Good Morning Pastor John,
Over last week, I had thought several times about a portion of scriptures in Acts regarding Apollos…
18:24-26, 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.”
I can really picture this scene in my mind, because I think it may be similar to many circumstances that we all may experience today too. I looked up “fervent” in the concordance…and it was to be “on fire” or “hot”. So Apollos was truly on fire for God, but with only the knowledge he currently possessed of John’s baptism. Isn’t that what we see so much today…someone who is good, wants to serve the Lord, and seems to be truly “fervent” in what they believe? A person may not have understood the “rest of the truth”, as Apollos had not…but it was then Aquila and Priscilla who eventually just took him aside and “expounded” (or declared) the more perfect way of God.
For me, I thought this could really be a good example for us today too. And I love the opportunity to find scenes in the Bible that we can relate to today too, and learn by them. Any thoughts?
Happy Thanksgiving,
Melissa
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Hi Sister Melissa.
Yes, that is right. Your comments stirred up a memory. In one of the gospel tracts he wrote, my father, “Preacher Clark”, lamented that an “Apollos spirit” thrives among believers today. He was feeling what you are feeling.
My own observation concerning Apollos is that he was the first man to practice what has become known as “Christian baptism”; that is, a baptism in water that did NOT include John the Baptist’s exhortation to those whom he baptized: “There is coming another , who will baptize you with the holy ghost and fire”. God has never instituted but two baptisms, John’s baptism with a message to expect another and greater baptism, and His Son Jesus’ baptism with the holy ghost and fire. Other than for the kind of baptism that Apollos ignorantly practiced, there is no record in the New Testament of what is now commonly practiced as “Christian baptism”, and there is certainly no ordination from God concerning such a form of baptism. That kind of baptism is, from the beginning, altogether a ceremony practiced by men who are, like Apollos, ignorant of “the more perfect way”.
Thanks for writing. Good to hear from you again! We hope that you and yours are blessed and happy this coming holiday season.
Your servant,
Pastor John