A Preacher Is Converted
Introduction:
Toward the end of Paul’s Second Missionary Journey, he leaves
Corinth, where several had been converted to Christ, and heads to
Ephesus along with Aquila and Priscilla. (Acts
18:18-23)
“So Paul
still remained a good while. Then he took leave of the brethren and
sailed for Syria, and Priscilla and Aquila were with him. He had his
hair cut off at Cenchrea, for he had taken a vow. And he came to
Ephesus, and left them there; but he himself entered the synagogue
and reasoned with the Jews. When they asked him to stay a longer
time with them, he did not consent, but took leave of them, saying,
‘I must by all means keep this coming feast in Jerusalem; but I will
return again to you, God willing,’ And he sailed from Ephesus. And
when he had landed at Caesarea, and gone up and greeted the church,
he went down to Antioch. After he had spent some time there, he
departed and went over the region of Galatia and Phrygia in order,
strengthening all the disciples.”
NKJV Paul
goes on to Antioch, but leaves Priscilla and Aquila in Ephesus,
where they meet a “certain Jew named Apollos.”
Text:
Acts
18:24-28
Body:
I. Apollos
Possessed Excellent Qualities Acts
18:24-25a
“Now a
certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man and
mighty in the Scriptures, came to Ephesus. This man had been
instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit, he
spoke and taught accurately the things of the Lord,”
NKJV
A.
“Eloquent man” – literally “man of words” Apollos knew how to use
words to convict others; he had the ability to persuade. This art of
speaking was an important study in the school of Alexandria from
where he came. Alexandria was a city on the northern coast of Egypt
and the site of a famous library. What is so wonderful about this is
that he used this talent in God’s service!
B.
“Mighty in the Scriptures” – strong in the Scriptures of the Old
Testament – well versed in God’s Word – instructed in the “way of
the Lord, things of the Lord” Apollos gave the sense to the
Scripture and showed how things were connected. He knew Old
Testament Scriptures well, even that which dealt with the Messiah.
[Apollos knew only the teaching of John the
Baptist].
C.
“Fervent in spirit – spoke boldly” He preached with strong
convictions and feelings. He was “on fire,” extremely zealous to
tell others what he knew. All of the above are truly wonderful and
admirable qualities!
II.
Apollos Possessed Limited Understanding
Acts
18:25b
“though he
knew only the baptism of John.”
NKJV
“Knew
only the immersion of John” Apparently he knew only what John
taught. John was beheaded before Jesus promised to build His church.
(Matthew
16)
This was a considerable time before Jesus died on the cross, was
raised from the dead, gave the Great Commission, or ascended back to
heaven. So Apollos had not learned of these great things. John had
also preached about the coming of the Holy Spirit. (Matthew
3)
and knew not about that fulfillment on Pentecost when the church was
established. So Apollos knew nothing of these things either. He was
no doubt still preaching, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at
hand.”
III.
Apollos Possessed the Blessing of Having Those Who Cared
Acts 18:26
“So he
began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Aquila and Priscilla
heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God
more accurately.” NKJV
One day Aquila and Priscilla are in the synagogue [recall they are
Christian friends of Paul who stayed in Ephesus while he went on to
Antioch] and a man named Apollos begins to speak about the Way of
God – as far as he knew it, anyway. It must have become apparent
that he knew nothing of “Christian” baptism and that his knowledge
of Jesus was incomplete. So they took him aside and taught him more
accurately. Several things are of importance here:
1.
They did not wait for Paul or some other apostle or noted preacher,
but realized they had a responsibility to correct the error
themselves. They knew how serious it was. (James
5:19-20)
“Brethren,
if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him
back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his
way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins.”
NKJV
2.
They understood, knew, the gospel well enough to recognize error.
3.
They knew “being sincere” wasn’t
enough.
(Romans
10:1-3)
“Brethren,
my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be
saved. For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but
not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God’s
righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness,
have not submitted to the righteousness of God.”
NKJV
4.
They recognized that Apollos was not a deceptive false teacher; just
someone who needed more knowledge of the Way of God. Because of
this, they treated him much more gently than they would have a false
teacher. (II
John 9-11)
“Whoever
transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not
have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the
Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this
doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him; for he
who greets him shares in his evil deeds.”
NKJV
IV.
Apollos Possessed An Open Mind
Acts 18:27-28
“And when
he desired to cross to Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the
disciples to receive him; and when he arrived, he greatly helped
those who had believed through grace; for he vigorously refused the
Jews publicly, showing from the Scriptures that Jesus is the
Christ.” NKJV The
brethren there in Ephesus wrote to the Christians at Corinth (Acts
19:1)
to receive Apollos. They could trust his teaching. It’s obvious then
that he readily accepted instruction of Aquila and Priscilla. Would
we have? Here we have a well-learned and eloquent speaker from the
city of Alexandria, a great educational center with the largest
library in the world. After his sermon, a man and woman come up to
him and have the nerve to tell him his sermon was filled with error!
He could have reacted very differently than he did. He could have
puffed up and said, “How dare you, tell me, that I need
instructing!” That’s not what happened. Even though he was
well-educated, he didn’t believe that he knew everything. He had an
open mind and was willing to listen. This man loved the truth and
knew it, and it alone, could set him free. His big heart was willing
to admit that he was wrong. He was humble.
If someone cared enough for you to show you the way of the Lord more
accurately, would you react like Apollos? Or would you be like those
in II
Thessalonians 2:10?
“and with
all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did
not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved.”
NKJV
Would we admit we were wrong or would our pride interfere?
Apollos is a great example to us of how we all should be!
Invitation:
Apollos “helped those who had believed through grace.” More
accurately they believed “the grace.” (Acts
20:32)
“So now,
brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which
is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those
who are sanctified.” NKJV
“The
word of His grace” The gospel is God’s power to save. The same
gospel that Apollos obeyed is also the one that some at Corinth
obeyed. We can be saved just as they were.
1.
We must also believe that “Jesus is the Christ.”
2.
This faith in the Risen Savior causes us to submit to Christ as our
new Lord, to turn away from past sins.
3.
We then publicly confess our new allegiance.
4.
Finally we are buried in water for the remission of sins and raised
to walk a new life.
If this is not what you had thought one needed to do to be saved,
but now understand that it is, why not be like Apollos and obey your
Lord?
Bobby
Stafford
May 29,
2016
Acts: Lesson 39
Acts 18:18-28
