Now a Jew named Apol'los, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was an eloquent man, well versed in the scriptures. 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. He began to speak boldly in the synagogue; but when Priscilla and Aq'uila heard him, they took him and expounded to him the way of God more accurately. And when he wished to cross to Acha'ia, the brethren encouraged him, and wrote to the disciples to receive him. When he arrived, he greatly helped those who through grace had believed, for he powerfully confuted the Jews in public, showing by the scriptures that the Christ was Jesus.
In a Nutshell
Luke tells us of another preacher, Apollos, and the impression he had made on the churches at Ephesus and the province of Achaia. Paul's friends had helped him.
Questions
Why does Luke tell us about Apollos in the middle of his account of Paul?
This
is a short account and it tells us a few things:
First, we are reminded that the book is not just about what God did through Paul. It has a wider purpose than that. It tells us many of the things Jesus accomplished in the years immediately after He ascended. We have seen that the story is about the ongoing outpouring of God's Spirit. It tells us the historical context when this work was first begun and blessed by God. Luke tells us that Priscilla and Aquila were an important part of Paul's work, but their place is God's Kingdom is not defined by their association with Paul. They had work to do which God had given to no one else. Paul knew this:
Greet Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, who risked their necks for my life, to whom not only I but all the churches of the Gentiles give thanks. Greet also the church in their house (Romans 16:3-5a).
Apart
from giving indispensable support to Paul they were part of work done by
Apollos. The growth of the Gospel in Ephesus and Corinth saw these servants
busy with the tasks God Almighty had given to them. What a privilege to serve
this Lord and Master! Did you notice that Luke and Paul usually refer to
Priscilla before her husband? This tells us that these male leaders of the
church were well aware that Jesus came, served and called women to be His
disciples just as much as he called men. He calls His servants directly and this
means that all Christians need to respect each other, whoever they are, just
like Aquila the Christian respected his hard-working wife.
Prisca
and her husband schooled Apollos. They sensed that his teaching had to be
updated. Apollos preached the baptism of repentance which John the Baptist had
proclaimed years before. Apparently, there were many who, like the fervent
Apollos, believed John's message. John told them about the Lamb of God who had
come to take away the sin of the world. Jesus and his disciples came under that
prophetic desert ministry. Apollos believed in Jesus but there were things he
did not know. Priscilla and Aquila helped him understand the outpouring of
God's Spirit after Jesus' ascension.
We do not know the precise chronology of events and maybe Luke was unsure of that himself. But he does tell us that the work of Paul and Apollos intersected in Corinth and Ephesus, and they were united in the same faith. Paul's first letter to the Corinthians was written because that church was splitting into different camps. One group was for Apollos; another for Paul, another for Peter and there was even a group that claimed to follow Jesus! Luke's account here is written with that trouble in mind. Luke wanted his readers to have no doubt about the unity shared by Paul, Apollos, Priscilla and Aquila.