Apollos grows in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ through Aquilla and Priscilla.

Acts 18:24-28

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“Now a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man and mighty in the Scriptures, came to Ephesus.” Acts 18:24 

Paul left Ephesus and was visiting Caesarea [in Israel], and Antioch at Syria, and the regions of Galatia and Phrygia [in the area where Turkey is marked], as seen on the map below and better described on the map of the post in Acts 18:19-23. During this time, a Jewish man named Apollos came to Ephesus, who was born in Alexandria. As seen on the map below, Alexandria is part of Egypt, and Ephesus is north [across the Mediterranean Sea] and about where the orange dot is located.

Apollos was eloquent and mighty in the handling of the Scriptures, the Scriptures being the Old Testament. The same as Paul who was skillful in the Scriptures in showing Jesus as the fulfillment of Bible prophecy concerning the coming of the Christ. The New Testament hadn’t been put together yet, which is obvious since many of the 27 Books were written by Paul after his missionary journeys. While the Books of the New Testament were written before 70AD, the actual Book of the New Testament was put together and canonized a couple hundred years after that. In the days of the Apostles, faith came by hearing the Good News of Jesus Christ and living the born-again experience. Jesus is referred to as the “Word made flesh” [John1:14], meaning His verbal word meant as much as every word written in the Scriptures of the Old Testament. Our born-again experience is the Gospel of Jesus Christ written on our heart.

“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, though he knew only the baptism of John.” Acts 18:25

Apollos was taught the way of Jesus Christ according to what he heard and experienced through the Baptism of John. Apollos was baptized by water, for the repentance of sin, and he taught accurately all he knew about preparing for the coming of Jesus Christ [according to the baptism of John]. The faith of Apollos came by hearing the word of John the Baptist, not through the written laws of Judaism.

As followers of Jesus Christ, we all repented of rejecting God, Jesus Christ, and fighting against the Holy Spirit. In that repentance, we share with others about the need to reconcile to God and prepare for the coming of Jesus Christ. We do this accurately and with all the strength within our heart and spirit. Even then, we may not understand all there is to know about the Holy Spirit, nor will we know everything contained in the Bible from Genesis to Revelation. We may not be perfect in the letter of the law and in our knowledge of all of the Scriptures, nor will we ever be perfect in living a life of Holiness. But knowing our born-again experience through Jesus Christ is something we can always share, with perfection. We grow in our sanctification by growing in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ, “…but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” 2 Peter 3:18

“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” Acts 18:26

Aquilla and Priscilla were a husband-and-wife team who knew more than the water baptism of John the Baptist. They knew about the Holy Spirit and were living and walking in the Spirit. They knew about the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead and the resurrection of spirit that comes by being born of the Spirit. They knew that Jesus was alive, ascended into heaven, and would return to bring all His children into the eternal New Jerusalem.

Aquilla and Prisicilla heard Apollos teaching boldly in the Jewish synagogues about repentance through water baptism. But Apollos needed to know more, he needed to know about repentance through Jesus Christ who gives the Holy Spirit and eternal life. Aquilla and Priscilla took Apollos aside to explain to him the way of God more accurately.

As followers of Jesus Christ, when we gather with one another in His name, it’s a time of growing in the grace and knowledge of Jesus. By sharing with one another, we learn more Scriptures and gain inspiration through the Holy Spirit. We learn more of how God is working in this world. Where two or more Believers gather in the name of Jesus, that is the Church.

 “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 refuted the Jews publicly, showing from the Scriptures that Jesus is the Christ.” Acts 18:27-28

After Aquila and Priscilla explained the way of God more accurately to Apollos, he was ready to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ, the message of the Cross, the resurrection, receiving the Holy Spirit, and eternal life in the New Jerusalem. He went from Ephesus and crossed the sea to the region of Achaia. On the map below, Ephesus is seen just under the word “Phrygia”, just to the left. Achaia is west of Ephesus across across the Aegean sea. As followers of Jesus Christ, that is the mission God gives to us through the Holy Spirit, to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Aquilla and Priscilla wrote a letter to encourage the brothers and sisters of Jesus Christ, in the region of Achaia, to receive Apollos. Apollos would have carried that letter with him, and everywhere he went he would reveal that letter to them. Today, the letter the Apostles write to commend us to other Christians is the letter written on our heart, “Do we begin again to commend ourselves? Or do we need, as some others, epistles of commendation to you or letters of commendation from you? You are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read by all men; clearly you are an epistle of Christ, ministered by us, written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God,not on tablets of stone but on tablets of flesh, that is, of the heart.” 2 Corinthians 3:1-3

Apollos was a tremendous help to those who believed through grace. They didn’t believe through the written laws of Judaism, they believed by the grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ. When Apollos learned the way of God more clearly, he became a great help to those living in grace. As followers of Jesus Christ, we need to grow in the grace, mercy, and forgiveness of God so that we can help others to grow in His grace. “For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” John 3:17

Apollos vigorously refuted the Jewish people publicly who tried to keep others in bondage to the laws of Judaism. Apollos was able to show from the Old Testament scriptures that Jesus is the fulfillment of prophecy of the coming of the Christ. He taught that Salvation and living for God is not through the laws of the Old Testament, but through faith in Jesus Christ. As followers of Jesus, we know the phrase “scarlet cord” refers to the Old Testament scriptures pointing to Jesus Christ in the New Testament. Today, we see how the Old and New Testaments are really just one Book about Jesus Christ.

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“….to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan’s so-called deep secrets,“
‘I will not impose any other burden on you, except to hold on to what you have until I come.’”
“I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.”
Revelation 2:24-25, 3:11