Yes, Apollos was initially missing the gospel of grace because he only knew the baptism of John.
Apollos was a Jew from Alexandria, eloquent and mighty in the Old Testament Scriptures, but he had been instructed only in the message of John the Baptist and the kingdom gospel. He had not heard of Christ's death, burial, and resurrection, nor the gospel of grace that Paul preached. Aquila and Priscilla, who had been with Paul, took him aside and expounded the way of God more perfectly, teaching him the fuller gospel.
Acts 18:24-26 — This passage directly describes Apollos's limited knowledge and how Aquila and Priscilla taught him the way of God more perfectly.
The Bible records in Acts 18:24-26 that Apollos was an eloquent man, mighty in the Scriptures, instructed in the way of the Lord, fervent in the spirit, and taught diligently the things of the Lord, but he knew only the baptism of John. He spoke boldly in the synagogue, but when Aquila and Priscilla heard him, they took him unto them and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly. This indicates that his initial message was incomplete, being limited to the preparatory message of John the Baptist and the kingdom gospel that Jesus and the twelve proclaimed to Israel.
Les Feldick explains that Apollos, though highly educated and eloquent, was limited by his instruction. He was a Jew steeped in the kingdom economy, knowing only the baptism of John and the message that John the Baptist, Christ, and the twelve had preached to Israel. He knew nothing of Christ's death, burial, and resurrection, or the gospel of grace that Paul later revealed. Les emphasizes that this was because the New Testament had not yet been written or circulated; Apollos was mighty only in the Old Testament. Aquila and Priscilla, having been with Paul and instructed in the doctrines of grace, took Apollos aside and filled in the missing pieces, enabling him to later help grace-believers in Achaia.
Apollos was instructed in the way of the Lord and knew only the baptism of John. He was continuing the message that John the Baptist and Christ and the Twelve had been proclaiming to Israel. This message was centered on repentance, baptism, and believing that Jesus was the Christ, and it was basically Jewish, tied to the kingdom economy.
Apollos was incomplete because he had not yet heard of Paul's gospel of grace. He knew nothing of Christ's death, burial, and resurrection, and was still back on Christ's earthly ministry. He had been taught by others (instructed), rather than receiving direct revelation like Paul. The New Testament had not yet been written or circulated, so he only had the Old Testament Scriptures.
Aquila and Priscilla had been with Paul for a long time in the tent making business, and Paul had drummed the doctrines of grace into them. When they heard Apollos speaking in the synagogue, they recognized that he was missing something. They took him unto them and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly, teaching him the gospel of grace. Apollos listened and learned from these 'two little lay people,' despite his own eloquence and education.
After Apollos took to heart what he learned from Aquila and Priscilla, he was disposed to pass into Achaia. The brethren wrote exhorting the disciples to receive him. He helped them much who had believed, but now through grace. He was able to help grace-believers because he had been taught the things of Paul.
Apollos's Background and Limited Scriptures
Les explains that Apollos was from Alexandria, a center of Jewish learning, and was mighty in the Old Testament, but the New Testament had not yet been written.
Apollos Knew Only the Kingdom Gospel
Les says Apollos was steeped in the kingdom economy and knew nothing of the cross or the resurrection, only the message of John and the Twelve.
Instructed Only in the Baptism of John
Les emphasizes that Apollos was instructed in the way of the Lord but only knew the baptism of John, highlighting his incomplete gospel.
Apollos Learned from Aquila and Priscilla
Les shows that Apollos, despite his education, learned from Aquila and Priscilla and then helped others through grace.
Aquila and Priscilla Explain the Way of God
Les describes how Aquila and Priscilla, who had been with Paul, taught Apollos the way of God more completely, and he was humble enough to learn.
Apollos's Knowledge Limited to Christ's Earthly Ministry
Les explains that Apollos knew nothing of Christ's death, burial, and resurrection, being still back on Christ's earthly ministry.
Paul Unloads the Gospel of Grace
Les describes that Apollos knew none of the gospel of grace that Paul had unloaded on Priscilla and Aquila, which they later shared with him.
Apollos Instructed vs. Paul's Revelation
Les contrasts Apollos being instructed by others with Paul receiving revelation directly, showing why Apollos initially missed the full gospel.
Acts 18:24: And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures, came to Ephesus.
Introduces Apollos and his background, emphasizing his eloquence and knowledge of the Old Testament.
Acts 18:25: 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.
Directly states that Apollos's knowledge was limited to the baptism of John, not the full gospel of grace.
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.
Shows how Aquila and Priscilla filled in the missing parts of the gospel for Apollos.
According to Acts 18:25, Apollos knew only the baptism of John. He was instructed in the way of the Lord and taught diligently, but his message was limited to the kingdom gospel that John the Baptist, Jesus, and the twelve preached to Israel. He did not know about Christ's death, burial, and resurrection, nor the gospel of grace that Paul later preached.
Apollos was from Alexandria and was mighty in the Old Testament Scriptures, but the New Testament had not yet been written or circulated. He had been instructed by others (likely in a Jewish context), and his understanding was still within the kingdom economy. He had not yet been exposed to Paul's revelation of the gospel of grace.
Aquila and Priscilla, a Jewish couple who had spent time with Paul and had been thoroughly instructed in the doctrines of grace, taught Apollos. They took him aside in Ephesus and expounded the way of God more perfectly, as recorded in Acts 18:26.
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