Lesson 4680

(Lesson 4680)(11-26-24) Acts 18:24-28 

   “And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures, came to Ephesus. This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John. And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly. And when he was disposed to pass into Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him: who, when he was come, helped them much which had believed through grace: For he mightily convinced the Jews, and that publicly, shewing by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ.” 

 

  In today’s quote , a man named Apollos, an eloquent and knowledgeable Jew from Alexandria, arrived in Ephesus. He is well-versed in the Scriptures and spoke boldly in the synagogue, but he only knew the baptism (teachings) of John the Baptist, which was a mandatory preparation toward repentance. Apollos was not aware of the baptism of the Holy Spirit that comes through faith in Jesus Christ. Priscilla and Aquila heard him speak and recognizing the gap in his understanding, took him aside and explained the way of God more accurately. Apollos then went to Achaia, where he powerfully refuted the Jews in public, proving from the Scriptures that Jesus is the Christ. The distinction here is that John’s baptism was preparatory, focusing on repentance, while the baptism of the Holy Spirit, experienced through belief in Jesus, brings salvation and new life in Christ. ~