Blog
“Teaching Apollos”
Categories: Bulletin Articles, M. W. Bassford
Some of the stories that we read about in Scripture are impressive because of what we know about the laws of nature. Others are impressive because of what we know of human nature, and in the latter category falls the enlightenment of Apollos in Acts 18:24-28.
Put yourself in Apollos’ sandals for a moment. Here, we have a guy with a lot going for him, both in terms of ability and understanding. He was an eloquent man, a powerful speaker, which even Paul wasn’t. He was passionate about God and His word. He knew that Jesus was the Christ, and he boldly proclaimed Jesus everywhere he went.
However, there was a problem. Rather than proclaiming the saving baptism into Christ, Apollos knew only the baptism of John. All of his powerful preaching about Jesus led to the wrong conclusion.
The disciples Priscilla and Aquila heard Apollos’ flawed message, and they in turn had the courage to talk to him in private about his errors. Then, an amazing thing happens. Apollos listens to them! Even though changing his message will mean open acknowledgment of his prior misunderstanding, Apollos does change. Now, his eloquence is pointed in the right direction, and he helps the church greatly with his efforts.
Today, there are two great lessons here for us. First, it shows us the importance of leaving space for others to be Apolloses. Priscilla and Aquila did not, Paul-style, oppose Apollos to the face because he stood condemned. Instead, because they knew the truth would be painful for him to hear, they went to him privately in order to spare his pride as much as possible.
God does expect us to be forthright with the truth, but He also wants us to use wisdom in figuring out the most effective way of presenting that truth. After all, our goal in correcting error is hardly ever (or should hardly ever be, at least) to get somebody told. Our aim is not to check off the stand-up-for-Jesus box. It is to enlighten, to persuade, and to change minds and hearts.
Maybe Apollos would have listened if Priscilla and Aquila had blasted him publicly. Maybe somebody will listen to us if we present the truth to them with no consideration for their feelings. However, our chances of success go way up when we speak truth in love.
Second, the day may well come when we find ourselves in the same place Apollos was. We’ve been confidently proclaiming X, and some kind soul comes to us, Bible in hand, and says, “Well, actually, it’s Y instead.”
That’s not much fun! Indeed, we will feel a strong temptation to continue clinging to X. Few indeed are the preachers today who will, like Apollos, accept that they’ve been preaching the wrong baptism and change their tune accordingly. Few indeed are the brethren who will easily embrace the truth after they’ve gone on record saying the opposite. Nonetheless, only if we are willing to humble ourselves and acknowledge our misunderstandings can God be glorified in us.
