The Acts of Disciples
They Make Disciples – Part IV
Scripture Reading: Acts 18:24-28
Key Verses: Acts 18:24-25
Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was a learned man, with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures. He had been instructed in the way of the Lord, and he spoke with great fervor and taught about Jesus accurately, though he knew only the baptism of John.
I love the last five verses of Acts chapter 18 (Acts 18:24-28). It is a story of the making of a disciple.
Acts 18:24-28 starts by introducing us to a man named Apollos, who was from Alexandria and had come to Ephesus (no doubt by the leading of the Holy Spirit). Apollos was well educated and had a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures. God was using Apollos, even though he did not understand the baptism of Jesus, knowing only of the baptism of John.
The first lesson that from Apollos’ life is that God can and wants to use us, even though none of us have complete knowledge of God. Look at the testimony of the Apostle Paul; it confirms that none of us are perfect in our knowledge of God:
I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. (Philippians 3:12 NLT)
Do not think that God cannot use you until you understand more about Him and that your walk with Him is better. Think like the Apostle Paul and “press on” to learning more every day, even while God is using you.
It was not a coincidence that Aquila and Priscilla (the couple that worked with the Apostle Paul), were at the synagogue to hear Apollos speaking about Jesus:
When Priscilla and Aquila heard him preaching boldly in the synagogue, they took him aside and explained the way of God even more accurately. (Acts 18:26 NLT)
The second lesson that in this passage of scripture is for you to be willing for other Christ-followers to teach you.
Apollos was open and willing to learn, even though he was a powerful speaker and had seen many converted from Judaism to following Jesus.
When we become too prideful to learn from other Christ-followers, we stop growing in our walk with God. Remember, Jesus used a poor, lowly widow, who gave all she had to God, to teach His disciples a great lesson on how God sees our generosity (Mark 12:41-44).
Father, I want to continue my growth in my knowledge of You. Please teach me more about You, as I keep my heart open to the teachers You pick for me. In Jesus’s Name I pray, amen.