Acts 18:18-28
Apollos Learned the Way More Accurately
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18Paul remained in Corinth for quite some time before saying goodbye to the brothers. He had his head shaved in Cenchrea to keep a vow he had made, and then he sailed for Syria, accompanied by Priscilla and Aquila.
19When they reached Ephesus, Paul left Priscilla and Aquila. He himself went into the synagogue there and reasoned with the Jews.
20When they asked him to stay for a while longer, he declined.
21But as he left, he said, “I will come back to you if God is willing.” And he set sail from Ephesus.
22When Paul had landed at Caesarea, he went up and greeted the church at Jerusalem. Then he went down to Antioch.
23After Paul had spent some time in Antioch, he traveled from place to place throughout the region of Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples.
24Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was an eloquent man, well versed in the Scriptures.
25He had been instructed in the way of the Lord and was fervent in spirit. He spoke and taught accurately about Jesus, though he knew only the baptism of John.
26And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately.
27When Apollos resolved to cross over to Achaia, the brothers encouraged him and wrote to the disciples there to welcome him. On his arrival, he was a great help to those who by grace had believed.
28For he powerfully refuted the Jews in public debate, proving from the Scriptures that Jesus is the Christ.
Berean Standard Bible
Read aloud
Paul leaves Priscilla and Aquila in Ephesus, promising to return if God is willing. After visiting Jerusalem and Antioch, he travels through Galatia and Phrygia to strengthen the disciples. His absence from Ephesus does not leave all the work waiting for him.
Apollos arrives there with real gifts. He knows the Scriptures, speaks well, and teaches accurately about Jesus. Yet his understanding is incomplete: he knows only John's baptism. Priscilla and Aquila hear him and take him aside to explain God's way more accurately.
Luke does not treat Apollos as useless because he needs instruction. Nor do his gifts mean he has nothing left to learn. This couple's help addresses a real gap without dismissing what he already understands.
The believers encourage Apollos to go to Achaia and write ahead asking the disciples to welcome him. There he becomes a great help to those who have believed by grace, proving from Scripture that Jesus is the Christ. Paul travels, Priscilla and Aquila teach, and Apollos serves elsewhere. God's work benefits from these different people sharing what they have received.
Questions
1 What did Paul do as he traveled?
AnswerHe strengthened all the disciples in the regions he traveled through, continuing the work of building up existing churches.
2 What was true of Apollos?
AnswerHe was eloquent, well versed in Scripture, fervent in spirit, and accurate in what he taught about Jesus, though he knew only John’s baptism.
3 Who taught Apollos more accurately?
AnswerPriscilla and Aquila took him aside and explained the way of God more accurately.
4 How did Apollos help the believers?
AnswerHe powerfully refuted the Jews in public debate, proving from Scripture that Jesus is the Christ.
What This Means for Us
It is possible to know something well and still need help with part of it. When we correct a child or another adult, we can acknowledge what they understand and explain the specific point they have missed. And when someone does that for us, we can listen without treating the correction as a rejection of everything we know.
Prayer
God, make us teachable and gracious teachers. Help us receive correction without defensiveness and use our gifts with a growing understanding of your truth. Amen.