Scripture
He had been taught the way of the Lord, and he taught others about Jesus with an enthusiastic spirit and with accuracy. However, he knew only about John’s baptism.
Observation
Paul moves on from Corinth to a number of other places. He leaves Priscilla and Aquila at Ephesus before returning to Antioch.
Meanwhile a Jewish believer named Apollos arrives in Ephesus. He is a gifted and enthusiastic teacher. He teaches the others about Jesus, but he knows only about John’s baptism. Priscilla and Aquila take Apollos aside and explain the way of God more accurately.
Apollos moves on to Achaia with the blessing of the Ephesian believers. There, he is used mightily by God.
Application
It does not matter how much you know about the Lord, you do not have all the truth. There is always more to be gleaned.
The good news is that the Lord uses us regardless of our level of knowledge. Apollos was a gifted teacher, and he was enthusiastic. So the Lord used him in every place he went.
We don’t have to wait until we know it all to serve the Lord. We just need to love Him and love people. If we are keen to serve Him, the Lord will open up the path for us.
Apollos apparently understood John’s baptism- a baptism of repentance. However he did not know about the baptism of Jesus- a baptism into the Holy Spirit.
The lack must have been obvious to Priscilla and Aquila. Apollos loved the Lord and had enthusiasm and energy, but he lacked the Holy Spirit. When they explained the baptism of the Holy Spirit to him, he took off in his ministry.
We cannot serve God adequately without the Holy Spirit. This is not to demean what anyone does from raw talent offered in love to the Lord. When we submit to the power of the Holy Spirit, it is much more effective.
Prayer
Holy Spirit, fill me, baptise me, anoint me. Take my life and let me be an offering poured out in service to you. Amen.
