In Acts 18.24-28 we read that Apollos was well educated and he knew the Scriptures. He came from a region known for its study of the Scriptures (much of the Septuagint was translated there). In addition, he had great zeal for God and spoke with great fervor. However, he “knew only the baptism of John” (v.25). When Priscilla and Aquila heard him they invited him to their home and explained the way more correctly. Basically, explained to him about Jesus Christ. So effective where they that as he moved on he was a great benefit to the people of Achaia.
There are a few things we can observe from this story.
One, it is possible to be highly educated, and zealous for God, and still not see things correctly. The Scriptures that Apollos knew about were the TANAK (OT). While they point to Jesus Christ, they don’t have the detail that the NT does, 1 Peter 1.10-12 points out that the prophets didn’t fully understand what they were writing about, and neither did the angels.
Note how God uses people to come alongside others and help them see things more correctly. Here is Apollos, highly educated, trained in the OT Scriptures, has great fervor, and boldness in speaking out – yet he still needed correcting. And he was corrected by people he was trying to teach. It was not a vision, or a private moment with the Lord. It was a couple of tent makers.
We can also see the wisdom of Priscilla and Aquilla, they didn’t stand up in church and challenge him, and they didn’t talk to anyone else about how wrong he was—they took him to the privacy of their own home. They got alone and they explained things.
We can also see the humility of Apollos. He was willing to listen. It is highly doubtful that they had the educational pedigree which he did. Yet he listened and learned and his ministry took off.
God still uses us in the lives of people around us. He doesn’t typically reveal directly to people their blind spots and short comings – He uses people. As we live in community it is a give and take where we are learning and growing from one another as we invest in each others’ lives.
May we have the grace and courage of Priscilla and Aquila to take people aside privately and personally and may we have the humility of an Apollos to learn from others.