Acts 18:24-26 English Standard Version

Apollos Speaks Boldly in Ephesus

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.

What should we do if we encounter someone who tries to witness Jesus to us that has not accepted the baptism of the Holy Spirit?

Apollos represents a type of believer who has all the makings of a great resource for God but does not quite have all the information. During these days the New Testament was being formed and how they came to know Jesus differs from how we get to come to Christ. Priscilla and Aquila had spent time with Paul and heard information that went beyond the baptism of John. They could share what was witnessed to them by the Holy Spirit.

We must allow the Holy Spirit to take the lead in witnessing to anyone trying to declare Jesus. We must not drive them away from the truth just because their information is incomplete. Knowledge of Christ comes from the Holy Spirit and we will come across people who know the scriptures but do not know Christ in a personal relationship.

Engaging with these people should begin with allowing the Holy Spirit to touch them with the scriptures which they rely upon without the aid of the Spirit of Truth to guide them. We are not to argue but to speak the truth with love and care just as it has been done for us when we first began.

Acts 17:24-25 English Standard Version

²⁴ The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, ²⁵ nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything.

We often tell ourselves we are created to serve God. Here in this passage it says otherwise. It is not meant to give us a proper understanding of our condition for we are in Christ. To understand these passages we must get back to the basic understanding rules of scripture.

Who is speaking? Paul.

Who is listening? The men of the Areopagus.

What are the circumstances? The men of the Areopagus were the high thinkers of Athens who would gather and reason with one another. Paul observed their religious beliefs. They had an alter that was dedicated to sacrifice to the unknown god. These words were the beginning of Paul’s introduction to them of this god that is God and desires to be known.

I find a compelling verse that follows, “In him we live and move and have our being.” What made it compelling was that Paul quotes one of the literary minds they were familiar with in their studies. His comment to them is that God is not far off and that by seeking Him they might find Him. If they only knew who He is by the means provided by Himself for us all.

The larger understanding for this scripture is that the words were meant for those who do not know God and we do. We have a proper understanding of who God is because we have asked Him into our hearts for a deep personal relationship.

The attitude that God is far off and unknown does not make room for a personal relationship.