Al Mohler: Evening Session

General Session #6

Al Mohler

Acts 18:24-28 (Apollos)

Apollos should be a model for ministry for us. Paul leaves Athens and goes to Corinth, introducing Aquilla and Priscilla, v.4 Paul was reasoning in the Synagogue. Paul was occupied with the Word. You are going to be occupied with something, but a preacher should be occupied with the Word. How do Silas and Timothy find Paul? He is preoccupied with the Word; may it be where our people find us. This goes right back to the ministry of deacons and the priority of eaching in Jesus’ Church. The Lord says to Paul, keep on speaking and do not be silent. V. 15 – When Paul heard the greatest theological debate possible, the response was “just words.” There is a divison in Acts 18 between those who think it is “just words” and for some it is their greatest preoccupation.

Apollos comes to Ephesus as Paul leaves Ephesus. Several things said about Apollos that are merely explanatory, but crucially explanatory. We must not rush past some things: A Jew named Apollos (Jews don’t name their sons Apollos). There is something immediately jarring to the Jewish reader; Apollos is a Greek, pagan name. The second thing is that he is a native of Alexandria. Alexandria was the most important intellectual center in the world after the fall of Athens. It (Athens) had a museum and the greatest library of the ancient world. People fled to Alexandria after the fall of Athens. In Alexandria there was great pagan knowledge, and the translation of the Septuagint was penned. Apollos was trained in the Greek Scriptures and is of significance because he is now in a Greek culture. Even his name cries out for some kind of explanation. How did he hear the Gospel?

Six statements said about him that are commendations:

1)       Eloquent man – One who is educated and gifted – consequential for public meeting – to be able to articulate words meant you had an orderly mind (if you don’t speak in public you are not called to preach – Spurgeon). It is not about eloquence, but you have to be able to speak to preach. We are not encouraging eloquence in the church today. There are far too many preachers who glory in the lack of eloquence because preachers don’t want to do the work. We should encourage those younger in our body to speak in public. Boys in our churches used to find we were exhilarated by speaking in public because we would ask them to speak.

2)       He was dynamic in the Scriptures – “He is at home in the Scriptures” He not only knows them, but has a level of expertise. The power of God is shown when he comes together with the Scriptures. The level of trust between a congregation and a preacher is found in the preacher consistently rightly dividing the truth.

3)       We are told he was instructed in the way of the Lord – Where you find a Christian home or Church you should find teachers and instruction. The faith is not passed down by osmosis or proximity. Someone must have trained Apollos to become competent in the Scriptures.

4)       Apollos was fervent in spirit – Romans 12:11 do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. This is not about attitude and excitement, but a zeal about the things of God that is translated into activity. Where you find a man of God you find a man working hard – not lazy. He knows what is at stake and being energized by the gospel and the Holy Spirit he is fervent in the spirit.

5)       He spoke and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus – Avoiding heresy is a life-long occupation.

6)       He began to speak boldly (willingness to face opposition and conquer it)

Acts 18:25 – though only taking part in the baptism of John

·         He knows enough about Jesus to speak accurately about the things concerning him, but he doesn’t know enough to be truly faithful in ministry. Paul was in Ephesus in chapter 19 and had to correct the congregation about this. Priscilla and Aquilla show up: The Lord sovereignly placed them in Ephesus at the precise moment that the Church needed them there in order to correct Apollos. When they heard him they explained to him the way of God more accurately. It is possible to be mighty in the Scriptures and to be wrong doctrinally. When they recognized that there was a problem, they came to correct him on the issue of baptism. They took him aside – they didn’t correct him or embarrass him publically and in the love of Christ taught him the things of God more accurately. We not only need a Church with men like Apollos but people who know how to accurately hear “that isn’t altogether right.” When we hear something that is not right, we should say, “that is not accurate.” Good intentions are not enough in Gospel ministry – we must be accurate.