What was Apollos doing in his ministry before Priscilla and Aquila corrected him?
Apollos was an eloquent, instructed speaker who taught diligently the things of the Lord and spoke boldly in the Ephesian synagogue. He was fervent in the Spirit, yet knew only the baptism of John, remaining steeped in the kingdom economy and proclaiming the message John the Baptist, Christ, and the Twelve had brought to Israel.
Les explains that Apollos was a speaker par excellence, with personality and charisma that could magnetize audiences. He had been instructed in the way of the Lord, was fervent in the Spirit, and spoke and taught diligently the things of the Lord. However, he knew only the baptism of John. He was still a Jew steeped in the kingdom economy and knew nothing of the power of the cross or the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. He was continuing the message John the Baptist, Christ, and the Twelve had proclaimed to Israel. He began to speak boldly in the synagogue at Ephesus. Aquila and Priscilla heard him, and they had been with Paul in the tentmaking business, where Paul had drummed the doctrines of grace into them, so they were equipped to address his incomplete understanding.
This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John.
More Questions
How did Apollos's instruction differ from Paul's?
Apollos had been instructed by someone in the way of the Lord, whereas Paul received his doctrine by revelation and inspiration, not from human instruction in the age of grace.
How did Paul receive his doctrine compared to Apollos?
Paul did not have anyone instruct him in the age of grace or the doctrine of grace; his teaching came by revelation and inspiration, unlike Apollos who had been taught by someone.
How much did Apollos know when he came to Ephesus?
Apollos diligently spoke and taught the things of the Lord, but the limit of his knowledge was everything that had happened up to and including John's baptism.