SERIES: “LESSONS FROM THE EARLY CHURCH”
TEXT: ACTS 18:24-19:7
TITLE: “KNOWING THE WAY MORE ADEQUATELY”
INTRODUCTION: A. When you visit a place you’ve never been before, you tend to follow the directions
very closely. The more you travel to that place, the more complete understanding you
have and the less you use the directions.
1. The same thing is true in living the Christian life
--When you first start out, you’re afraid of making a misstep so you step very
carefully
2. The longer you walk the road with Jesus, the more confident you become
3. However, there’s a danger in thinking you’ve got it all figured out when you really
don’t
--You can walk with pride and arrogance instead of courage and confidence
B. There are two kinds of knowledge talked about in the New Testament
1. The first kind of knowledge is represented by the Greek word ”to
know”
a. This word denotes factual knowledge
b. I know that Benjamin Franklin was born in 1703 and died in 1790. I know that
he was a statesman, an inventor, a businessman, and one of the founders of this
nation but I didn’t know Ben Franklin personally.
--I have factual knowledge but not personal knowledge
2. The second kind of knowledge is represented by the Greek word - “to
know through”
a. This word denotes experiential knowledge – knowledge by experience (been
there, done that, got the T-shirt, sent home the postcards kind of knowledge)
b. I know by facts that my wife was born in Tomah, Wisconsin on Feb. 14th.
(I won’t tell you the year because I want to live a little longer). I know she lived
in Wisconsin, Texas, Maine, Missouri, and Kentucky. Her dad retired from the
Army at Ft. Knox and she graduated from North Hardin High School in
Radcliff, KY
1). But I also know a lot more about my wife than that because I know her
personally and intimately: I know what makes her happy. I know what
makes her sad. I know what gets her upset. I know the love, care, and
support that she’s given me throughout our years together.
.
2). I know my wife’s way of doing things a lot more intimately than I know
Ben Franklin’s way of doing things.
C. Acts 18:24-19:7 – 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. He began to speak
boldly in the synagogue.
When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they invited him to their home and explained to
him the way of God more adequately. When Apollos wanted to go to Achaia, the
brothers encouraged him and wrote to the disciples there to welcome him. On arriving,
he was a great help to those who by grace had believed. For he vigorously refuted the
Jews in public debate, proving from the Scriptures that Jesus was the Christ. While
Apollos was at Corinth, Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus.
There he found some disciples and asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit
when you believed?” They answered, “No, we have not even heard that there is a
Holy Spirit.” So Paul asked, “Then what baptism did you receive?” “John’s baptism,”
they replied. Paul said, “John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the
people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus.” On hearing this, they
were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. When Paul placed his hands on them,
the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied. There were
about twelve men in all.
1. Two distinct events
--one need
2. Something was missing
a. Both Apollos and the twelve men in Ephesus were lacking an important
ingredient
b. They knew God and they knew the teaching of John the Baptist
--But they still needed the completion of their faith
3. Aquila and Priscilla and the apostle Paul didn’t rebuke or condemn these men
--They led them to know the way of God more adequately
D. One of the most common designations of Christianity in the Book of Acts is “the
Way”
1. Acts 9:2 –Says that Saul persecuted “…any who belonged to the Way”
2. Acts 19: 9 & 23
a. vs. 9 – “there were some who “publicly maligned the Way”
b. vs. 23 – “…there arose a great disturbance about the Way”
3. Acts 24: 14 & 22 – Paul stands before the Roman governor, Felix
a. “…I admit that I worship the God of our fathers as a follower of the Way…”
b. vs. 22 – [after Paul finishes] “Then Felix, who was well acquainted with the
Way adjourned the proceedings.”
4. How adequately do you know the Way?
--Tonight’s passage tells us some things we need to have an intimate an personal
knowledge about concerning the Way
I. KNOWING JESUS MORE ADEQUATELY
A. Where did they get the designation: “the Way”?
--Jn. 14:6 – I am the way, the truth and the life…”
1. The word translated as “Way” is the Greek word for a road or a path that is traveled
2. The Bible clearly teaches that there is a way that leads to life and a way that leads to deat
a. Prov. 14:12 – There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.
b. Mt. 7:13-14 – “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads
to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to
life, and only a few find it.”
3. These two ways are always described in contrast to each other:
a. Life or death
b. Wisdom or foolishness
c. Righteous or wicked
4. Jesus is saying that the road or path to travel for salvation, peace, fulfillment, empowerment, and
eternal life (literally anything we’d really want or need forever) is His way
a. We must learn to walk like Him, talk like Him, look like Him, and live like Him
--Hard to do but it’s not instantly attained; it’s a path that we follow
b. If our destination is relationship with God and the rewards that come from that relationship, then we
must follow the Jesus road.
B. Obviously, if we’re going to know the way of God more adequately, we have to get to know Jesus in an
intimate way
1. Know who He Was
a. The promised Messiah/Christ
--“the anointed one” – Prophet, Priest, and King
b. God come to earth
1). Jn. 1:1 – In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2). Jn. 1:14 – The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.
2. Know why He came
a. Quoting Is. 61:1-2, Jesus says in Lk. 4:18-21 – “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has
anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s
favor.” Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of
everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him, and he began by saying to them, “Today this
scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”
b. Lk. 19:10 – “For the son of man came to seek and to save what was lost.”
c. The essential elements of Gospel preaching as recorded in Acts focused on Jesus as the promised
Messiah, as the sacrifice for our sins, and as overcoming Lord of all things (including death)
3. Know who He is
--The Bible tells us certain things about Jesus and His status in the here and now:
a. Rev. 19:16 tells us that He’s the King of King and Lord of Lords
b. Righteous Judge of all
1). James 4:12 – There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy…
2). Acts 10:42 – Peter says, “He commanded us to preach to the people to testify the he is the one
whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead.”
c. Savior to those who will trust in Him
--Titus 2:12 – “…while we wait for the blessed hope – the glorious appearing of our Great God and
Savior, Jesus Christ.”
C. All those things are factual knowledge
--We have to get to know Him personally. We have to spend time with Him
1. Read and re-read what He has written to us
a. If someone you loved was quite a distance away but wrote you letter, would you read them?
b. Certainly – over and over and over again. Every sentence, every phrase, every word, every
individual letter of the alphabet in those letter would be precious.
2. Get close to His Body
a. When you love somebody, do you like to touch them? Feel them close to you? Feel their touch?
b. Christ has left a Body on earth – it’s His church!
3. Spend time in communion with Him
a. When you love somebody, do you like to hear their voice? Do you call them on the telephone,
sometimes just to hear their voice?
b. Prayer is our communication with Jesus – it’s a time of us communing with Him and Him with us.
c. Spend some time everyday in worship
--Worship is not just a corporate event on Sunday. We’re called to worship every day of the week
d. Take part in activities that bring us closer to Christ
--serve the needs of someone else, spend time in meditation and reflection, tell others about His
glorious love and salvation
4. Make your pursuit of this relationship the most important thing in your life
--Guess what? You’ll get to know Jesus.
II. KNOWING BAPTISM MORE ADEQUATELY
A. The mode of baptism in the New Testament was immersion
1. The Greek word bapto means “to plunge, immerse; dip”
a. Every reliable Greek scholar reports the same exact meaning
b. The primary influencers of most denominational groups – Martin Luther, John Calvin, and John
Wesley – all agreed that the mode of baptism in the New Testament was immersion
2. It was used in secular Greek in a couple of different ways
a. Term used in describing the dyeing of cloth
b. Term used in naval jargon to describe the sinking of a ship
B. The meaning of baptism
1. Forgiveness and the pardon of sins
--Acts 2:38 – Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for
the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”
2. It identifies us with Jesus’ death – it’s His blood that takes away our sins
--Rom. 6:3-5 – Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized
into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as
Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. If we
have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his
resurrection.
3. It “clothes us with Christ” and puts us “in Christ”
--Gal. 3:26-27 – You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were
baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.
a. “Clothes us with Christ” – covers and we’re now seen through God’s eyes as Christ-like
b. “in Christ” – designates that we are now dependent on Him
4. Baptism also declares our intention to minister to God and to others in the way God has called us and
gifted us
--When Jesus was baptized, it was the beginning of His ministry
5. One of the misconceptions about baptism is that if we get wet, we get saved
a. We look at our baptismal certificate as our “ticket into heaven”
b. We think that when we die, all we have to do is wave that baptismal certificate under God’s nose
and He has to let us into our eternal reward
c. Baptism is the ceremony in which we declare that everything about us now belongs to Jesus Christ
1). Both Savior and Lord
2). What song is normally sung after someone’s baptism?
--“Now I belong to Jesus. Jesus belongs to me. Not for the years of time alone but for
eternity.”
C. Let’s look at the misunderstandings about baptism in our text tonight:
1. Both Apollos and the 12 men in Ephesus claimed to “know” the baptism of John
--However, Apollos just needed further instruction and the 12 men need to be immersed according to
Jesus
2. Difference is described in the passage
a. The twelve men
--19:3 – So Paul asked, “What baptism did you receive?” “John’s baptism,” they replied
1). They claimed to understand John’s baptism but really didn’t
a). They didn’t understand the connection between John’s baptism and Jesus
--19:4, Paul says, “John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to
believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus.”
b). They saw their baptism as a work of righteousness instead of a faith and trust in Jesus, the
Lamb of God who came to take away the sins of the world.
c). They thought what they had done was enough but it didn’t involve a relationship with Jesus
2). They didn’t know anything about the Holy Spirit
--19:2, Paul asked, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” Their answer: No,
we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.”
a). John the Baptist taught about the Holy Spirit
i. Mt. 3:11 – I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come One who is
more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the
Holy Spirit and with fire.”
ii. Jn. 1:33 – “I would not have know him, except that the One who sent me to baptize with
water told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is he who
will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’”
b). Either they didn’t listen very well to John or they just heard what they wanted to hear
b. Apollos
1). Acts 18:24 – says he had a thorough knowledge of the scriptures
2). Acts 18:25a – instructed in the way of the Lord
3). Acts 18:25b – taught accurately about Jesus
4). According to those three things, he truly knew and understood the baptism of John.
--He just need some of the gaps filled in by some more mature Christians and the
encouragement to continue to grow his faith and serve the way God had gifted him.
D. A lot of church members like Apollos and these 12 men:
1. Ones like Apollos are doing the best they can but need some help and encouragement along the way.
2. The ones like the 12 men think they’ve got it all covered but it turns out that they don’t
a. If they’ll humble themselves like these 12 men and take care of what needs to be taken care of,
they’re going to be okay.
b. However, if they’re full of pride and ignorance, they’ll just continue to do the wrong things
--Practice doesn’t make perfect. Only practicing the right things makes you better at what you do.
III. KNOWING THE HOLY SPIRIT MORE ADEQUATELY
A. There are some groups who claim that there are two baptisms
--a water baptism and a Holy Spirit baptism
1. Eph. 4:5 says there is “one Lord, one faith, one baptism…”
2. Titus 3:5-6 – “He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy.
He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.”
B. There is great confusion concerning the Holy Spirit today and the confusion focuses around two widely
divergent camps
--Those who place too much emphasis on the Holy Spirit and those who have largely ignored the Holy
Spirit
1. The group who places too much emphasis on the Holy Spirit will really enjoy a passage like Acts 9:5-
7 where the twelve Ephesian men manifested some of the miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit
2. The group who largely ignores the Holy Spirit will not enjoy a passage like this one and will tend to
either gloss over it or just ignore it all together.
C. Let’s take a look at what happened in this passage:
1. The miraculous gifts of the Spirit were not a part of the salvation process
--vs. 6 tells us that Paul laid his hands on them after they were baptized in the name of Jesus Christ
and gave them an additional blessing.
2. Heb. 2:3b-4 tells us the purpose for miraculous gifts: This salvation, which was first announced by
the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him. God also testified to it by signs, wonders and
various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.
3. Speaking in tongues (languages) is mentioned only three times in Acts: Acts, Acts 10, and here in
Acts 19.
4. Nowhere in Scripture does it suggest that every Christian should speak in tongues or that if you do
not speak in tongues, you’re not filled with the Holy Spirit.
--In fact, in 1 Cor. 12, Paul says that God gives different gifts tot he body but that speaking in
tongues is the least of these gifts and that not everybody speaks in tongues.
5. The twelve men that are mentioned here in Acts 19 were to become part of the nucleus of the
Ephesian congregation
--I personally believe that at least some, if not all, of these men were part of the eldership of the
Ephesian church that Paul later calls to Miletus to give final instruction.
D. You’re saying, “I still don’t understand the holy Spirit. I placed my faith and trust in Jesus Christ and I
was baptized but I didn’t get any kind of electrical shock or emotional experience from the Holy Spirit.
I didn’t go into a trance or anything. What’s the big deal?”
1. You’ll never completely comprehend the Holy Spirit until you’ve entered your inheritance in heaven.
--While we exist in the finite and the mortal, we cannot fully understand everything about the
infinite and the immortal
2. Receiving the Holy Spirit is not a standardized experience.
--God doesn’t usethe same cookie cutter every time
3. It’s a divine promise – a promise that if you will yield your life to Jesus Christ when you’re baptized,
He fills you with the Holy Spirit.
4. Have you ever seen a little bay discover that he’s got hands for the first time? “Hey, I’ve got
hands!” He learns he can control what they do. “Hey, I can make them do what I want!”
Soon, he starts doing creative things with his hands: starts sucking his thumb; learns how to catch
a ball; learns how to write, to type, to play the piano. He had hands all along. He only needed to
discover them and learn how to use them.
a. The work of the Holy Spirit in your Christian life is a discovery process
b. Keep looking. Keep discovering.
--You’ll probably be pleasantly surprised
5. Knowing the Holy Spirit in an intimate way is really tied to our relationship to Jesus Christ
a. The Bible tells us that Christ is God and that the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Christ.
b. If we don’t know Jesus, we can’t know the Holy Spirit
CONCLUSION: A. Did you notice that every one of the things we discussed tonight involves an intimate
relationship with Jesus?
--At the beginning of this message, I mentioned that there were two basic kinds of
knowledge: factual knowledge and knowledge by experience.
1. Factual knowledge is ritualistic knowledge
--I know about Benjamin Franklin because someone else has told me about him. I’ve
gone over and over the information in class and on my own. And I’ve memorized it
because I was expected to do so.
2. Experiential knowledge is relationship knowledge
--I know it because I’ve developed a relationship with and lived with the subject of
this knowledge. My knowledge of my wife is a lot deeper than my knowledge of
Ben Franklin. Ben Franklin was a group of facts to know and memorize. My wife
is a person I got to know, got to love, and got to know her love in return.
B. The following excerpt is from a message sent to the production company behind the movie
The Passion of the Christ: “I realize you probably never have the occasion to see him, but
if you do, could you tell Mel Gibson that a 74 year old woman named Hally Raisor saw
the Passion and as a result she gave her life to Jesus Christ and was baptized.”
1. After Hally Raisor saw the film, she was so moved that she contacted all her brothers,
sisters, her sons and daughter-in-laws and made them go see it as well.
2. Here is what happened at the movie theatre:
-- As she and her party walked down the aisle to their seats, Hally fell in the darkness
on the steps. They wanted to take her to the hospital but she demanded that they all sit
down and watch the movie. They all tried to reason with her but she remained
steadfast in her decision.
After the film was finished, she asked each one of her family members if they had
a relationship with Jesus Christ. She told them the message of the Gospel and then
went to the hospital. The doctors found that she had broken three ribs and had several
other injuries.
All of that happened on a Saturday night, the night before she would be immersed
into Christ herself. Her preacher tells that he planned to put off her baptism until she
physically felt better. Her response was tinged with anger and she said, “If Christ
could suffer what He did for me, I can suffer through this for Him!” And she did.
I understand that Hally Raisor, after declaring her love and commitment to a
relationship with Jesus Christ has since become bedridden and is probably nearing the
end of her life. But she’s definitely not afraid to move along in her relationship with
her Lord and Savior. She’s ready to spend eternity with Him in heaven.
C. What is your understanding of “the Way”?
1. Since Jesus is the Way, then I’m asking about your relationship with Him.
2. Are you living out a real relationship or are you practicing a ritual religion?
3. If you have no relationship at all, are you ready to start one tonight?
