Apollos the willing
Apollos is one of those New Testament characters who gets my attention for all the right reasons. He was a Jewish believer from Alexandria who first appears to us in Ephesus. Acts 18:24-25 tells us that Apollos was an eloquent speaker who knew the Scriptures well… He had been taught the way of the Lord, and he taught others about Jesus with an enthusiastic spirit and with accuracy (NLT).
Whoever taught Apollos was thorough in passing on the teachings of John the Baptist, which he learnt well. But instead of keeping these truths to himself, Apollos gave himself to teaching others in Ephesus. Without fear or hesitation, he taught boldly in the synagogue… which was where Priscilla and Aquila heard him (Acts 18:26). They recognised his genuine belief yet also observed that he was lacking a full understanding of Jesus Christ as he knew only the baptism of John the Baptist (Acts 18:25). So, Priscilla and Aquila took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately (Acts 18:26).
Wasn’t that great, rather than criticise Apollos or shrug him off as naive, they discipled him with a more expansive understanding of God. This husband and wife team, Priscilla and Aquila, had the gracious perception and willingness to act, stepping into Apollos’ life at this critical time of learning. They recognised what was obviously the Holy Spirit’s activity in Apollos and acted with grace, not only for Apollos’ benefit, but for the blessing of many who would come under his teaching in the future.
Apollos was a doer! From the outset, he shared with others his existing knowledge of God. Therefore, when his time of instruction in Ephesus concluded, he moved to the area of Achaia. The church in Ephesus encouraged him in this and provided a letter of commendation to the believers of that area. Again, Apollos settled into his new surroundings and soon helped the believers by publicly refuting fellow Jews with Scripture, proving Jesus was the Messiah.
Settling for a time in Corinth, Apollos’ influence in the church was significant enough to be mentioned by the Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 1:12. Despite divisions in the Corinth’ church, the relationship between Apollos and Paul was marked by mutual respect. Paul acknowledges Apollos’ contributions to the ministry and emphasizes the unity of their work in advancing the Gospel. In 1 Corinthians 3:6, Paul writes, I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. Here, Paul highlighted the complementary nature of their ministries, with Paul initiating the work and Apollos nurturing it for a time before moving on.
Concluding his letter, Paul explains that he had adviced Apollos to revisit Corinth for further ministry (1Co 16:12). Paul obviously recognised Apollos’ teaching skills, his ability to fit in and get along with the church as a leader, and the collaborative spirit that existed between he and Apollos. It’s apparent that Paul recognised Apollos was a unifying influence upon the church. His eloquent style of teaching and his deep understanding of God’s Word made him a formidable advocate for the faith. Plus, his willingness to learn and grow underscored his humility and commitment to truth.
These are not only wonderful qualities for anyone to possess, but they are qualities which God uses to build up His church. Instead of weakening and dividing the church, Apollos was a willing instrument in unifying believers, in advancing the gospel to the unsaved, and in maturing believers in their faith. May God grant that each of us develop these Christ honouring characteristics for His glory and the blessing of others.