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.
• When comes to talking to people, that’s the part we will try to avoid.
• In Alpha, mostly prefer serve in other area than to be the one face to face with the guests.
• I understand, Paul understands.
• There was an incident where Paul was preaching on and on:
Acts 20:9 (NCV)
9 A young man named Eutychus was sitting in the window. As Paul continued talking, Eutychus was falling into a deep sleep. Finally, he went sound asleep and fell to the ground from the third floor. When they picked him up, he was dead.
• After reading this, I felt a little bit better.
• So far no one die while I’m preaching.
• Being eloquent, that’s a bonus,
• but that’s not Paul’s aim.
1 Corinthians 1:17 (TLB)
17 For Christ didn’t send me to baptize, but to preach the Gospel; and even my preaching sounds poor, for I do not fill my sermons with profound words and high sounding ideas, for fear of diluting the mighty power there is in the simple message of the cross of Christ.
Even Moses says:
Exodus 4:10 (NKJV)
10 Then Moses said to the Lord, "O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither before nor since You have spoken to Your servant; but I am slow of speech and slow of tongue."
God says:
Exodus 4:11-12 (NKJV)
11 So the Lord said to him, "Who has made man's mouth? Or who makes the mute, the deaf, the seeing, or the blind? Have not I, the Lord? 12 Now therefore, go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall say."
Isn’t that comforting, God helped Moses.
God can help us through His Holy Spirit too. He’s our guide, who came alongside with us to help us.
Luke 12:12 (NKJV)
12 For the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say."
So, don’t give up. Depend on the Holy Spirit. “
Keep on speaking, do not be silent.”
Let’s look at a few things from Apollos and see what can we learn from Him?
1. His CONVICTION
It’s very hard to share something that you yourself are not convinced.
Conviction
- a firmly held belief or opinion.
- the quality of showing that one is firmly convinced of what one believes or says.
Means what you believe, it does shows.
Apollos was a great evangelist, he was a great speaker, why?
• Because he knows the Word and he believed it.
… and mighty in the Scriptures
• Specifically, the Old Testament in his time.
• That also enhanced his boldness in speech because he knows the stuff he’s talking about.
• In fact the word, mighty – dunatos, which also related to the word dunamis (dynamite).
• No doubt he spends time learning the scripture.
• And he was so convinced and resulted in his great fervor.
But in verse 25 also mentioned that:
Acts 18:25 (NKJV)
25 This man had been instructed in the way of the Lord;
• And he was carefully educated in regard of the coming Messiah.
and being fervent in spirit,
• Another word, he was passionate, enthusiastic, full of zeal
he spoke and taught accurately the things of the Lord, though he knew only the baptism of John.
• This part gave us an important information.
• He was right in what he taught, because it ways “accurately”
• but he was also restricted in what he taught because he only learnt up to the baptism of John the Baptist.
• Probably up to that time, he knew about the message of repentance and the coming Messiah which is Jesus.
• So when he spoke about the message,
• it was not inaccurate; it was just incomplete.”
• He missed out the crucifixion, the resurrection and the promised of the Holy Spirit.
Lessons:
• Don’t ever think you have nothing to learn anymore.
• There’s always room for improvement.
• When you think you know all and you have arrived, you may miss out the growing process you can have.
• But another thing I admire about Apollos.
• Share what you know.
• Don’t need to wait until you know it all, but at the same time, don’t stop learning and thinking that you know it all.
• Apollos may not understand all, but he was already sharing the things that he knows.
• It’s still better than knowing but not sharing.
• You and I, we still have a lot to learn. But what you’ve learned, start sharing.
• Especially the Good News which we have the privilege to know the complete Gospel.
Most Christian know yet not speaking about it.
2. His CHARACTER
Acts 18:26 (TLB)
26 So he was preaching boldly and enthusiastically in the synagogue, "The Messiah is coming! Get ready to receive him!" Priscilla and Aquila were there and heard him—and it was a powerful sermon.
Even though it was not a complete message, Priscilla and Aquila can’t denied that it was still a powerful sermon. And it was accurate to the first part of the Gospel.
Afterwards they met with him and explained what had happened to Jesus since the time of John, and all that it meant!
• Being so knowledgeable or mighty in scriptures.
• Being so eloquent and bold in his speech.
• Being so fortunate to be born in a better city.
• He was in a better position not to listen.
Even in Corinth, some people think Apollos is better than Paul or Peter.
• He has all the reason not to ignore what Priscilla and Aquila has to say.
• But he didn’t, here it shows his character, specifically his teachable spirit.
• Some people maybe in a better position to teach or advise you.
• Sometimes you may think this brother, or this sister has no right to teach/advise you.
• But let us be reminded to be humble and teachable.
Matthew 23:12
“For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
• For younger people, sometimes because we are in the age of internet or computer.
• Thinking that we know a lot and become proud.
1 Peter 5:5 (NKJV)
5 Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for "God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble."
Solomon, the wisest king says
Proverbs 9:8 (NKJV)
8 Do not correct a scoffer, lest he hate you; Rebuke a wise man, and he will love you.
• Do you love the person who gives you godly advice? Are you a scoffer or wise man?
• Apollos knows a lot, but he also knows he can learn more when he’s teachable.
• Are you teachable?
• Are we teachable when comes to the WORD of GOD?
The person who will not read is no better off than the person who can't read.
The person who knows but will not use Biblical principles to live by is no better off than the person who does not know them. - Zig Ziglar
CONVICTION WITHOUT CHARACTER IS LIKE FAITH WITHOUT FRUIT.
3. His CONTRIBUTION
Acts 18:27 (NKJV)
27 And when he desired to cross to Achaia,
• Where the capital city of Achaia is Corinth.
• He went to that direction where Priscilla and Aquila came from.
• Maybe he heard about the work Paul started.
the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him; and when he arrived, he greatly helped those who had believed through grace;
• In Paul’s letter to the Corinthians gave us an implication that Apollos was doing the watering work, which is also strengthening the believers.
• Paul planted; Apollos continue to minister to them.
• Because Apollos took heed of the explanation from Priscilla and Aquila.
• He became a blessing to people in Achaia, and now he can teach reconciliation found in Jesus.
• He benefits and encourage the church.
• He became a great help, another word, he was greatly used by God in that place.
In TLB - he was greatly used of God to strengthen the church
• Not only His conviction shows in his character, but also his availability for God’s Work.
Later on when Paul got to know more about him, even he was better preacher than Paul.
Both of them never compete, but they clearly know that they’re doing it for God.
1 Corinthians 3:9 (NLT)
9 We work together as partners who belong to God. You are God's field, God's building—not ours.
• To some of you, you have some people planted the seed, some people watered it.
• Some share JESUS to you, some guide you, some encourage you along the way.
• Do you do the same too?
• Does your conviction lead you to contribute to the Body of Christ?
CONVICTION WITHOUT CONTRIBUTION IS LIKE FAITH WITHOUT ACTION.
Lastly, we see:
4. His COURAGE
Earlier he was teaching:
Acts 18:25b (NKJV)
25 …, he spoke and taught accurately the things of the Lord, though he knew only the baptism of John.
• After his sessions with Priscilla and Aquila, he grew in his understanding.
• No longer just talking about the coming Messiah.
• But Jesus is the Anointed One.
Acts 18:28 (NKJV)
28 for he vigorously refuted the Jews publicly, showing from the Scriptures that Jesus is the Christ.
We can see his conviction translated in his courage to preach about Jesus.
Apollos was learning, helping, preaching.
Do your conviction lead you to share in courage?
We are going to take the Holy Communion together.
• It’s a time to remember what Jesus did for us.
• But it is also recognizing what Christ's death and resurrection have already accomplished.
• That we already stand justified before God, not because of what I can do.
• But what he did on that cross for us.
That’s our conviction. And when we take it:
1 Corinthians 11:26 (NKJV)
26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death till He comes.
1 Corinthians 11:26 (TLB)
26 For every time you eat this bread and drink this cup you are retelling the message of the Lord’s death, that He has died for you. Do this until He comes again.
That’s our belief, and this message need to be shared.
In 1959, the Mercedez Benz company (picture) was doing something that no one thought this luxurious car company would do.
The engineers took the cars and run it as fast as possible to bang into a concrete wall.
As the result of the experiment, the invented the Airbag.
Then the company took that invention and share it to all major car companies for free.
One day the national news interviews the lead engineer of that invention.
“why do you spend so much time and resources on this invention and gave it for free?”
His responded, “because some things are too important not to share.”
We know about the cure for eternal death; it is too important not to share.
CONVICTION WITHOUT COURAGE IS LIKE FAITH KEPT HIDDEN.
