Acts 18:1-28

 Acts 18:18-28

There is here an easily overlooked moment that expresses a truly beautiful encounter. At the synagogue in Ephesus, the remarkable Apollos had come to teach. He was Jewish but named after the god Apollo and was from the premier intellectual city south of the Mediterranean. Perhaps a convert to Judaism, or perhaps his parents converted after he was born. He was raised Jewish. He was himself a scholar; the word “eloquent” is indicative of a well-educated man, and he was a lawyer. After his teaching he is taken aside by the couple Priscilla and Aquila and taught a more complete understanding of the gospel. There is here a powerful picture of personal grace.

Priscilla and Aquila take him aside, likely to their home, perhaps to a meal, or as their houseguest, to teach him. There’s no public embarrassment or one-upmanship of knowledge, but a tender attention and protection of his reputation and standing. They are practicing the valuable principle of praise in public and correction in private. There is not a battle of credentials, or name-dropping, or ego. They were more interested in the message than in themselves.

We also need notice the humble spirit of Apollos. He was clearly from the upper classes, a white-collar intellectual from one of the prestigious communities of the world. Likely he was wealthy since it appears that he is self-financed on this trip. But he is willing to listen and be taught by this couple. Interestingly, Priscilla is named first, indicating she was likely the primary teacher or intellectual of the couple. Aquila was from Pontus, a region noted for a sort of perpetual dark age. They were recently expelled from Rome by the emperor’s decree; they were, in effect, recent refugees. They were very much blue-collar laborers who made tents for a living. You would have a hard press (apart from a slave couple) to find a more, by the world standards, humble couple. But because of the combination of their gracious way and Apollos’ humble willingness, this excellent ministry is greatly blessed, and the gospel is advanced. How unlike the pompous ‘know-it-alls’ that infect so much of the church today.

"Grant me the force, oh Lord, to be gracious both as a teacher and student. AMEN"