Acts 18 — Part 3 GIFTED, SINCERE — AND STILL TEACHABLE

LIGHT WAY CHURCH

The Book of Acts Teaching Series

Acts 18 — Part 3

GIFTED, SINCERE — AND STILL TEACHABLE

Acts 18:24–28

CENTRAL THOUGHT

A person can be:

sincere,

knowledgeable,

passionate,

gifted,

effective,

and still need correction.

Spiritual maturity is not proven by never needing correction.

SPIRITUAL MATURITY IS PROVEN, IN PART, BY HOW WE RESPOND WHEN TRUTH SHOWS US THAT OUR UNDERSTANDING IS INCOMPLETE.

Acts 18 closes by introducing us to a man named Apollos.

Luke gives him one of the strongest descriptions of any teacher in the Book of Acts.

But then Luke tells us something surprising:

Apollos did not yet understand everything accurately.

And what happens next gives the church an important model for:

correction,

humility,

discipleship,

teaching,

leadership,

and spiritual growth.

OPENING REVIEW — WHERE HAVE WE BEEN?

We have now spent several weeks in Acts 18.

In Part 1, Paul entered Corinth.

Corinth was prosperous, influential, religiously diverse, and morally troubled.

Yet God told Paul:

“Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace: For I am with thee...for I have much people in this city.” — Acts 18:9–10

That taught us something important.

Paul saw Corinth's condition.

God saw Corinth's potential.

Paul saw opposition.

God saw future believers.

Paul saw a difficult city.

God saw people who would respond to the gospel.

Then in Part 2, Paul was brought before Gallio.

His opponents attempted to use Roman authority against him.

But the case was dismissed.

We learned that opposition does not automatically mean we are outside God's will.

We also learned the opposite:

OPPOSITION DOES NOT AUTOMATICALLY PROVE WE ARE RIGHT.

Sometimes people oppose us because we are faithful.

Sometimes people oppose us because we are wrong.

The question is not:

“Are people against me?”

The question is:

“Does what I am doing agree with Scripture?”

We also saw Paul leave Corinth and travel to Ephesus.

The people in Ephesus wanted him to stay.

But he left.

He told them:

“I will return again unto you, if God will.” — Acts 18:21

That taught us:

REJECTION IS NOT ALWAYS A SIGN TO LEAVE.

ACCEPTANCE IS NOT ALWAYS A SIGN TO STAY.

Paul's decisions were not controlled by applause or criticism.

Then Acts 18:23 told us that Paul traveled through Galatia and Phrygia:

“strengthening all the disciples.”

Paul was not merely interested in people making an initial profession of faith.

He wanted believers to become stronger.

That brings us directly to today's lesson.

Because Acts 18 now introduces someone who was already knowledgeable, already gifted, already teaching—

but who still needed to become stronger.

His name was Apollos.

ACTS 18:24

MEET APOLLOS

“And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures, came to Ephesus.”

Luke tells us several things immediately.

1. APOLLOS WAS JEWISH

He had a background in the Hebrew Scriptures.

2. HE WAS FROM ALEXANDRIA

Alexandria in Egypt was one of the great intellectual centers of the ancient world.

It had a significant Jewish population and was known for scholarship and learning.

So Apollos likely came from an environment where study and interpretation were highly valued.

3. HE WAS ELOQUENT

The word describes someone capable in speech.

He could communicate.

He could reason.

He could present ideas effectively.

4. HE WAS MIGHTY IN THE SCRIPTURES

That is a strong statement.

Luke does not call Apollos ignorant.

He does not say he barely knew Scripture.

He says he was:

“mighty in the scriptures.”

This man knew the Word.

He could probably connect passages.

He could explain.

He could argue from the text.

He could teach.

And yet, as we will soon see, his understanding was incomplete.

That should immediately humble every serious Bible student.

KNOWING A LOT OF SCRIPTURE DOES NOT MEAN WE UNDERSTAND EVERYTHING CORRECTLY.

LIGHT WAY APPLICATION

This is especially important for people who have been in church a long time.

Sometimes years of Bible exposure can create confidence.

And confidence is not wrong.

But confidence becomes dangerous when it turns into:

“Nobody can teach me anything.”

Or:

“I've been saved too long to be corrected.”

Or:

“I've preached too long to be wrong.”

Or:

“I've studied too much to reconsider my position.”

Apollos was mighty in Scripture.

And he still had something to learn.

THE MORE WE KNOW, THE MORE HUMBLE WE SHOULD BECOME ABOUT WHAT WE DO NOT KNOW.

ACTS 18:25

APOLLOS WAS INSTRUCTED AND FERVent

“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...”

Again, Luke gives Apollos high praise.

He was:

instructed

fervent

diligent

and

teaching the things of the Lord.

Let's look at each one.

HE WAS INSTRUCTED

Apollos had been taught.

He was not making things up as he went along.

He had received instruction concerning the way of the Lord.

He understood important truths.

This should caution us against treating him as though he was a false teacher in the ordinary sense.

Luke does not present Apollos as a deceiver.

He presents him as someone with genuine knowledge that was not yet complete.

HE WAS FERVENT

The text says he was:

“fervent in the spirit.”

The idea carries the sense of being enthusiastic, zealous, or boiling with intensity.

Apollos cared deeply about what he taught.

He was not indifferent.

He was passionate.

And that is good.

But passion by itself does not guarantee accuracy.

YOU CAN BE PASSIONATE AND STILL BE PARTIALLY WRONG.

That is an important lesson.

People sometimes say:

“But they really mean it.”

That may be true.

“But they are sincere.”

That may also be true.

“But they are passionate.”

Also true.

Yet sincerity cannot substitute for truth.

A person can sincerely misunderstand something.

A person can passionately defend an incomplete interpretation.

A person can enthusiastically teach something that needs correction.

ZEAL IS GOOD.

ZEAL WITH TRUTH IS BETTER.

HE TAUGHT DILIGENTLY

Apollos was not lazy.

He studied.

He taught.

He spoke carefully about the things he knew.

Again, we should notice Luke's respect for him.

And then comes one small phrase that changes the whole picture.

“knowing only the baptism of John.”

WHAT DID APOLLOS NOT KNOW?

Acts 18:25 says Apollos knew only:

“the baptism of John.”

This is where we need to be careful.

John the Baptist preached:

repentance,

preparation for the coming Messiah,

and baptism connected with repentance.

John pointed people toward Jesus.

But John's ministry was preparatory.

It looked forward to what Christ would accomplish.

Apollos apparently knew the message up to a certain point, but he had not yet received the fuller understanding of what had happened through:

the death of Christ,

the resurrection of Christ,

the exaltation of Christ,

and the fuller apostolic proclamation after Pentecost.

Luke does not explain every detail of what Apollos lacked.

So we should not invent details.

But clearly:

HE KNEW TRUE THINGS.

HE JUST DID NOT YET KNOW ENOUGH.

That is very different from deliberately teaching falsehood.

A MAJOR DISTINCTION

There is a difference between:

ERROR FROM DECEPTION

and

INCOMPLETE UNDERSTANDING

Apollos appears to fall into the second category.

He was not trying to mislead people.

He was teaching what he knew.

But what he knew needed to be expanded.

This is important because not every person who needs correction should be treated like a heretic.

Sometimes people simply have not been taught yet.

Sometimes they inherited a tradition.

Sometimes they learned only one side of an issue.

Sometimes they were never exposed to the full biblical context.

That is why correction requires discernment.

ACTS 18:26

PRISCILLA AND AQUILA HEAR APOLLOS

“And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard...”

Now Aquila and Priscilla are listening.

Remember who they are.

They met Paul in Corinth.

They worked with Paul.

They traveled with Paul.

They had been learning.

Now they hear Apollos teach.

They recognize something.

Apollos is gifted.

Apollos is sincere.

Apollos knows Scripture.

But his understanding is incomplete.

What do they do?

Do they embarrass him publicly?

Do they interrupt the synagogue?

Do they stand up and say:

“False teacher!”

Do they post a warning about him?

No.

The text says:

“they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly.”

This is one of the best pictures of biblical correction in the New Testament.

THEY TOOK HIM UNTO THEM

The language suggests a more personal setting.

They did not appear to humiliate him publicly.

They drew him aside.

They engaged him directly.

They respected him enough to correct him properly.

PUBLIC ERROR DOES NOT ALWAYS REQUIRE PUBLIC HUMILIATION.

Sometimes correction should be public.

Paul confronted Peter publicly in Galatians 2 because Peter's public conduct was affecting others.

But not every situation requires that method.

Aquila and Priscilla recognized that Apollos was teachable.

So they approached him in a way designed to strengthen him.

THEY EXPOUNDED THE WAY OF GOD MORE PERFECTLY

Notice what they did not do.

They did not replace Scripture with opinion.

They did not say:

“This is how our church does it.”

They did not say:

“This is our denomination's position.”

They helped him understand:

“the way of God more perfectly.”

The goal was accuracy.

The goal was maturity.

The goal was not winning an argument.

That is a major lesson for the church.

CORRECTION SHOULD HAVE RESTORATION AS ITS GOAL.

If the purpose of correction is to embarrass someone, something is wrong.

If the purpose is to prove that we are smarter, something is wrong.

If the purpose is to score points, something is wrong.

Biblical correction should aim to:

clarify truth

protect people

restore understanding

and

strengthen the believer.

LIGHT WAY CHURCH — HOW SHOULD WE CORRECT PEOPLE?

Before correcting someone, ask:

1. IS THIS ACTUALLY A BIBLICAL ISSUE?

Or is it simply my preference?

2. AM I CERTAIN I UNDERSTAND THE PASSAGE CORRECTLY?

Have I studied context?

3. IS THIS PERSON DECEPTIVE OR SIMPLY UNINFORMED?

That difference matters.

4. DOES THIS NEED PUBLIC CORRECTION OR PRIVATE CONVERSATION?

Not every disagreement requires a public response.

5. WHAT IS MY MOTIVE?

Am I trying to help them?

Or defeat them?

6. AM I WILLING TO BE CORRECTED TOO?

If I demand teachability from everyone else but refuse it myself, I have missed the lesson.

PRISCILLA'S ROLE MATTERS

There is another detail we should not ignore.

Luke says:

“Aquila and Priscilla...”

Both are involved in helping Apollos understand more accurately.

This is significant.

Apollos was:

eloquent,

mighty in Scripture,

fervent,

and a public teacher.

Yet Priscilla participated in correcting and instructing him.

That should be included when we discuss the broader New Testament witness concerning women and biblical instruction.

We should not force this text to say more than it says.

Acts 18 does not call Priscilla a pastor or elder here.

But it clearly shows:

A WOMAN PARTICIPATING IN SERIOUS THEOLOGICAL INSTRUCTION OF A GIFTED MALE TEACHER.

That fact should not be ignored merely because it makes a tradition uncomfortable.

And it also shows something positive about Apollos.

He did not say:

“Who are you to teach me?”

He listened.

APOLLOS' RESPONSE IS IMPLIED BY WHAT HAPPENS NEXT

Luke does not quote Apollos saying:

“Thank you for correcting me.”

But we know he received the instruction because the next verses show him continuing in ministry with the support of the believers.

His teachability strengthened his ministry.

That is important.

CORRECTION DID NOT DESTROY APOLLOS.

IT IMPROVED HIM.

Sometimes people view correction as rejection.

They assume:

“If someone corrects me, they are attacking me.”

Not necessarily.

Correction can be one of the greatest gifts another believer gives us.

Proverbs repeatedly connects wisdom with receiving correction.

A wise person can say:

“I may need to look at that again.”

That statement is not weakness.

That is maturity.

ACTS 18:27

APOLLOS WANTS TO GO TO ACHAIA

“And when he was disposed to pass into Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him...”

Notice what happens after Apollos receives correction.

The church does not discard him.

They recommend him.

They write to other believers asking them to receive him.

That means the correction did not become a permanent stain on his reputation.

That is another important lesson.

SOME CHURCHES KNOW HOW TO CORRECT PEOPLE BUT DO NOT KNOW HOW TO RESTORE THEM.

Once someone makes a mistake, they are marked forever.

That is not what happens here.

Apollos was corrected.

He learned.

He continued.

And other believers supported him.

That is healthy discipleship.

HE HELPED THEM MUCH

Acts 18:27 says:

“who, when he was come, helped them much which had believed through grace.”

Don't miss this.

The man who needed help in verse 26—

is helping others in verse 27.

That is discipleship.

You learn.

You grow.

Then you help someone else.

PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN TAUGHT SHOULD EVENTUALLY BECOME PEOPLE WHO HELP TEACH OTHERS.

Not necessarily from a pulpit.

But through conversation.

Mentoring.

Discipleship.

Encouragement.

Prayer.

Explaining Scripture.

Helping someone understand.

The church becomes stronger when mature believers help strengthen others.

“BELIEVED THROUGH GRACE”

Notice Luke's wording.

They had:

“believed through grace.”

Salvation is rooted in God's grace.

They did not earn their way into Christ.

They believed through grace.

And Apollos helped strengthen those believers.

This keeps the focus where it belongs.

Apollos was gifted.

But grace saved them.

Paul was gifted.

But grace saved them.

Aquila and Priscilla were useful.

But grace saved them.

NEVER CONFUSE THE INSTRUMENT WITH THE SOURCE.

God may use teachers.

God may use pastors.

God may use parents.

God may use friends.

But salvation belongs to God.

ACTS 18:28

APOLLOS BECOMES A POWERFUL DEFENDER OF THE FAITH

“For he mightily convinced the Jews, and that publickly, shewing by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ.”

Now look at Apollos.

He was already mighty in the Scriptures.

Then he received more accurate instruction.

Now Luke says he:

“mightily convinced the Jews...”

And how did he do it?

“shewing by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ.”

This is the same central message we have seen repeatedly.

Jesus is the Christ.

The Messiah.

The promised One.

NOTICE THE METHOD

Apollos used Scripture.

He did not say:

“Because I feel this is true.”

He did not say:

“Because my tradition teaches it.”

He demonstrated it from Scripture.

That should remain our model.

SCRIPTURE MUST BE ABLE TO CORRECT OUR THEOLOGY.

Not the other way around.

We should not begin with our position and then search for verses that support it.

We should begin with Scripture and allow Scripture to shape the position.

That sounds simple.

But it is one of the most difficult disciplines in Bible study.

Because all of us come to Scripture with:

experiences,

traditions,

assumptions,

denominational backgrounds,

teachers we trust,

personal preferences.

Maturity requires the willingness to say:

“If Scripture shows me that I have understood something incorrectly, Scripture wins.”

APOLLOS AND THE DANGER OF PERSONALITY-BASED CHRISTIANITY

Apollos becomes so effective that later, in Corinth, people begin identifying themselves with different leaders.

Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 1:12:

“Every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos...”

Think about the irony.

Paul and Apollos were not competing.

But people turned them into competing personalities.

Later Paul says:

“Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed...” — 1 Corinthians 3:5

And then:

“I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.” — 1 Corinthians 3:6

That reinforces today's lesson.

DON'T BUILD CHRISTIANITY AROUND PERSONALITIES.

One preacher may plant.

Another may water.

God gives the increase.

Paul was not the Savior.

Apollos was not the Savior.

The church belongs to Christ.

LIGHT WAY APPLICATION — WE MUST NOT CREATE “MY PREACHER” CHRISTIANITY

People say:

“I only listen to this preacher.”

“Nobody teaches like my pastor.”

“My bishop says...”

“My denomination teaches...”

Be careful.

There is nothing wrong with appreciating a teacher.

Paul appreciated Apollos.

But every teacher must remain under Scripture.

If the preacher says something Scripture does not support—

Scripture wins.

If tradition says something Scripture does not support—

Scripture wins.

If I teach something and Scripture shows otherwise—

SCRIPTURE WINS.

That is how the church remains healthy.

FIRST MAJOR APPLICATION

KNOWLEDGE DOES NOT ELIMINATE THE NEED FOR HUMILITY

Apollos was mighty in Scripture.

And he still had something to learn.

The more knowledge we gain, the easier it can become to believe we no longer need correction.

But mature believers remain learners.

Ask yourself:

When was the last time Scripture changed my mind about something?

If the answer is:

“Never,”

that should concern us.

Because none of us entered Christianity already understanding everything perfectly.

SECOND MAJOR APPLICATION

SINCERITY IS NOT THE SAME AS ACCURACY

Apollos was sincere.

He was fervent.

He was diligent.

But he still needed more accurate understanding.

We live in a culture that often says:

“As long as you sincerely believe it, that is what matters.”

Biblically, sincerity matters.

But sincerity does not create truth.

A person can sincerely take the wrong medication.

A person can sincerely take the wrong road.

A person can sincerely misunderstand Scripture.

Therefore:

LOVE PEOPLE.

RESPECT SINCERITY.

BUT STILL PURSUE TRUTH.

THIRD MAJOR APPLICATION

CORRECTION SHOULD STRENGTHEN, NOT HUMILIATE

Aquila and Priscilla did not destroy Apollos.

They helped him.

Their correction resulted in a stronger teacher.

Ask yourself:

When I correct someone, what am I trying to produce?

If the answer is:

“I want them to know I'm right,”

we need to examine our heart.

The biblical goal should be:

“I want them to understand truth more accurately.”

FOURTH MAJOR APPLICATION

TEACHABILITY IS A SIGN OF STRENGTH

Weak insecurity says:

“Nobody can tell me anything.”

Spiritual maturity says:

“Show me from Scripture.”

Apollos could have defended his reputation.

Instead, his response allowed his ministry to grow.

There are times when the thing standing between us and the next level of maturity is simply our refusal to listen.

FIFTH MAJOR APPLICATION

DON'T THROW PEOPLE AWAY BECAUSE THEY NEEDED CORRECTION

Apollos was not removed.

He was strengthened.

Then recommended.

Then useful.

The church must learn the difference between:

UNREPENTANT DECEPTION

and

CORRECTABLE ERROR.

Not every mistake requires permanent rejection.

If someone receives correction, changes, and grows—

we should allow them to move forward.

SIXTH MAJOR APPLICATION

STRONG DISCIPLES HELP STRENGTHEN OTHER DISCIPLES

Apollos received help.

Then Acts says:

“he helped them much.”

That is the pattern.

Someone taught you.

Now who are you teaching?

Someone prayed for you.

Who are you praying for?

Someone helped you understand Scripture.

Who are you helping understand Scripture?

Mature Christianity moves from:

consumer

to

participant

to

disciple-maker.

SEVENTH MAJOR APPLICATION

SCRIPTURE MUST REMAIN THE STANDARD

Acts 18 ends with Apollos:

“shewing by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ.”

This is where Light Way Church must remain.

Not:

What is popular?

Not:

What did we always hear growing up?

Not:

What does my favorite preacher say?

But:

WHAT DOES SCRIPTURE ACTUALLY SAY?

And then:

WHAT DOES IT MEAN IN CONTEXT?

And then:

HOW DOES IT LEGITIMATELY APPLY TODAY?

That method protects us from both tradition and novelty.

A WORD ABOUT CORRECTION IN THE MODERN CHURCH

Social media has changed the way people correct each other.

Today, somebody hears something wrong and immediately:

clips it,

posts it,

labels the person,

attacks the person's motives,

and invites thousands of strangers into the disagreement.

Acts 18 gives us a different picture.

Aquila and Priscilla listened.

They recognized what was missing.

They took Apollos aside.

They explained more accurately.

And the result was growth.

That will not fit every situation.

Public deception sometimes requires public response.

But we should not make public humiliation our first instinct.

OUR FIRST DESIRE SHOULD BE TRUTH AND RESTORATION.

PERSONAL QUESTIONS FOR THIS WEEK

Ask yourself honestly:

1. AM I STILL TEACHABLE?

Can someone younger than me teach me something?

Can a woman teach me something?

Can someone with less experience point out something I missed?

Can Scripture overturn something I have believed for years?

2. DO I CONFUSE PASSION WITH TRUTH?

Just because someone is energetic does not mean they are accurate.

3. DO I CORRECT PEOPLE IN A WAY THAT HELPS THEM GROW?

Or do I embarrass them?

4. CAN I RECEIVE CORRECTION WITHOUT BECOMING DEFENSIVE?

5. HAVE I TURNED A PASTOR, TEACHER, OR PREACHER INTO TOO MUCH OF MY IDENTITY?

6. AM I HELPING SOMEONE ELSE BECOME STRONGER IN CHRIST?

PUTTING ACTS 18:24–28 TOGETHER

Look at the progression.

APOLLOS KNOWS SCRIPTURE.

But his understanding is incomplete.

APOLLOS TEACHES BOLDLY.

Aquila and Priscilla listen.

THEY RECOGNIZE WHAT IS MISSING.

They approach him.

THEY EXPLAIN MORE ACCURATELY.

Apollos receives it.

APOLLOS CONTINUES MINISTERING.

The believers recommend him.

HE HELPS OTHER BELIEVERS.

HE DEFENDS THE FAITH FROM SCRIPTURE.

Correction did not reduce Apollos.

CORRECTION MADE APOLLOS MORE USEFUL.

WHAT SHOULD LIGHT WAY CHURCH TAKE FROM ACTS 18?

Over these three lessons, Acts 18 has taught us:

PART 1

GOD HAS PEOPLE WHERE WE MAY NOT EXPECT THEM

“I have much people in this city.” — Acts 18:10

Do not write people off.

PART 2

OPPOSITION DOES NOT AUTOMATICALLY STOP THE ASSIGNMENT

Paul was accused, but the mission continued.

Do not let difficulty alone determine direction.

PART 3

BEING GIFTED DOES NOT REMOVE THE NEED TO BE TEACHABLE

Apollos was mighty in Scripture and still needed correction.

Never become too gifted, too experienced, too educated, or too religious to learn.

THE MESSAGE OF ACTS 18 IN ONE SENTENCE

GOD USES FAITHFUL, TEACHABLE PEOPLE WHO KEEP MOVING, KEEP LEARNING, AND KEEP POINTING OTHERS TO JESUS.

CLOSING CHALLENGE

Church, never become so confident that correction feels like insult.

Never become so experienced that learning feels beneath you.

Never become so attached to a tradition that Scripture cannot challenge it.

Never become so loyal to a preacher that you stop checking the Bible.

Never become so embarrassed by being wrong that you refuse to become more accurate.

Apollos gives us a better example.

He was gifted.

He was educated.

He was eloquent.

He was sincere.

He was passionate.

He knew Scripture.

And when somebody showed him something more accurately—

he grew.

And because he grew—

he helped others grow.

That is maturity.

A MATURE BELIEVER DOES NOT HAVE TO KNOW EVERYTHING.

A MATURE BELIEVER MUST BE WILLING TO LEARN.

CLOSING PRAYER

Father, thank You for Your Word.

Give us the humility to remain teachable.

Protect us from pride that makes us defensive when someone corrects us.

Help us distinguish between human opinion and biblical truth.

Give us wisdom to correct others with patience, love, and accuracy.

Keep us from embarrassing people when restoration is possible.

Help us receive correction when we need it.

And above all, keep Your Word above our traditions, personalities, preferences, and previous assumptions.

Make us people who are not merely passionate, but accurate.

Not merely knowledgeable, but humble.

Not merely gifted, but teachable.

And after You strengthen us, help us strengthen somebody else.

Keep Jesus Christ at the center of everything we teach and everything we do.

In Jesus' name,

Amen.

NEXT CHAPTER — ACTS 19

WHEN RELIGIOUS KNOWLEDGE IS NOT THE SAME AS FULL UNDERSTANDING

Acts 19:1–7

Next we move into Ephesus, where Paul meets disciples who had received only John's baptism.

Their situation connects directly with Apollos and raises important questions about:

John's baptism,

Christian baptism,

the Holy Spirit,

laying on of hands,

tongues,

and whether Acts 19 should be treated as a universal formula for how every believer receives the Holy Spirit.

This passage will require careful interpretation because it is frequently used to build doctrines that may go beyond what Luke actually records.