The Great Attitude Of Apollos Series

If you have your bible or bible app, let’s turn to Acts 18:24-28.

Let’s look at these 5 verses.

Acts 18:24-28 (NKJV)

24 Now a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man and mighty in the Scriptures, came to Ephesus. 25 This man had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things of the Lord, though he knew only the baptism of John. 26 So he began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Aquila and Priscilla heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately. 27 And when he desired to cross to Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him; and when he arrived, he greatly helped those who had believed through grace; 28 for he vigorously refuted the Jews publicly, showing from the Scriptures that Jesus is the Christ.

CONTEXT:

• We have been going through the book of Acts almost verse by verse.

• The last time I shared was the early part of Acts 18.

• Where we learnt about Paul’s discouragement and God’s encouragement to him to keep on speaking, don’t be silent and don’t be afraid.

• We also see how God protected him from the Jews who was trying to frame him.

• After that incident, Paul stayed in Corinth for a period of time and then left for Ephesus.

• And he assigned Priscilla and Aquila to stay back in Ephesus, while Paul went back to Antioch. (Acts 18:22)

• Basically, that’s the end of Paul’s second missionary journey.

• And then the next verse is the beginning of his third missionary journey.

• Later in chapter 19, you will see Paul back in the story.

• So in between from verse 24-28 of Acts 18.

• There was a new character being introduce into the picture.

• Where through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Luke included him like an interlude of Paul’s journey.

• And his named was Apollos.

Title: The Great Attitude of Apollos.

Who was Apollos?

Acts 18:24 (NKJV)

24 Now a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man,…

• So this person named Apollos was a Jew, and he was from Alexandria of Egypt.

• Alexandria (second-largest city in the Roman Empire with half a million people.)

• Egypt had the most Jews outside Israel during that time.

• Alexandria was a thriving community.

• It was well known for its high concentration of Jewish scholars.

• In fact, it was in the city of Alexandria where the Septuagint was translated.

• The Septuagint was the Hebrew text translated into Greek.

• It happened there in Alexandria.

• They used to have a library storing about 700,000 volumes/ancients scrolls.

• That tells us the people there took education seriously and took studying the Scriptures very seriously.

Eloquent (learned man)

• And now we can understand why he was an eloquent man.

• He was great in his communication skill.

• Able to use the right word, present it clearly.

• Natural master in delivering his message/thought.

• The city he’s from grant him the extra ability in his upbringing to grow in knowledge and speech.

• And later in verse 25, we can see that he speaks with great fervor.

• How I wish, and maybe how you wish you can be eloquent especially comes to sharing the Word/Gospel right?

• The good news is, whether you’re eloquent or not yet as eloquent.

• You can still share? Amen. God can still use you.

• Take for example, Apostle Paul. He was a great writer, not as great in speech

• But God still use him powerfully.

2 Corinthians 11:6 (NKJV)

6 Even though I am untrained in speech, yet I am not in knowledge. But we have been thoroughly manifested among you in all things.

2 Corinthians 10:10 (GW)

10 I know that someone is saying that my letters are powerful and strong, but that I'm a weakling and a terrible speaker.

2 Corinthians 10:10 (TLB)

10 "Don’t bother about his letters," some say. "He sounds big, but it’s all noise. When he gets here you will see that there is nothing great about him, and you have never heard a worse preacher!"

• So if you ever felt like you’re not good in your speech. I’m with you.

• I was a lousy speaker; even now, I’m still learning.

• I don’t think I’ve reached a level consider as eloquent.

• Pure Cantonese speaking guy.

• I need to write it on an A4 paper before I told my wife about my feeling.

• Last time I googled, I remember the fear of Public Speaking was world rank #2 before death.