BRUCE C WEARNE, in his look at the Book of Acts, explores a passage recording how Apollos came meet Priscilla and Aquila…
Now [let me tell you about] a Jewish man, Apollos by name, who was a native of Alexandria, a man of considerable learning, [who] came to Ephesus. He knew the Scriptures inside-out. He had already been instructed in the way of the Lord, and with spiritual intensity he spoke and taught about Jesus in accurate terms, yet he was only aware of John’s baptism. This man [came along and] began to speak with bold conviction in the synagogue. And when they heard him, Priscilla and Aquila took him under their care and even more accurately taught the way of God to him. And when he indicated a desire to travel to Achaia, the brothers and sisters gave him their support, writing to the disciples there [asking them] to welcome him. When he arrived there, he greatly assisted those who, by grace, had believed, for he was quite able to stand up to the Jews in public, for he could show Jesus to be the Christ from the Scriptures. – Acts 18:24-28
BY WATER – AND THE SPIRIT: Apollos preached the bapstim of John the Baptist but Priscilla and Aquila helped him understand how God poured out his Spirit after Jesus’ ascension. PICTURE: John De Boer/www.freeimages.com
IN A NUTSHELL
Luke tells us of another preacher, Apollos, and the impression he had made on the churches at Ephesus and the province of Achaia. Paul’s friends had helped him.
This is a short account and it tells us a few things:
First, we are reminded that the book is not just about what God did through Paul. It has a wider purpose than that. It tells us many of the things Jesus accomplished through His people in the years immediately after He ascended. We have seen that the story is about the ongoing outpouring of God’s Spirit. Luke is keen to let his readers know that Paul’s work took place in a context where others were faithfully at work. He indicates the historical context when this work was first begun and blessed by God. He affirms that Priscilla and Aquila were important contributors to Paul’s work. But any person’s place in God’s Kingdom is not defined by association with work others are called to do. Nevertheless, in the Body of Christ, each part has a task to support the other parts. They had work to do which God had given to no one else. Paul knew this: “Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, who risked their necks for my life, to whom not only I, but all the churches of the Gentiles, give thanks. Greet also the church in their house.” (Romans 16:3-5a).
Apart from giving indispensable support to Paul, they were part of work done by Apollos. The growth of the Gospel in Ephesus and Corinth saw these servants busy with the tasks God Almighty had given to them. What a privilege to serve this Lord and Master! Did you notice that Luke and Paul usually refer to Priscilla before her husband? This tells us that these male leaders of the church were well aware that Jesus came, served and called women to be His disciples just as much as he called men. He calls His servants directly and this means that all Christians need to respect each other, whoever they are, just like Aquila the Christian respected his hard-working wife.
Priscilla and her husband schooled Apollos. They sensed that his teaching had to be updated. Apollos preached the baptism of repentance which John the Baptist had proclaimed years before. Apparently, there were many who, like the fervent Apollos, believed John’s message. John told them about the Lamb of God who had come to take away the sin of the world. Jesus and His disciples had also come under that prophetic desert ministry. Apollos believed in Jesus but there were things he did not know. Priscilla and Aquila helped him understand the outpouring of God’s Spirit after Jesus’ ascension.
Yes, the Lamb of God had come. The Messiah of Israel had been revealed to Israel not only in His death but also in His resurrection. But more, as God’s designated Prince of the rulers of the earth, He had sent His spirit when He ascended to take His place at God’s right hand. Thus all who believe are to be baptised in His Spirit, as the guaranteed confirmation of their place in God’s Kingdom.
We do not know the precise chronology of events and maybe Luke was unsure of that himself. But he does tell us that the work of Paul and Apollos intersected in Corinth and Ephesus, and they were united in the same faith. Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians was written because that church was splitting into different camps. One group was for Apollos; another for Paul, another for Peter and there was even a group that claimed to follow Jesus! Luke’s account here is written with that trouble in mind. Luke wanted his readers to have no doubt about the unity shared by Paul, Apollos, Priscilla and Aquila.
And in telling us about the intra-Jewish tensions across the Roman Empire at that time, as well as Claudius’ expulsion of the Jews from the Empire’s capital city, he has given us important background to the problems the Corinthians and Achaia congregations had to deal with.
OPEN BOOK – HINTS FROM THE SPIRIT OF HOLINESS: APOLLOS
BRUCE C WEARNE, in his look at the Book of Acts, explores a passage recording how Apollos came meet Priscilla and Aquila…
Now [let me tell you about] a Jewish man, Apollos by name, who was a native of Alexandria, a man of considerable learning, [who] came to Ephesus. He knew the Scriptures inside-out. He had already been instructed in the way of the Lord, and with spiritual intensity he spoke and taught about Jesus in accurate terms, yet he was only aware of John’s baptism. This man [came along and] began to speak with bold conviction in the synagogue. And when they heard him, Priscilla and Aquila took him under their care and even more accurately taught the way of God to him. And when he indicated a desire to travel to Achaia, the brothers and sisters gave him their support, writing to the disciples there [asking them] to welcome him. When he arrived there, he greatly assisted those who, by grace, had believed, for he was quite able to stand up to the Jews in public, for he could show Jesus to be the Christ from the Scriptures. – Acts 18:24-28
BY WATER – AND THE SPIRIT: Apollos preached the bapstim of John the Baptist but Priscilla and Aquila helped him understand how God poured out his Spirit after Jesus’ ascension. PICTURE: John De Boer/www.freeimages.com
IN A NUTSHELL
Luke tells us of another preacher, Apollos, and the impression he had made on the churches at Ephesus and the province of Achaia. Paul’s friends had helped him.
This is a short account and it tells us a few things:
First, we are reminded that the book is not just about what God did through Paul. It has a wider purpose than that. It tells us many of the things Jesus accomplished through His people in the years immediately after He ascended. We have seen that the story is about the ongoing outpouring of God’s Spirit. Luke is keen to let his readers know that Paul’s work took place in a context where others were faithfully at work. He indicates the historical context when this work was first begun and blessed by God. He affirms that Priscilla and Aquila were important contributors to Paul’s work. But any person’s place in God’s Kingdom is not defined by association with work others are called to do. Nevertheless, in the Body of Christ, each part has a task to support the other parts. They had work to do which God had given to no one else. Paul knew this: “Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, who risked their necks for my life, to whom not only I, but all the churches of the Gentiles, give thanks. Greet also the church in their house.” (Romans 16:3-5a).
Apart from giving indispensable support to Paul, they were part of work done by Apollos. The growth of the Gospel in Ephesus and Corinth saw these servants busy with the tasks God Almighty had given to them. What a privilege to serve this Lord and Master! Did you notice that Luke and Paul usually refer to Priscilla before her husband? This tells us that these male leaders of the church were well aware that Jesus came, served and called women to be His disciples just as much as he called men. He calls His servants directly and this means that all Christians need to respect each other, whoever they are, just like Aquila the Christian respected his hard-working wife.
Priscilla and her husband schooled Apollos. They sensed that his teaching had to be updated. Apollos preached the baptism of repentance which John the Baptist had proclaimed years before. Apparently, there were many who, like the fervent Apollos, believed John’s message. John told them about the Lamb of God who had come to take away the sin of the world. Jesus and His disciples had also come under that prophetic desert ministry. Apollos believed in Jesus but there were things he did not know. Priscilla and Aquila helped him understand the outpouring of God’s Spirit after Jesus’ ascension.
Yes, the Lamb of God had come. The Messiah of Israel had been revealed to Israel not only in His death but also in His resurrection. But more, as God’s designated Prince of the rulers of the earth, He had sent His spirit when He ascended to take His place at God’s right hand. Thus all who believe are to be baptised in His Spirit, as the guaranteed confirmation of their place in God’s Kingdom.
We do not know the precise chronology of events and maybe Luke was unsure of that himself. But he does tell us that the work of Paul and Apollos intersected in Corinth and Ephesus, and they were united in the same faith. Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians was written because that church was splitting into different camps. One group was for Apollos; another for Paul, another for Peter and there was even a group that claimed to follow Jesus! Luke’s account here is written with that trouble in mind. Luke wanted his readers to have no doubt about the unity shared by Paul, Apollos, Priscilla and Aquila.
And in telling us about the intra-Jewish tensions across the Roman Empire at that time, as well as Claudius’ expulsion of the Jews from the Empire’s capital city, he has given us important background to the problems the Corinthians and Achaia congregations had to deal with.
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