Now there came to Ephesus a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria. He was an eloquent man, well-versed in the Scriptures. He had been instructed in The Way of the Lord; and he spoke with burning enthusiasm and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus, though he knew only the Baptism of John. He began to speak boldly in the synagogue; but when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained The Way of God to him more accurately. And when he wished to cross over to Achaia, the believers encouraged him and wrote to the disciples to welcome him. On his arrival he greatly helped those who through Grace had become believers, for he powerfully refuted the Jews in public, showing by the Scriptures that the Messiah is Jesus. Acts 18:24-28
Apollos has Holy Spirit fired up enthusiasm for preaching Jesus in the synagogue! He is faithful in the synagogue to argue using prophetic Old Testament Scriptures for Jesus Christ, almost as Paul, and his only limitation is that he is preaching using John the Baptist’s messages– Repent and be Baptized and believe in a Messiah who is shortly to appear.
Apparently after he was Baptized by John, having been Holy Spirit blessed, he returns to Alexandria and talks both privately and publicly about faith. Priscilla and Aquila listen to Apollos in the synagogue at Ephesus and then take him aside to share with Apollos the rest of the Good News. They share with Apollos the birth of Jesus to Virgin Mary in Bethlehem and explain the New Birth as told by Jesus to Nicodemus the Pharisee who came to Him in the middle of the night.
Priscilla and Aquila speak to Apollos about Jesus turning the water into wine, Jesus’ miracle healings and the feeding of the 5000 with 12 baskets of food left over, and the feeding of the 4000 with 7 baskets of food left over. They tell him Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, the Parables and meanings, His prayers and His walking on water. They speak to Apollos about His betrayal by Judas, His arrest in the middle of the night by 300 soldiers, the trial, his beatings and mockery, and His hands and feet nailed to the Cross.
Priscilla and Aquila share with Apollos the last words from the Cross that Jesus spoke and tell him that Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea took Jesus body down from the Cross and laid Him in the borrowed tomb. Then they told Apollos about Mary Magdalene and the other women who went to the tomb on the third day at dawn to find that Jesus had been Resurrected by God. And that for forty days Jesus Resurrected walked among us and that hundreds met Him as such, and some ate with Him.
Jesus’ forgiveness, mercy, perfect love, His ascension, and the Emmaus Road. They spoke to Apollos about the men and women disciples who waited in Galilee to receive what Jesus had promised and the event of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. And at this point Priscilla and Aquila and Apollos are overcome with joy with the sharing of their personal relationship with Jesus Christ, His gift of the Holy Spirit to us, and the fulfillment of the Kingdom of God in the Messiah Jesus Christ!
Apollos now preaches with an apostle’s message to those in the synagogue as he shares the fullness of the Good News. Then Apollos is led by the Holy Spirit to desire to go to Achaia so the believers encourage him and write a letter to the disciples to welcome Apollos. Apollos has gifts of the Spirit, talents given to him at his Baptism, boldly speaking in the synagogue and privately speaking with seekers, and is a tremendous encouragement to the believers in Achaia.
