The Reception of Godly Instruction Part 1

In Acts 18 & 19 we learn some about Apollos and his ministry. Acts 18:24-26 says, “Now a Jew named Apollos, an Alexandrian by birth, an eloquent man, came to Ephesus; and he was mighty in the Scriptures. This man had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit, he was speaking and teaching accurately the things concerning Jesus, being acquainted only with the baptism of John, and he began to speak out 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.”

No doubt Apollos was called by God, was powerful in his presentation and was well educated in the Scriptures. He was being used to spread the good news that the Messiah is coming, and we must repent to respond to Jesus, the message John the Baptist preached. But Apollos was missing some information about the gospel of Jesus of Christ. It seems that Apollos likely had not met Jesus and spent time learning about the full person of Jesus Christ. Apollos may not have known that Jesus, the Messiah had in fact come and to follow Jesus’s instructions.

It struck me that Apollos, by all of man’s standards, was already powerful in spreading the news of the Messiah coming, yet we see Apollos is humbled to receive Godly instruction from Priscilla and Aquila. Apollos could have chosen not to receive this instruction, yet he openly received their correction and instruction. As followers of Christ, we must be open to receive Godly instruction from men and women of God. This is the plan of Christ in furthering His gospel of eternal life.

Pastor Emily Christenson