 18:24-28 COMMENTARY ON DISCIPLESHIP
A church on mission must be about disciple-making disciples. The goal of all Christian ministry, in all its forms, is disciple-making, even more than attendance on Sunday, names on membership roll, small groups, etc. We are not a audience of spectators, but a gathering of disciple-makers. Obviously it is a huge topic and we can't exhaust it completely, but we will try to let Acts 18:24-28 teach us some things about discipleship. Let's lower the bar on how we do church and raise the bar on what it means to be a disciple. What are the qualities of being a disciple-making disciple? Some of us are in one-on-one discipleship relationships (if you want one, let me know!). Some of these things might be helpful for you. But my goal is to look at what it means to be a disciplemaking disciple.
Before we dive in, let's set the context. Paul shows up in Acts 18 in Corinth discouraged. He was driven out of Macedonia and he wasn't really welcomed at Athens either. As a stranger, he wandered through winding streets with many concerns weighing on him. Where would he stay? Where could he find work to support himself? Were there any of the Lord's people here?
That's when he meets a husband and wife team from Rome named Priscilla or Prisca and Aquila. They were tentmakers, which in the Greek means, that they made tents! They probably also worked in Corinth at crafting tents, sails, and leather goods. We don't know if they came as Christians to Corinth or if they get saved through Paul later. Before long they were working together not merely as business partners but as co-laborers for their Lord (Acts 18:3). Paul moved in with them and would spent 18 months in Corinth (Acts 18:11).
Paul then decides to go back to the earlier churches that he planted. Priscilla and Aquila go with him, but Paul leaves them at Ephesus while he goes back to Antioch (Acts 18:18-23). At Ephesus, they meet a Jewish guy named Apollos who was from Alexandria, Egypt. Apollos was an eloquent man, meaning he was trained in the best schools, had a lot of knowledge and had the ability to articulate what he knew. Secondly, this guy knew his Bible, the OT anyway. Alexandria is known to have the Greek version of the OT called the Septuagint. He knew how to handle God's Word. He was fervent in spirit, not in the Holy Spirit, but he was very passionate about what he was saying. However, he knew only "the baptism of John."
John the Baptist preached, "Get right with God and wash your sins away as we prepare for the Messiah who is coming." John the Baptist knew his OT and knew the Messiah was coming. John the Baptist saw the Christ as the Lamb of God who came to take away the sins of the world. Then John died through beheading. Apollos knew some things about Jesus and maybe even that Jesus has come, but probably deficient in the fact that Jesus had died, resurrected and is coming back. Scholars are not exactly sure what he knew or didn't know. Most likely, he came to true faith through Priscilla and Aquila, but we are not sure. I'm glad it's ambiguous, for it tells us that there was no set program in the early church in discipling people. We shouldn't put God in a box and God doesn't put us in a box. He doesn't work off a template in discipling people. Each person is different! Regardless, we do know for sure that Priscilla and Aquila take him under their wings, disciple him and he grows to become a man used by God, mentioned some 14x in the NT.
A lot of times we think when we read Acts that all these amazing powerful apostles did was preach to large crowds, performing miracles and thousands get saved. That's partly true, but I would like to propose that Christianity grew in the early church because ordinary Christians like Priscilla and Aquila, went about as disciple-making disciples.
