Tag Archives: Apollos

ACTS THE SEQUEL…ENTER APOLLOS – 42

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“Meanwhile, a Jew named Apollos, an eloquent speaker who knew the Scriptures well, had arrived in Ephesus from Alexandria in Egypt. He had been taught the way of the Lord, and he taught others about Jesus with an enthusiastic spirit and with accuracy. However, he knew only about John’s baptism.”

At this point, Luke introduced yet another player in the story of the early church. Apollos, a Jew from Alexandria in Egypt, relocated from Africa and arrived in Ephesus at the very time when Paul had strategically planted two trusted colleagues in that city. Aquila and Priscilla! Although Apollos was thoroughly versed in the Old Testament Scriptures, he was yet to fill in the gaps from the input of the resident couple. 

“When Priscilla and Aquila heard him preaching boldly in the synagogue, they took him aside and explained the way of God even more accurately.”

So, even more thoroughly equipped, Apollos moved on. He was not needed in Ephesus since there were competent leaders in place there. 

“Apollos had been thinking about going to Achaia, and the brothers and sisters in Ephesus encouraged him to go. They wrote to the believers in Achaia, asking them to welcome him.”

God has His man for the moment…yet another eloquent and capable teacher to move the saints on towards maturity. 

“When he arrived there, he proved to be of great benefit to those who, by God’s grace, had believed. He refuted the Jews with powerful arguments in public debate. Using the Scriptures, he explained to them that Jesus was the Messiah.”

‭‭Acts of the Apostles‬ ‭18‬:‭24‬-‭28‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Thank the Lord for Apollos! Paul could not be everywhere at the same time. God had raised up another man to fill the gap and to secure the believers in Achaia in their most holy faith. 

God has chosen to do His work in partnership with His people. He sets aside one and another to take the lead in nurturing the saints and moulding them into a unit as a witness to His grace and power. 

Apollos’ faithful and accurate interpretation of the Old Testament Scriptures made inroads into the opposition of the radical Jews. It seems that he was able to damp down their fiery antagonism towards the gospel in debate, by his understanding and presentation of Jesus as the fulfilment of Old Testament prophecy. 

Is it possible that this Jewish believer, who had a clear understanding of the meaning of the Tanach and its preparation for the coming of Messiah Jesus, was the author of the letter to the Hebrews?

Although there are many who believe that Paul was the author, there are also many differences between Paul’s letters and Hebrews. The descriptions we have of Apollos, however… his understanding, his eloquence, his knowledge of the Tanach…can so easily point to him as the one who wrote this clear interpretation of the types and shadows of the the Torah. 

So, once again, the Holy Spirit had 

planted, strategically, another member of the team who pioneered the work of spreading the gospel to the known world. Each one was called, equipped, and positioned to anchor the churches in truth and to guide the believers towards maturity. 

There was Timothy in Ephesus, together with Priscilla and Aquila and, for a short while, Apollos. There was Titus in Crete…Apollos in Achaia…and other unnamed elders in the churches that had sprung up across the empire. Slowly, surely, under the guidance of the Spirit …and, despite fierce opposition…the kingdom of God was spreading throughout the world of that day. 

To be contnued

THE BOOK OF ACTS – STOP THE ROT

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STOP THE ROT

“When Apollos decided to go on to the Achaia province, his Ephesian friends gave their blessing and wrote a letter of recommendation for him, urging the disciples there to welcome him with open arms. The welcome paid off: Apollos turned out to be a great help to those who had become believers through God’s immense generosity. He was particularly effective in public debate with the Jews as he brought out proof after convincing proof from the Scriptures that Jesus was in fact God’s Messiah.” Acts 18:27-28 (The Message).

What did Paul think of Apollos? It seems that they crossed paths between Ephesus and Corinth. Apollos was not a pioneer like Paul. He was a back-up to Paul’s ministry, using his profound knowledge of the Scriptures and his gift of oratory and debate to put the case to the Jews skilfully that Jesus was the fulfilment of the prophetic fingerprint of Messiah. He was also a gift to the churches, strengthening the believers in their knowledge of the Scriptures.

There are little hints that Apollos’ understanding of the gospel was not as in depth and complete as Paul’s was. It was Priscilla and Aquila who had to enlighten him regarding the meaning of John’s baptism and believer’s baptism. Apollos was an Alexandrian Jew, not in the thick of the events that had happened in Jerusalem and Judea. He would have been out of range of the teaching and influence of the apostles and the church in Jerusalem.

As a diligent student of the Scriptures, he must have greatly enhanced his understanding of Jesus as Messiah by probing the prophecies for himself but the more intimate details of Jesus’ life and teaching had not yet been recorded by the gospel writers for the benefit of the leaders of the church. Unlike Paul, he had not spent three years in the desert “Bible School” of the Holy Spirit, receiving revelation that would be taught, circulated and preserved for succeeding generations.

Some Bible scholars believe that Apollos was the anonymous author of the book of Hebrews. It bears the stamp of one who thoroughly understood the Jewish religious system, the current Jewish beliefs and the life and ministry of Jesus as the perfect fulfilment of all the types and shadows of the Old Testament. The writer also realised and warned of the danger of going back into Judaism as a way of escaping persecution from the Roman government.

If Apollos was the author of Hebrews, it shows us just how important a figure he was, although he appeared only briefly on the pages of Acts; and gives us insight into the depth of his understanding of the Jewish religion and his skill in arguing for the fulfilment of Messianic prophecy in Jesus.

Perhaps Apollos’ ministry in Ephesus helped Paul to realise that he was not alone in his care of the churches. He had appointed overseers in each local body to shepherd the believers, but he still had overall responsibility to ensure that no error crept into their teaching and no remnants of behaviour that came from their old lives marred their witness and infected their fellowship.

To have a man like Apollos resident and working in the church in Ephesus was an extension of Paul’s own work, especially since the church leaders so warmly recommended him when he decided to move on to Corinth, and must have been of great encouragement to Paul.  A lesser person might have seen Apollos as a threat or a rival but not Paul. He trusted his ministry and urged his young protégée, Titus, to support him in every way he could (Titus 3:13).

How great it is when spiritual leaders recognise others as partners, not rivals! It takes one secure in one’s own calling not to be threatened by the ministry of others. It is a sad day when Christian ministers want to reign supreme, as though the church and the ministry were theirs, and not Christ’s. Nothing destroys the unity of the Body of Christ more effectively than competition, and the rot starts at the top.

THE BOOK OF ACTS – A STRATEGIC ENCOUNTER

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A STRATEGIC ENCOUNTER

“After spending a considerable time with the Antioch Christians, Paul set off again for Galatia and Phrygia, retracing his old tracks, one town after another, putting fresh heart into the disciples.

“A man named Apollos came to Ephesus. He was a Jew, born in Alexandria, Egypt, and a terrific speaker, eloquent and powerful in his preaching of the Scriptures. He was well-educated in the way of the Master and fiery in his enthusiasm. Apollos was accurate in everything he taught about Jesus up to a point, but only went as far as the baptism of John. He preached with power in the meeting place. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and told him the rest of the story.” Acts 18:23-26 (The Message).

How clever of God to set Priscilla and Aquila up for their encounter with Apollos in Ephesus! They had accompanied Paul on his return journey from Corinth to Antioch but remained in Ephesus while he continued on his journey home. No explanation was given, but God knew that there was to be a meeting with Apollos in Ephesus.

What a treasure Apollos turned out to be! How he came to be a believer from Alexandria is not recorded either. No doubt believers moved about in the empire, taking the message of Messiah wherever they went. Apollos was well trained in the Old Testament Scriptures and a native of Alexandria, a port city in Egypt where he would have grown up in a cosmopolitan culture, meeting people from all over the empire as they brought their goods to trade.

An introduction to the Messiah put a match to the Word, and Apollos was alight with the truth and comfortable in the company of Jew and Gentile alike. His passion and enthusiasm to spread the message took him to Ephesus where he “accidentally” ran into Priscilla and Aquila. They had been in Paul’s company long enough to have an accurate understanding of the gospel. Who better to take him under their wing and bring him up to speed with the things of the Lord?

Apollos was humble enough to be taught by these two “lay” people, sharpening his knowledge and skill as a preacher which he used to great effect in the synagogue in Ephesus, The fact that he was also, like Paul, a Jew who had recognised that Jesus was their Messiah, must have enhanced Paul’s credibility among the Ephesian Jews.

Why was it so important that Apollos be corrected regarding the baptism of John? After all, baptism is baptism, isn’t it? Does it matter into whose name it is done?

Yes, it matters a whole lot because baptism was an initiation into an office or movement, identifying the baptismal candidate with the leader of the movement and what he stood for and practised. John’s ministry was a preparation and introduction to Jesus as Messiah. His baptism was an initiation into and identification with him in what he was preaching. It was a baptism of repentance, preparing his hearers to receive the kingdom of God which Jesus had come to usher in.

The baptism of Jesus was an initiation into and identification with Him and His completed work of atonement for sin and reconciliation with the Father. To be baptised into Jesus meant being identified with the three-in-one God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit in what they had done to restore God’s rule in the people’s hearts.

Once Apollos had got that right, he became a fully-equipped and powerful ally of the apostles and the church, using his gift to bring encouragement to the church and enlightenment to his fellow Jews who, in the main, had rejected the gospel and become enemies of God.

Stop The Rot

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STOP THE ROT

“When Apollos decided to go on to the Achaia province, his Ephesian friends gave their blessing and wrote a letter of recommendation for him, urging the disciples there to welcome him with open arms. The welcome paid off: Apollos turned out to be a great help to those who had become believers through God’s immense generosity. He was particularly effective in public debate with the Jews as he brought out proof after convincing proof from the Scriptures that Jesus was in fact God’s Messiah.” Acts 18:27-28 (The Message).

What did Paul think of Apollos? It seems that they crossed paths between Ephesus and Corinth. Apollos was not a pioneer like Paul. He was a back-up to Paul’s ministry, using his profound knowledge of the Scriptures and his gift of oratory and debate to put the case to the Jews skilfully that Jesus was the fulfilment of the prophetic fingerprint of Messiah. He was also a gift to the churches, strengthening the believers in their knowledge of the Scriptures.

There are little hints that Apollos’ understanding of the gospel was not as in depth and complete as Paul’s was. It was Priscilla and Aquila who had to enlighten him regarding the meaning of John’s baptism and believer’s baptism. Apollos was an Alexandrian Jew, not in the thick of the events that had happened in Jerusalem and Judea. He would have been out of range of the teaching and influence of the apostles and the church in Jerusalem.

As a diligent student of the Scriptures, he must have greatly enhanced his understanding of Jesus as Messiah by probing the prophecies for himself but the more intimate details of Jesus’ life and teaching had not yet been recorded by the gospel writers for the benefit of the leaders of the church. Unlike Paul, he had not spent three years in the desert “Bible School” of the Holy Spirit, receiving revelation that would be taught, circulated and preserved for succeeding generations.

Some Bible scholars believe that Apollos was the anonymous author of the book of Hebrews. It bears the stamp of one who thoroughly understood the Jewish religious system, the current Jewish beliefs and the life and ministry of Jesus as the perfect fulfilment of all the types and shadows of the Old Testament. The writer also realised and warned of the danger of going back into Judaism as a way of escaping persecution from the Roman government.

If Apollos was the author of Hebrews, it shows us just how important a figure he was, although he appeared only briefly on the pages of Acts, and gives us insight into the depth of his understanding of the Jewish religion and his skill in arguing for the fulfilment of Messianic prophecy in Jesus.

Perhaps Apollos’ ministry in Ephesus helped Paul to realise that he was not alone in his care of the churches. He had appointed overseers in each local body to shepherd the believers, but he still had overall responsibility to ensure that no error crept into their teaching and no remnants of behaviour that came from their old lives marred their witness and infected their fellowship.

To have a man like Apollos resident and working in the church in Ephesus was an extension of Paul’s own work, especially since the church leaders so warmly recommended him when he decided to move on to Corinth, and must have been of great encouragement to Paul. A lesser person might have seen Apollos as a threat or a rival but not Paul. He trusted his ministry and urged his young protégée, Titus, to support him in every way he could (Titus 3:13).

How great it is when spiritual leaders recognise others as partners, not rivals! It takes one secure in one’s own calling not to be threatened by the ministry of others. It is a sad day when Christian ministers want to reign supreme, as though the church and the ministry were theirs, and not Christ’s. Nothing destroys the unity of the Body of Christ more effectively than competition, and the rot starts at the top.

A Strategic Encounter

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A STRATEGIC ENCOUNTER

“After spending a considerable time with the Antioch Christians, Paul set off again for Galatia and Phrygia, retracing his old tracks, one town after another, putting fresh heart into the disciples.

“A man named Apollos came to Ephesus. He was a Jew, born in Alexandria, Egypt, and a terrific speaker, eloquent and powerful in his preaching of the Scriptures. He was well-educated in the way of the Master and fiery in his enthusiasm. Apollos was accurate in everything he taught about Jesus up to a point, but only went as far as the baptism of John. He preached with power in the meeting place. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and told him the rest of the story.” Acts 18:23-26 (The Message).

How clever of God to set Priscilla and Aquila up for their encounter with Apollos in Ephesus! They had accompanied Paul on his return journey from Corinth to Antioch but remained in Ephesus while he continued on his journey home. No explanation was given, but God knew that there was to be a meeting with Apollos in Ephesus.

What a treasure Apollos turned out to be! How he came to be a believer from Alexandria is not recorded either. No doubt believers moved about in the empire, taking the message of Messiah wherever they went. Apollos was well trained in the Old Testament Scriptures and a native of Alexandria, a port city in Egypt where he would have grown up in a cosmopolitan culture, meeting people from all over the empire as they brought their goods to trade.

An introduction to the Messiah put a match to the Word, and Apollos was alight with the truth and comfortable in the company of Jew and Gentile alike. His passion and enthusiasm to spread the message took him to Ephesus where he “accidentally” ran into Priscilla and Aquila. They had been in Paul’s company long enough to have an accurate understanding of the gospel. Who better to take him under their wing and bring him up to speed with the things of the Lord?

Apollos was humble enough to be taught by these two “lay” people, sharpening his knowledge and skill as a preacher which he used to great effect in the synagogue in Ephesus, The fact that he was also, like Paul, a Jew who had recognised that Jesus was their Messiah, must have enhanced Paul’s credibility among the Ephesian Jews.

Why was it so important that Apollos be corrected regarding the baptism of John? After all, baptism is baptism, isn’t it? Does it matter into whose name it is done?

Yes, it matters a whole lot because baptism was an initiation into an office or movement, identifying the baptismal candidate with the leader of the movement and what he stood for and practised. John’s ministry was a preparation and introduction to Jesus as Messiah. His baptism was an initiation into and identification with him in what he was preaching. It was a baptism of repentance, preparing his hearers to receive the kingdom of God which Jesus had come to usher in.

The baptism of Jesus was an initiation into and identification with Him and His completed work of atonement for sin and reconciliation with the Father. To be baptised into Jesus meant being identified with the three-in-one God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit in what they had done to restore God’s rule in the people’s hearts.

Once Apollos had got that right, he became a fully-equipped and powerful ally of the apostles and the church, using his gift to bring encouragement to the church and enlightenment to his fellow Jews who, in the main, had rejected the gospel and become enemies of God.