A mighty man greatly helped by one ordinary couple, and increased in his usefulness.
Acts
18:
24
¶ And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and
mighty in the scriptures, came to Ephesus.
25 This man was instructed in the way of the
Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught diligently the
things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John.
26 And he began to speak boldly in the
synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them,
and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly.
27 And when he was disposed to pass into
Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him: who, when
he was come, helped them much which had believed through grace:
28 For he mightily convinced the Jews, and
that publickly, shewing by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ.
Some observations:
1.
Even great men like Apollos, are deficient in some doctrine and has a need to
learn!
2.
Even ordinary folks can teach great men some truth!
3.
Humility to learn the truth is blessed with increases in one's usefulness!
Caution:
-
don't assume men with DD or Th.D got things all figured out. Not a few are
self-conceited. Apollos didn't and wasn't.
-
don't be intimidated by their august title and letters after their names. They,
if humble like Apollos can learn a few things from commoners like Priscilla and
Aquila who were taught by the Apostle Paul. Few have such humility and
teachable spirit.
The
Lord had abundant mercy on me, granting me much grace to see and admit the many
contradictions and fictions in the things I was taught and believed as a
reformed Baptist for nearly 20 years. He sent Aquilas and Priscillas to teach me.
What
precious lessons for us!
1.
Aquila and Priscilla learned well from the Apostle Paul.
-
Will you do the same; learn well?
- "... ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the
truth" is a harsh reality, a tragic indictment upon God's children.
2. They were discerning and sharp enough to notice the serious deficiency in a
man mighty in the Scriptures.
-
Are you discerning and sharp? These virtues are rarities in today's churches.
Many are proud to be broad and accommodating to every wind of doctrine!
3.
They love the truth of the gospel enough to get themselves into trouble to
promote the same. They invited Apollos home, showed hospitality, and took time
to expound the truth of God to a great theologian.
-
Are you grounded in the truth of God? Will you teach it to the Apolloses that
God brings to cross your path? Or will you blindly venerate them or be
intimidated by them?-
You don't need a D.D. or M.Th. or B.Th. to show such "theologians"
the way of God more perfectly.” What you need is to be grounded in the
apostles' doctrine and not from some men with titles behind your name.
4. Apollos was humble enough to be taught the way of God more perfectly by a tradesmen couple. Are you open to being taught?
There are more lessons.
