Advancing Towards Accuracy
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[SLIDE 1] Introduction
If you have your Bible, then I would invite you to turn to Acts 18:18-28. (READ)
18 After this, Paul stayed many days longer and then took leave of the brothers and set sail for Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila. At Cenchreae he had cut his hair, for he was under a vow. 19 And they came to Ephesus, and he left them there, but he himself went into the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews. 20 When they asked him to stay for a longer period, he declined. 21 But on taking leave of them he said, “I will return to you if God wills,” and he set sail from Ephesus. 22 When he had landed at Caesarea, he went up and greeted the church, and then went down to Antioch. 23 After spending some time there, he departed and went from one place to the next through the region of Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples. 24 Now a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was an eloquent man, competent in the Scriptures. 25 He had been instructed in the way of the Lord. And being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus, though he knew only the baptism of John. 26 He began to speak boldly in the synagogue, but when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately. 27 And when he wished to cross to Achaia, the brothers encouraged him and wrote to the disciples to welcome him. When he arrived, he greatly helped those who through grace had believed, 28 for he powerfully refuted the Jews in public, showing by the Scriptures that the Christ was Jesus.
Illustration
Many may know the legendary hero of English folklore called Robin Hood. He is known for his remarkable skill with the bow and arrow. He was so accurate and precise that he could shoot an apple off a person’s head without harming them.
I’m not sure how many people have attempted to do that in real life, but it goes without saying that we should not try that at home.
The secret to being a successful bowman like Robin Hood is not so much on the bow or the arrow. It is in the eye.
To shoot with precision, you must have a clear and focused eye that can see your target clearly. You must also have a steady hand and a steady mind.
Certainly, to develop such a skill requires a lot of practice.
In the case of archery, bowmen are to practice until their eyes become so focused that they can see even the smallest details, and until their hands become so steady that it can hold the bow and arrow perfectly still.
Furthermore, there is the practice of disciplining the mind. They’re minds are to become so steady that they can focus on the target without distraction.
Precision and accuracy are not just skills, they are also virtues. They require discipline, focus, and patience to develop.
This applies to almost anything in life from sports (i.e. basketball or table tennis), to music, to managing your time and priority, and to the skillset that you need for your career.
When we apply both skills and virtues of precision and accuracy, they help us to hit our targets in life with greater success and impact.
The reason why I’m bringing this up is because Christians must strive to be precise and accurate in understanding God’s word and living out His will for our lives.
Biblical Theology
[SLIDE 2] Paul once wrote to Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:15
15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.
Accurately handling God’s Word is crucial to God’s Kingdom.
Inaccurately handling God’s word can yield negative results for one’s spiritual life and church ministry.
Context
In just a moment, we will learn about this man called Apollos who needed to understand the way of God more accurately.
But we must first go through this section where Paul is about to conclude his 2nd missionary journey that he began back in Acts 16.
So, with your Bible in hands, let us now discover what God wants to say to us one verse at a time.
Exposition
[SLIDE 3] In verse 18, after the situation with Gallio, Paul stayed in the city of Corinth a lot longer and then left.
It’s unclear how many days he stayed. Paul certainly stayed in Corinth for more than 1.5 years; thus, giving him more opportunities to evangelize the lost and discipling the new believers.
And then, he set sail for Syria, bringing with him Priscilla and Aquila.
Now, this single verse brings up a lot of questions that are left unanswered by Luke, the author.
What happened to Silas and Timothy? Did they stay in Corinth? Did they also leave Corinth with Paul, except they’re not mentioned.
We do know that Silas is no longer mentioned again in the book of Acts. The last time he’s mentioned was in Acts 18:5.
But it is probable that Silas and Timothy were with him.
Since Barnabas and Paul returned together from their 1st missionary journey, it is likely that Silas and Paul returned together along with Timothy.
[SLIDE 4] The verse ends with Paul travelling to Cencheae, which is about 11 KM east of Corinth. This would have been a port where Paul would take a ship.
And while he’s there, we notice that he cuts his hair because he was under a vow.
What was the vow? When did Paul make a vow in Acts? What does this vow have to do with cutting his hair? Why did he do it in this specific context? Did something happen at Cenchreae?
Many scholars try to discern and interpret what this vow might be, but ultimately, I can’t say with 100% certainty.
However, if you’re interested, here are the two possible views:
It might be the Nazirite vow. This is perhaps the most popular view. The Nazirite vow was a temporary vow of separation and dedication to God in which a person abstained from wine, cutting his hair, and coming into contact with dead bodies. It can be found in Number 6.
It is possible that this might have been a vow of thanksgiving to God for preserving Paul’s journey. Sailors sometimes shaved after surviving a tough journey. So, it is possible that Paul made a private vow to God, asking for protection.
Regardless of what the vow might have been, we learn that Paul kept his vow to God and did not break it.
So, Paul, Priscilla, and Aquila sailed to Ephesus.
If you remember back in Acts 16:6, Paul was not able to travel to Asia minor because the Holy Spirit forbid him.
And the city of Ephesus was located in that province of Asia.
During that time, it wasn’t God’s will for him to travel there.
However, Paul is now given the opportunity to be at Ephesus. This signals that God did not completely close the door on Ephesus.
But, his time at there was only a brief stop.
[SLIDE 5] When they arrived, for some reason, Paul left Priscilla and Aquila behind in Ephesus, and then he went into the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews, possibly by himself.
No explanation is given as to why he left them there and went on his own.
In verses 20-21, the Jews whom Paul ministered to in the synagogue asked him to stay longer, but Paul, for some reason, declined!
Instead, Paul responded to them as he was saying his farewell, “I will return to you if God wills.” And then he left Ephesus.
Why did Paul decline to stay longer in Ephesus? This would have been a missed opportunity to either evangelize to these Jews (if they’re not believers) or to disciple these Jews (if they became followers of Jesus), don’t you think?
If I may speculate why Paul declined, here are my possible theories:
It is possible that Paul recognized that it was not God’s will for him to be at Ephesus for a longer period of time until later in Acts 19.
It is also possible that Paul may be running out of financial funds, so he had to head back to Antioch as soon as possible to give his missionary report.
Whatever the reason may be, Paul understood that if it’s God’s will for him to be at Ephesus, then he will return.
I think we as Christians should practice that mindset. Whatever we’re planning to do, we should say, “If God wills OR Lord willing.”
When we say that, we’re recognizing the sovereignty of God over our lives and even over our plans in life.
15 Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.”
Certainly, it was God’s will for him to return to Ephesus in Acts 19 and stayed there for two years (Acts 19:10), which will be slightly longer than Corinth.
[SLIDE 6] And then we get to verses 22-23. Now, I would like to point out that if we’re reading the Bible quite fast, we may miss an important transition.
What we have studied so far from Acts 16 until now is known as “Paul’s Second Missionary Journey.”
The beginning of Paul’s second missionary journey was clear, but the ending of this journey and the start of his 3rd journey were abrupt because it all happened within these two short verses.
So, if you like writing notes on your Bibles, then you should jot down that verse 22 is the ending of Paul’s 2nd missionary journey.
With that said, in verse 22-23, Luke jam packs about 2000 KM journey.
[SLIDE 7] Paul arrived at Caesarea. It’s the port city located in Judea. If you remember, that’s where Philip the evangelist was last seen in Acts 8:40.
So, in other words, Paul was “back home.” In this very short verse, we see Paul went up and greeted the church.
Most likely, Paul went up to the church in Jerusalem to greet them. That’s because Jerusalem was located up on the hill of Zion.
It would have been nice for Luke to give us more details of what happened. I’m sure Paul would have spent the time telling the rest of the Apostles what happened.
However, we’re only told that he greeted the church in Jerusalem, and he immediately went down to Antioch, his home church.
But Luke, again, doesn’t give us too much of what happened while he’s at Antioch besides spending some time there.
I’m 100% sure that he would have given them the missionary report, just like he did at the conclusion of his 1st journey at the end of Acts 14.
[SLIDE 8] However, Luke just wants us to see Paul get on with his 3rd missionary journey trip by visiting all the newly planted churches from his 1st missionary journey.
His job was to go there to strengthen all the disciples. Having not seen Paul for years would have certainly encouraged the churches.
How did Paul strengthen the churches? Just like how he did in previous passages (Acts 14:21-22; Acts 15:32). He spoke the word of God to them. He encouraged and exhorted them to be faithful.
Furthermore, if there were Christians who were feeling spiritually weak, Paul’s presence and teaching may have rejuvenated them.
While Paul was travelling, Luke does this thing we see in tv shows, “Meanwhile in Ephesus...” What’s happening there?
[SLIDE 9] Luke teleports us to Ephesus and introduces us to this Jewish man called Apollos. We learn several things about Apollos.
He is a Jew.
He is a native of Alexandria, located in Egypt.
He was an eloquent man.
He was competent in the Scriptures. Namely, he knew the Old Testament. He can teach it.
He was well versed in the Scriptures, which meant that he understood how the Scriptures prophesied about the Christ.
He was instructed in the way of the Lord. (Psalm 25:8-9; Hosea 14:9), which meant God’s instruction and teachings.
He’s fervent in spirit. This means that he was enthusiastic. He was excited. He was on fire (Romans 12:11).
Apollos was so competent, so on fire, and knew the Bible inside out so that he could effectively speak and teach the things concerning Jesus accurately.
Where did Apollos get his message from? Why was he so knowledgeable of the Scriptures?
As we noted, he came from Alexandria. It was a famous place for learning. So, it’s likely that Apollos received a formal training in the Old Testament.
So far, there are a lot of positives about Apollos except for one thing: he knew only the baptism of John. It’s quite possible that Apollos was baptized by John and might have been a disciple of John.
John was a cousin of the Lord Jesus Christ, but God called John to be the one to prepare people for the ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ. John baptized people at the Jordan River.
He was one of those fire and brimstone preachers.
[SLIDE 10] John said this in Matthew 3:11-12
11 “I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 12 His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”
John began his public ministry in the wilderness, calling the Jews to repentance.
The point of John’s baptism was to point people to the Lord Jesus Christ.
John's baptism was not sufficient for salvation.
His baptism was only a precursor to the baptism in the name of Jesus Christ.
In Acts 19:4, Paul dealt with some of John’s disciples who were baptized with the baptism of John.
(I thought whether or not to connect this section with Apollos with the next passage because we see some folks transitioning from being baptized into John’s baptism to being baptized in the name of Jesus.
But I decided to do a separate sermon)
Since Apollos only knew about John’s baptism, it brings up a couple of questions.
How is it possible for him to teach the things concerning Jesus and yet only knew about John’s baptism?
It is possible that Apollos was only exposed to the ministry of John the Baptist, but not Jesus Christ.
When he taught the things concerning Jesus, he may have pointed people to the Messiah from the Old Testament and preparing people the way of the Lord, just like the teaching of John the Baptist.
However, he did not receive further revelation about the person and work of Jesus in the gospels.
Another possibility is that if Apollos were a disciple of John, he would have been exposed to John’s ministry who pointed to Jesus as the Lamb who takes away the sin of the world.
Perhaps Apollos understood that the Scriptures pointed to this Jesus, but after Herod executed John, Apollos wasn’t around during Jesus’ death and resurrection, and wasn’t around during Pentecost.
So, he wasn’t fully exposed or aware of the significance of the gospel.
This brings up another question among Bible teachers: Was Apollos truly saved?
I think he is most likely a Christian given the description we see from him. Some would suggest that he’s an Old Testament saint, but wouldn’t be described as a Christian yet.
Darrell Bock: “Apollos is a figure caught in transition who ministers in the Diaspora [namely, the dispersion of the Jewish people beyond Israel] and thus needs to be brought up to date. His preaching is not inaccurate, merely incomplete.”
This is relevant for all Christians to give the complete message of the gospel as much as possible.
Some Christians would focus on the love and forgiveness of God without also addressing the importance of repentance of sin and obedience unto the Lord Jesus.
Some Christians emphasize the blessings of following Jesus without also acknowledging the challenges and sacrifices that come with discipleship, such as dying to self and counting the cost of following Christ.
Apollos may be zealous for the Lord, but still lacked full spiritual knowledge of the person and work of Jesus. However, he’ll receive a fuller, accurate, or updated information about the gospel supplied by Aquila and Priscilla.
[SLIDE 11] In verse 26, Apollos went to the Jewish synagogue. He spoke boldly about the things of the Lord from the Old Testament without fear.
Priscilla and Aquila happened to be in the audience.
They must have heard about Apollos and his reputation of being a competant teacher of God’s word.
So, they most likely have looked forward to hearing his eloquent teachings.
But, Apollos taught an incomplete message.
So, the Jewish couple took him aside after they heard him so that they can explain to him the way of God more accurately.
The Jewish couple did not instruct him in public. Most likely, they took him to their home. It’s part of their hospitality ministry.
How can we know that? The phrase, “took him aside,” is only one Greek word, which can also be translated as “welcome” and sometimes used in the context of hospitality.
[SLIDE 12] Paul said in Romans 16:3-5
3 Greet Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, 4 who risked their necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks but all the churches of the Gentiles give thanks as well. 5 Greet also the church in their house. Greet my beloved Epaenetus, who was the first convert to Christ in Asia.
So, Priscilla and Aquila opened up their home for the church to gather.
And, they must have invited Apollos to their home - a private place - to have a meal and to talk about the message. And it was in a private place where they explained to him the way of God more accurately.
They weren’t knit-picking on little details of his message.
Their intention wasn’t to criticize, but to help him to know more about God’s word and to be more accurate and precise.
[SLIDE 13] Now, we’re not told how he responded to Priscilla and Aquila, but verses 27-28 will show us the content of his teaching, and that is by showing from the Scriptures that the Christ was Jesus.
Apollos was receptive to the teaching of the Jewish couple.
Not only is it rare for someone like Apollos to be enthusiastic and zealous for the Lord, and knowledgeable of the Scriptures, but it is also rare of his status to be so humble and was willing to learn and be more precise and accurate.
Sometimes, those who know the Scriptures can be puffed up with pride and arrogance and are unwilling to be taught.
Apollos could have just said to them, “Well, that’s what you believe to be true, but here’s what I believe to be true, but you don’t have to believe what I believe.”
But, that’s not what he did.
“That the mighty preacher and scholar would consent to be taught by a lowly tentmaker and his wife attests to his godly humility.” (John MacArthur)
That speaks to his character.
That speaks to his desire to live up to 2 Timothy 2:15
15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.
He desired to advance and progress towards accuracy in the knowledge of God’s word.
I love seeing Christians being passionate for the things of the Lord, but one of my greatest concerns with such fire is that they often lack wisdom and humility.
Instead, they’re rather prideful and arrogant, and sometimes quarrelsome.
But, that’s not the characteristic of a Christian.
If there is a hole (or incompleteness or blindspots) in our understanding of God’s word and theology, we should exemplify the behaviour of Apollos.
We should be opened to learning so that the holes can be filled and be more complete and accurate in the way of the Lord.
At the same time, we are also to balance what we learn with discernment, like the Bereans in Acts 17, to make sure if what we’re learning is indeed the truth.
So, this passage concludes with Apollos entrusted with the complete gospel of Jesus who is the Messiah.
Apollos sails from Ephesus and goes all the way to the province of Achaia.
If you remember, that’s where the city of Corinth is located. We’re told in Acts 19:1 that Apollos was in Corinth.
And he went to Corinth for the purpose of helping or being of great assistance to those who through grace had believed.
Equipped with the truth of God’s word and an updated knowledge of Jesus as the Messiah, Apollos was a force to be reckoned with.
He was a great Christian apologist and debater for he powerfully refuted the Jews in public.
That is, he defeated the Jews in debates. He was able to break down their arguments and poke holes.
At the end of the day, it’s not all about winning arguments, but it is about showing them that their long awaited Messiah was Jesus who came to set His people free from their sins.
Apollos might have said what Jesus said to the Jews.
39 You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me,
So, he was able to go through the OT prophesies that are fulfilled in the Bible by Jesus.
Apollos was an exceptionally gifted man of God who was competent in the Scriptures.
Yet, the church in Corinth got into a mess because they elevated Apollos’ giftedness.
In 1 Corinthians, it seems like the Christians at Corinth were more attracted to Apollos and put him at a very high pedastal, and some were attracted to Paul.
While not intentional, it led the Corinthian church is experience division. Certainly, it must have pained Apollos, Paul, and Peter.
[SLIDE 14] So, Paul wrote the letter to deal with the partisanship.
10 I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment. 11 For it has been reported to me by Chloe’s people that there is quarreling among you, my brothers. 12 What I mean is that each one of you says, “I follow Paul,” or “I follow Apollos,” or “I follow Cephas,” or “I follow Christ.”
So, as a church, we are to be careful of elevating a person or a group of people over another.
[SLIDE 15] Application
While not all of us have the giftedness like Apollos, we are to grow spiritually by feeding upon God’s word.
We must recognize that everyone in a progress because we are all in different places in our spiritual journey.
There may be some who attend regularly, but you haven’t trusted Jesus as your Lord and Saviour.
You are learning about Him by reading the Bible, listening to the sermon, and gathering with other believes...
but you have not yet taken the crucial step of turning away from sin and trusting what Jesus has done for you through His death on the cross and resurrection.
I pray and hope that you will take that step if you haven’t done so.
There may be some who are new believers.
Just like children who stumble in their steps and make a mess while eating, you may not know everything or practice the Christian faith correctly and accurately.
That’s because the Bible describes new Christians as spiritual babes.
But you are in the process of learning and growing, and that is where you should be.
Eventually, you should understand the Scriptures more accurately.
Brothers and sisters, you have been in the faith for a while, (and just like all parents with babies), we are to be gracious and patient as we offer them guidance and instruction when needed, just like Priscilla and Aquila.
We should remember that none of us are perfect, and we are all still learning and growing in our faith.
Personally, I’m always clarifying and refining my understanding and precision of God’s word.
Conclusion
By the grace of God, I pray and hope that Oakridge Baptist Church would be filled with men and women of God who would be competent in the way of the Lord.
I pray that you will be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and knowledge.
