Sunday, October 28, 2012

From Acts to Revelation Part 50 – Apollos



From Acts to Revelation
Part 50 – Apollos
Pastor Bruce A. Shields
House of Faith Church | www.PS127.org | www.TruthDigest.org

INTRODUCTION
Last week we saw Paul, who had been traveling with his friends from his tent making job, stopped in many places, preaching and teaching the Word of God.

He leaves again for Jerusalem, so that he can make it there in time for the Passover feast, where he will be able to speak to many about the true meaning of the Passover, and how everything in scripture points to the need for Jesus the Christ.

He leaves Aquila and Priscilla behind, where they continue to teach others a deeper understanding of Jesus.

It is at this time they meet Apollos, who is a man who has been introduced to Christ, and preaches of Him, but has a limited knowledge.

Aquila and Priscilla see an opportunity to teach, and encourage Apollos, so that he may become more proficient in his teaching and preaching, knowing the full Gospel of salvation through the grace of God, and about the Baptism of the Holy Spirit.


SCRIPTURE REFERENCE

Acts 18:24-28
24 Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was a learned man, with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures. 25 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. 26 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.
27 When Apollos wanted to go to Achaia, the brothers and sisters encouraged him and wrote to the disciples there to welcome him. When he arrived, he was a great help to those who by grace had believed. 28 For he vigorously refuted his Jewish opponents in public debate, proving from the Scriptures that Jesus was the Messiah.



a.      We know from scripture that Paul held Apollos in high esteem. However, here, Apollos is just starting his ministry, and his knowledge was greatly limited respecting Grace, and the Baptism of the Holy Spirit.


b.     Apollos did speak with great fervor, and taught about Jesus accurately, with respect to what he DID know.



II.    THE BAPTISM OF JOHN
a.      Apollos only knew of the Baptism of John

b.     The Baptism of john only addressed repentance, and the water Baptism

c.      He knew nothing of god's Grace, nor the baptism of the Holy Spirit.


III. APOLLOS SPOKE BOLDLY
a.      Apollos spoke the Synagogue, where Paul had left Aquila and Priscilla, his tent making friends he got a job and worked for in Corinth.


b.     They took Apollos in, and taught him the things Paul had taught them over the two years they had known Paul.


c.      They expounded Apollos' understanding on the way of God, teaching him of the completion of salvation by the Grace of God and the correct Baptism of the Holy Spirit.


CONCLUSION

Afterwords, Apollos traveled to Achaia.  The brother's wrote, encouraging the disciples to receive Apollos, and when he arrived, the scriptures tell us he was a great help, now that he was proficient in the message of the Grace of God.


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