Acts 18:25, commentary and pictures

The man is Apollos, an Alexandrian Jew of the highest Grecian culture, a scholar and orator, a thorough student of prophecy and an able expounder of Scripture. He was an eloquent preacher who with the apostle Paul stands as the standard of powerful preaching. He had been taught the way of the Lord and, being fervent in spirit, spoke and taught diligently, earnestly and carefully the things he knew about the Lord.

He had heard John the Baptist's preaching, had received John's baptism of repentance, and publicly proclaimed faith in Christ according to the light he had received. His life bore witness that John's work had not been in vain. Knowing only the baptism of John means his teaching was defective and limited, for he had not yet received the full light of the gospel. He lacked a thorough knowledge of Christ's mission, His resurrection and ascension, the way of salvation through Christ, and the work of the Holy Spirit as the Comforter sent to remain with His people.

When Aquila and Priscilla heard the defect, they explained the way of God more fully to him. He received their teaching with joy and learned the way of the Lord more perfectly, gaining a clearer understanding of Scripture. That fuller instruction prepared him to become a powerful advocate of the Christian faith and one of the ablest defenders of the church. He taught from Scripture with greater power and proved from prophecy at Corinth that Jesus is the Christ.

His eloquence and talent by themselves would fall infinitely short of convicting and bringing even one soul to repentance, for the frail human instrument is nothing apart from the deep moving of the Spirit of God. The Lord Himself is the worker, and man is of value only when soul, body, and spirit are prepared to cooperate with divine power, since man can do nothing without God yet God communicates His truth through the human channel. Even preaching as eloquent as his will not by itself build up and widen the work. Preaching talent must be joined with pastoral effort, personal effort, and aggressive warfare carried into the very gates and houses. His diligence and fervor show the pattern of effective teaching: study of Scripture with clear and powerful presentation, and a fervor that reaches the minds and hearts of listeners.

Teaching people the way of the Lord in this sense means opening the Scriptures to them through family Bible readings, prayer, and faith, a work that reaches those who are seeking truth. The verse was fulfilled again in the early history of the Advent work after separation from the churches, when under the preaching of the truth men were converted and instructed in the way of the Lord. They were made fervent in spirit to speak and teach diligently the great things of the Lord, going forward step by step in the light given. This was attended by wonderful manifestations of God's power and miracles convicting souls to bear testimony for the truth amid scorn and derision from opposing churches, so that the Word of God grew mightily and prevailed.