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.