Lesson 394

(Lesson 394)(09-12-12) Acts 18:19-28, "And he came to Ephesus, and left them there: but he himself entered into the synagogue, and reasoned with the Jews. When they desired him to tarry longer time with them, he consented not; But bade them farewell, saying, I must by all means keep this feast that cometh in Jerusalem: but I will return again unto you, if God will. And he sailed from Ephesus. And when he had landed at Caesarea, and gone up, and saluted the church, he went down to Antioch. And after he had spent some time there, he departed, and went over all the country of Galatia and Phrygia in order, strengthening all the disciples. 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 publickly, shewing by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ."

In this lesson, Paul said goodbye to Priscilla and Aquila saying, "I must by all means keep this feast that cometh in Jerusalem:" Remember, Paul was a Jew, and God had commanded the Jews, while they were still in Egyptian captivity, to honor the Passover celebration forever. One cannot, however, be sure this is a reference to that feast.
Paul then left for Caesarea, Antioch, Galatia and Phrygia. This text says he encouraged the disciples in all those locations.

This lesson also tells us of a man named Apollos, "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."

Let's examine what is meant by, "knowing only the baptism of John" as it is applied in this text. I believe the story of Appolos represents a clear example of how the error in teaching that water baptism is essential to eternal salvation came into practice.

That is what it appears that Apollos was doing, "he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John." We know that John the baptist taught and administered water baptism. It is also very clear that some biblical applications of the phrase, "John's baptism" reference the message that John taught.

What was John's message? Mark 1:3, "The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight." Water "baptism" was essential, by law, to the Jewish people in preparation for any religious event. Therefore, Apollos was preaching water baptism as prerequisite to the coming of Christ after Jesus had already appeared and fulfilled His divine destiny.
Apollos had obvioulsy been formally schooled on the Old Testament, and had heard the message of John the Baptist. Apollos had obviously not yet learned how Jesus had already died, was buried and raised again, leaving the sins of those who would believe in the grave.

Aquila and Priscilla took Apollos aside and correctly taught him the glorious plan of eternal salvation through faith in the testament of Jesus Christ. Apollos went on to become a powerful voice for Christianity among the Jews.~