Where did Apollos come when he knew nothing more than the kingdom gospel?
Apollos came to Ephesus, where he spoke boldly in the synagogue. He knew only the baptism of John, being steeped in the kingdom economy and ignorant of the cross, the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. Aquila and Priscilla heard him there, having been taught the doctrines of grace by Paul.
Les explains that Apollos was an eloquent speaker who had been instructed in the way of the Lord. He was fervent in the Spirit and taught diligently the things of the Lord, but he knew only the baptism of John. Being a Jew steeped in the kingdom economy, he 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. When he came to Ephesus and spoke boldly in the synagogue, Aquila and Priscilla heard him. They had been with Paul in the tent-making business, and Paul had drummed the doctrines of grace into them. So they were present when Apollos arrived knowing only the kingdom gospel.
And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly.
More Questions
What did Apollos know before Aquila and Priscilla taught him the way of God more completely?
At first Apollos knew only what had happened under John the Baptist’s preaching, namely that Jesus was the Christ, the Messiah, the Son of God.
How did Paul’s gospel knowledge compare to Apollos’s?
Paul operated by direct revelation from the Lord, whereas Apollos operated by instruction from other people.