Throughout the Easter Season, the daily devotions have been written by members of Faith Lutheran Church. Today’s writer is Jeff Jones.
“Now there came to Ephesus a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria. He was an eloquent man, well-versed in the scriptures. He had been instructed in the Way of the Lord; and he spoke with burning enthusiasm and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus, though he knew only the baptism of John. He began to speak boldly in the synagogue; but when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained the Way of God to him more accurately. And when he wished to cross over to Achaia, the believers encouraged him and wrote to the disciples to welcome him. On his arrival he greatly helped those who through grace had become believers, for he powerfully refuted the Jews in public, showing by the scriptures that the Messiah is Jesus.” Acts 18:24-28
I picture Apollos as being the young, college grad type who goes around sharing his knowledge of the Messiah with the uneducated masses. Apollos was from Alexandria, which was the second largest city in the Roman Empire. Alexandria’s library was the largest in the world at the time. Before being destroyed by fire, it contained 700,000 scrolls. Apollos was an educated Jew. I suspect he had the equivalent of a masters degree. Because Apollos had the gift of eloquence, he could take old scriptures and breathe new life into them by articulating them so well.
As a scholar, I think Apollos found for himself what the scripture told of the coming Messiah. The suffering servant coming to bring redemption. It seems Apollos had ample credentials, passion and energy to be a missionary to the Jews. He used the scriptures to prove Jesus Christ was the Messiah. Apollos spoke boldly in the synagogue, though he primarily knew only the baptism of John . When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more completely. While Priscilla and Aquila may have felt inferior, they never let the intellectual differences between them and Apollos prevent them from having a fuller understanding of God.
I believe everyone who hears and accepts the good news of Jesus Christ is qualified to share what they know with anyone. Christians should always maintain a teachable spirit. No matter how much formal education or experience one has, there is always something new to learn.
Let us pray: God, through your only-begotten Son, you have overcome death on this day and have opened unto us the gate of everlasting life. Bless us to pursue, with your aid, the good resolves you have inspired, and by your constant help make them eternally effective. Through the same Jesus Christ, your Son, who is living and reigning forever and ever. Amen.
Daily Devotions 
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