Apollos, mighty in the scriptures

Scripture: Acts 18:24-28

24. And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and
mighty in the scriptures, came to Ephesus.
25. 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.
26. 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.
27. And when he was disposed top 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:
28. For he mightily convinced the Jews, and that publickly, shewing by the
scriptures that Jesus was Christ.

In Roman 5:3, it says, "tribulation worketh patience." This patience is a noble quality
of character, sometimes translated "endurance." To get to the meaning, we can paint
some pictures, with the help of William Barclay's New Testament Words
(Philadelphia: Westminster Press, 1964). This word or concept was not very common
in the ancient world, because it is understood "in the spirit" but not understood "in the
flesh." It is the labor and toil (1 Corinthians 15:58) that has come upon a man [inc.
against his will], the sting of grief, the shock of battle, the coming of death. One of the
interesting pictures painted by this word, is when it is used of the ability of a plant to
live under hard and unfavorable circumstances (Barclay, p.143). Think, cactus in a
desert.

In the new testament the noun form of this "patience" (Greek hupomone) is used 30
times, and the verb ("to endure") about 15 times. It is often used in connection with
tribulation (Roman 5:3, trouble). In 2 Corinthians 6:4, Christians are to be
approving ourselves "in much patience, in afflictions, in necessties, in distresses.."
This patience is also used in connection with faith. James 1:3 says, "the trying of your
faith worketh patience." This patience perfects faith. This patience is connected with
hope (Roman 5:4). This patience and comfort produce hope (Romans 15:4). And this
patience is connected with joy; the Christian life is marked with patience and
long-suffering with joyfulness (Colossians 1:11).

2) "Born at Alexandria". In Egypt, Alexandria was a Mediterranean seacoast town
that was well known for its famous school and library. "Alexandria quickly became
and long remained a brilliant seat of learning." (New Bible Dictionary, 2nd Edit.
Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House, 1982. p.25). Its 'Museum' and research and teaching in
arts and sciences, went along with, "the Library which eventually contained thousands
of works upon many tens of thousands of papyrus rolls" (NBD, p.25). So it would
appear that Apollos was a beneficiary of this, which is partly why scripture mentions
Alexandria in introducing him. Also, B.W. Johnson says that Alexandria was a city
where there were tens of thousands of Jews (The People New Testament With Notes.
Nashville, TN: Gospel Advocate, 1978. p.498). So there was access to the best of
both worlds. Incidentally, the Septuagint (Old Testament in Greek) was translated in
that city. So from Alexandria came the only Bible person described as "eloquent."

(3) "Mighty in the scriptures". Apollos might have known Hebrew, Latin, Greek,
Geometry, Geography, Agronomy, or others. I don't know. But the text says he was
mighty in the "scriptures." Whatever else he knew, it was subservient to his knowledge
of scriptures. Many people of the world, including some of the most esteemed
professors, are mighty against the scriptures, rather than mighty in the scriptures like
Apollos. Ministers are charged to "give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to
doctrine," 1 Timothy 4:13. Elders, who shepherd and "feed the flock that is among
you" (1 Peter 5:1-2), are also to "labor in the word and doctrine," 1 Timothy 5:17.

(4) "This man was instructed in the way of the Lord." He was teachable and was
taught. And because he could teach others, he remembered what he was taught, and
did not try to block out today what he was taught yesterday. In fact, he was willing to
be corrected. In his diligent teaching, he was "knowing only the baptism of John." (As
we saw in the last article [lesson #5], John the Baptizer was the forerunner who went
before Christ, while still under the old testament. But after Christ died, the doctrine
changed to the one baptism of the new testament gospel, Acts 2:38; Ephesians 4:5.)
After he was taught by Aquila and Priscilla, Apollos corrected himself, and taught the
same one baptism as Christians everywhere ought (cp. Acts 19:1-5). When Apollos
then went to Achaia, he did not revert back to the old baptism of John. (He did not
excuse himself with, "Well that's just the way I've always done it, and I'm too old to
change...") He was humble enough to keep pride out. "A man's pride shall bring him
low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit" (Proverbs 29:23). Even though he
was eloquent, he received teaching from the tent-making couple (Acts 18:1-3). When
Aquila and wife Priscilla "expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly,"
Apollos did not go to spilling over about his Alexandrian learning and culture. (See 1
Kings 4:29-30ff; Proverbs 9:10; Colossians 2:1-3; 2 Timothy 3:15. The root of any
wisdom that is true, whether Egyptian or Eastern or other, is God of the Bible.) For a
person like Apollos - or for anybody - it takes special character and patience to admit
the need to be corrected and to change and to stay that way because it is right.
Because of selfishness, spiritual blindness and vainglory, many hide in the
confusion, rather than be corrected. And if a person was already doing right, then they
have nothing to fear. So what is needed are overcomers of self, like Apollos. Proverbs
12:1, "Whoso loveth instruction loveth knowledge: but he that hateth reproof is
brutish."

(5) "Fervent in the spirit." What he had learned, and what he had been instructed in,
he channeled into the scripture, and that captured his spirit. Apollos would be able to
identify with the great prophet Jeremiah. Under various pressures, at one point
Jeremiah said he was no more going to speak in God's name. Hah! "But his word was
in my heart like a burning fire shut up in my bones; I was weary of holding it back,
and I could not" (Jeremiah 20:9, NKJV). But Apollos was a Christian, and not a
fanatic, not an extremist overcompensator, not violent, no suicide crasher, no anthrax
spreader, no shoe bomber, and also no philosophical and political folly as a substitute
for scripture. He was sensible and understandable as well as fervent. All because he
was hearing and following the voice of Jesus Christ (John 10).

(6) "Disposed to pass into Achaia." Achaia is that island on the southern end
of Greece. That's right Greece, as in the Greek culture which was spread by
Alexander the Great of Macedon, including in Alexandria, Egypt (named after
him). Greek history, language and culture flourished among Egyptians and Jews
in the place where Apollos was born. In Acts 6:1,9 those "Grecian widows" in the
church may well have been Alexandrian Greeks. Now it appears that Apollos had
a ready mind and willing spirit to use his abilities to convert erring sinners at
Greece. Is it not wise to do that for which life has prepared you?