Acts 18:24–28 — The Ministry of Apollos

March 24th, 2023
by Pastor Stephen Abdo

Acts 18:24–28 — The Ministry of Apollos

A church visitor argued with me after a Sunday service because I had said something that disagreed with one of her favorite online preachers. When I explained to her that we differed with him on that issue, she was flabbergasted. She balked at the idea that we would even consider disagreeing with such a popular and notable preacher. Ironically, that preacher used to take our position, but he had started to express some doubt. This incident illustrates the divisive and sectarian spirit by those who want to appear super-spiritual by claiming to have a hold on orthodoxy. In 1 Corinthians 3:4-9, the Apostle Paul says,

1 And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. 2 I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able; 3 for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men? 4 For when one says, “I am of Paul,” and another, “I am of Apollos,” are you not carnal?

Apollos went to Corinth after meeting Aquila and Priscilla in Ephesus at end of Paul's second missionary journey (Acts 18:24-28). Apollos was eloquent, well-versed in the Old Testament Scripture, and passionate for the Lord. Instead of praising God for having godly teachers come to them, the carnal Christians in Corinth began dividing the church over their misguided allegiances to Paul or Apollos. Clearly, neither Paul nor Apollos had done anything to encourage that. Also, we know from 1 Corinthians that Paul under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit sharply rebuke this sectarianism.

Does that mean that doctrine is unimportant? Of course not! However, it does mean that we need to handle theological disagreement biblically.

First, just because someone is disagreeing with you does not mean they are heretical. In an age of social media where many people have no accountability for their words, I hear the word "heresy" being thrown so flippantly. Ironically, the origin of the word "heresy" comes from the word meaning divisive. So, accusing everyone who disagrees with you with heresy is heretical.

When the apostle Paul told the Ephesians to "speak the truth in love", he was specially dealing with aberrant doctrine and men who were trying to deceive the Ephesians with trickery, and "the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting" (Ephesians 4:14-15). So, even when are dealing with false teacher we must do it in a way that honors God.

So, how do we disagree with others? We must find a way to disagree without being disagreeable. We are all wrong about something. In their blind zeal for orthodoxy, the Pharisee did not even recognize God incarnate. Truth is not found in doctrinal dogma but in the person of Jesus. Truth does not come wrapped up between the covers of a systematic theology book nor is it housed under the website or podcast of your favorite's online preacher. Truth comes from the Written Word, when being in a relationship with the Incarnate Word, through the illumination of the Holy Spirit. Being taught by a godly and competent Bible teacher wouldn't hurt as long as we don't elevate the man as the Apostle Paul warned about in 1 Corinthians 3:5-8,

5 Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers through whom you believed, as the Lord gave to each one? 6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. 7 So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase. 8 Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor.

Although the situation with Apollos is a little different as his preaching was not inaccurate, but merely incomplete, yet he received the exhortation by Aquila and Priscilla with humility. This propelled him even further to "show from the Scriptures that Jesus is the Christ" as Paul had been doing. Which brings me to my last point. No matter what you perceive the other person believes or does not believe, there is never an excuse for being arrogant. Before you try to correct anyone else, begin by asking yourself: why am I trying to do so?

Are you trying to prove that you are right, and they are wrong?
Are you merely trying to put someone in their place?
Or are you insecure about what you believe that you perceive anyone who believes differently as a threat?

Remember this! Doing anything that does not bring glory to God is about you and not about Him.

Posted in Book of Acts