The Ministry of Apollos
Acts 18:18–28
God uses faithful people who are willing to learn, grow, and serve Him. Paul remains faithful to his calling, while Apollos shows us the importance of being both knowledgeable and teachable.
Acts 18:18–23
Paul is finishing his second missionary journey. After spending significant time in Corinth, he begins traveling east toward Jerusalem and Antioch.
A Little History
Corinth was an important city in ancient Greece and a major center of commerce.
Cenchreae was the eastern port of Corinth. Paul leaves from there as he begins his journey toward Syria.
Priscilla and Aquila travel with Paul. They were Jewish Christians who had previously been forced to leave Rome because of an order from Emperor Claudius.
Paul eventually arrives at Ephesus, then travels on toward Caesarea, Jerusalem, and Antioch.
Paul's Vow
Acts 18:18 tells us that Paul had his hair cut because he was under a vow. This vow with the Nazirite vow described in Numbers 6. A Nazirite vow involved special dedication to God, including abstaining from certain things and not cutting one's hair during the period of the vow. The passage does not tell us exactly when Paul made the vow or precisely why he made it. We should be careful not to claim more than Scripture tells us.
Paul's second missionary journey ends with a picture of faithfulness. He is ready to continue serving Christ.
Who Was Apollos?
Acts 18:24–25
Apollos was a Jewish man from Alexandria in Egypt.
Luke describes Apollos as:
Eloquent — he was a gifted speaker.
Competent in the Scriptures — he knew the Old Testament well.
Instructed in the way of the Lord — he had received teaching about God.
Fervent in spirit — he was passionate and zealous.
Accurate in what he taught about Jesus — but his understanding was incomplete.
Apollos Had an Important Gap in His Understanding
Acts 18:25
Luke gives us an interesting qualification: Apollos "knew only the baptism of John." This does not mean Apollos knew nothing about Jesus. He clearly knew about Jesus and was teaching accurately about Him. But his understanding of the gospel was incomplete.
John's Baptism
John the Baptist preached a baptism of repentance in preparation for the coming Messiah.
Dive deeper:
Mark 1:4
Mark 1:7–8
Acts 1:5
John himself distinguished his baptism from the baptism associated with Jesus: "I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit." — Mark 1:8. John's ministry pointed people forward to Jesus. Christian baptism points believers to the finished work of Christ and is connected with the new covenant life of those who belong to Him.
Questions to think about.
What was the purpose of John's baptism?
What did John say Jesus would do that was different from his own ministry?
Why would Apollos' knowledge be considered incomplete even though he knew the Scriptures and taught about Jesus?
What does this teach us about the importance of continuing to grow in our understanding of God's Word?
Priscilla and Aquila Teach Apollos
Acts 18:26
Apollos began speaking boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained the way of God more accurately. This is a beautiful picture of Christian discipleship. They did not publicly embarrass Apollos. They came alongside him and helped him understand what he was missing.
Questions to think about.
What does the way Priscilla and Aquila corrected Apollos teach us about humility?
Why do you think Apollos was willing to receive their instruction?
Are you willing to be corrected or taught when you discover that your understanding is incomplete?
Who has God used to help you grow in your understanding of Scripture?
Being a gifted teacher does not mean we have nothing left to learn.
Apollos Becomes a Greater Help to the Church
Acts 18:27–28
After being taught more accurately, Apollos went to Achaia. There he became a great encouragement to believers and publicly demonstrated from the Scriptures that Jesus is the Christ.
Notice the progression:
He knew the Scriptures → he was teachable → he learned → he served more effectively.
His correction did not diminish his ministry. It strengthened it.
Questions to think about.
What changed after Apollos received further instruction?
How did Apollos use his knowledge of Scripture?
What does this teach us about the relationship between learning and serving?
How can you use what you know about Scripture to encourage someone else?
One More Look at Baptism
Acts 18 prepares us for something that happens in Acts 19.
When Paul later returns to Ephesus, he encounters people who had received John's baptism but had not yet understood the fullness of Christian faith.
Read Acts 19:1–7.
This helps us understand why Luke makes a point of telling us that Apollos knew only the baptism of John. The issue was not simply the outward act of baptism. The deeper issue was what they understood about Jesus and the Holy Spirit.
Questions to think about.
What did the people in Acts 19 know?
What were they missing?
What happened when Paul taught them about Jesus?
Why is it important for Christians to continually grow in their knowledge of the gospel?
A Word About the Holy Spirit
The early church lived during the Apostolic Age, when the apostles were proclaiming the gospel and the New Testament canon had not yet been completed. Acts records occasions when the Holy Spirit was manifested through gifts such as tongues and prophecy.
The New Testament also emphasizes many other Spirit-produced qualities and gifts, including: Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, Self-control, Teaching, Prayer, Hospitality
Paul teaches us:
Be faithful.
Paul finishes his journey committed to fulfilling his promise and continuing the work God has given him.
Apollos teaches us:
Be teachable.
Apollos was gifted, knowledgeable, passionate, and already useful to the church—but he still needed to grow.
Priscilla and Aquila teach us:
Help others grow.
They used what they knew to strengthen another believer rather than compete with him.