They taught him the way of God more perfectly, opening his understanding to the gospel of grace.
Priscilla and Aquila, having learned from Paul, took Apollos aside and expounded to him the way of God more completely, showing him what he was missing about the cross and the resurrection. This teaching enabled Apollos to help believers who had come to faith through grace.
Acts 18:26 — This verse directly records that Priscilla and Aquila took Apollos and expounded to him the way of God more perfectly.
In Acts 18:24-26, we learn that Apollos was an eloquent man, mighty in the scriptures, and instructed in the way of the Lord. However, when Priscilla and Aquila heard him speaking boldly in the synagogue, they took him aside and 'expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly.' This indicates that Apollos had a partial understanding and needed further instruction. Scripture does not detail exactly what they told him, but the context shows that after this instruction, Apollos was able to help believers 'through grace' (Acts 18:27). This implies that Priscilla and Aquila taught him about the grace of God, likely related to the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ.
Les Feldick emphasizes that Priscilla and Aquila had spent extensive time with the Apostle Paul and had learned the doctrines of grace from him. When they encountered Apollos, who knew only the baptism of John and the kingdom message, they recognized his deficiency and took him home for dinner, where they 'unloaded' on him the truths about the cross, Christ's death, burial, and resurrection. This was not a superficial correction but a detailed expounding of the way of God more completely. Through this, Apollos gained a fuller understanding and was then able to help grace-believers effectively.
According to Les, Apollos was a talented and eloquent speaker, but his knowledge was limited to the baptism of John and the kingdom message that had been proclaimed to Israel. He did not yet understand the significance and power of Christ's cross, death, burial, and resurrection.
Les explains that Priscilla and Aquila had been with Paul for an extended time, likely weeks, during which Paul had been 'unloading' on them the gospel of grace. They had internalized these truths and were therefore equipped to pass them on to Apollos.
After receiving instruction from Priscilla and Aquila, Apollos took to heart what he had learned. He then went to Achaia and 'helped them much who had believed through grace' (Acts 18:27). Les notes that Apollos became a powerful advocate, convincingly showing from the Scriptures that Jesus was the Christ.
Why Carnal Believers Are Still Blameless — 1 Corinthians 1:8-9
Oh, now we have to go back, don't we? Go all the way back into Acts chapter 18. We've got to see what kind of a man these people were clinging to. And see, that's the same danger today. Never get hung up on one man, because it's just not scriptural. And so here again, these people were getting all hung up on either Paul, or now the next one is Apollos.
Priscilla and Aquila Expound to Apollos
Because Priscilla and Aquila had been with Paul, they were able to expound to Apollos the way of God more completely, showing him what he was missing.
Their Knowledge Comes from Paul
Les highlights that Priscilla and Aquila were in a position to tell Apollos things he did not know because they had learned from Paul.
Apollos's Deficiency and the Grace Gospel
Apollos, though educated, realized he had much to learn. He learned the grace message from Priscilla and Aquila, which he then used to help grace-believers.
Paul's Unloading of the Grace Gospel
Paul spent time with Priscilla and Aquila, unloading the gospel of grace, which they later passed on to Apollos.
Taking Apollos Home for Dinner
Les imagines Priscilla and Aquila taking Apollos home after synagogue, where they expounded to him the way of God more completely.
Why Christians Are Divided — 1 Corinthians 3 Explained Verse by Verse
Now after verse 26, Priscilla and Aquila expounded the way of God more completely or more accurately. Now you come to verse 28 for the sake of time, for he mightily, not just using the Old Testament Scriptures now, but with what he's gained from Priscilla and Aquila, he mightily convinced the Jews, and that publicly, showing by the Scriptures that Jesus was the Christ.
Unloading the Full Counsel of God
After learning from Paul, Priscilla and Aquila were ready to unload the full gospel of grace on Apollos, who only knew the baptism of John.
Acts 18:26: 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.
This is the key verse showing that Priscilla and Aquila gave Apollos further instruction.
Acts 18:27: And when he was disposed to pass into Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him: who, when he was come, helped them much which had believed through grace:
This shows the result of Apollos's instruction—he helped those who believed through grace.
Acts 18:28: For he mightily convinced the Jews, and that publickly, shewing by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ.
This shows how Apollos used the fuller understanding gained from Priscilla and Aquila to publicly prove Jesus was the Christ.
Yes, they taught him the way of God more perfectly, showing him details about the gospel of grace that he had not yet grasped. He knew only the baptism of John and the kingdom message, but they helped him understand the significance of the cross and resurrection.
They had spent considerable time with the Apostle Paul, who had taught them the doctrines of grace. Their time in the tentmaking business with Paul gave them a deep understanding that they could then share with Apollos.
Apollos became more effective in his ministry, helping believers who had come to faith through grace. He was able to convincingly show from the Scriptures that Jesus was the Christ.
Watch the Teaching: Why Carnal Believers Are Still Blameless — 1 Corinthians 1:8-9