Acts 20:13-17 ESV

13 But going ahead to the ship, we set sail for Assos, intending to take Paul aboard there, for so he had arranged, intending himself to go by land. 14 And when he met us at Assos, we took him on board and went to Mitylene. 15 And sailing from there we came the following day opposite Chios; the next day we touched at Samos; and[b] the day after that we went to Miletus. 16 For Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus, so that he might not have to spend time in Asia, for he was hastening to be at Jerusalem, if possible, on the day of Pentecost.17 Now from Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called the elders of the church to come to him.

MISSIONARY TRAVELS

After Troas, Luke and a few others sailed from Philippi and meet Paul in Troas. Although Luke and several others decided to sail from Troas to Assos, Paul chose to walk to the city (v.13,14). Why? Did many from Troas come along to listen more from him? We don’t have an idea.

In Assos the entire group took a ship to Mitylene (v. 14). From Mitylene they sailed past the islands of Chios and Samos, docked for a night at Trogyllium, then eventually arrived at Miletus (v.15). It was from Miletus that the apostle requested that the elders in the Ephesian church should visit him. When they arrived he warned them about the coming ‘apostasy’ in the church (v.26-31).

Should he successfully left at Corinth, this important meeting with the elders of Ephesus should had not happened. There are no interruptions in the Lord. When God closes one road, He opens another one. Indeed, God is arranging everything in our lives for good [Rom 8:28]. That is, everything does happen in conjunction to His plan and purposes, doesn’t it?

This ardous and long travel had accentuated the third missionary journey of Paul to Asia and Europe.

Let’s be aware today that missionary endeavors entail a lot of traveling. Like Paul, missionaries today spend a lot of time and money traveling. As Paul said, “ For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard?[c] And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”[Rom 10:13-15]

Thus, seeking the lost means expenses – time and resources. The great commission means ‘going’ to where the people are. Should there were no missionaries who cross streets and seas, we won’t be able to hear the gospel. Mission trips, either short term or long term, create opportunities for people to hear the gospel. As Paul had exhorted, “Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.”[Eph 5:16] By this, he was implying that opportunities don’t just happen during the evil days, so let’s ‘redeem’ or buy back opportunities. I pray that we would be encouraged to support our church missions endeavor through giving financially and going on mission trips and even in prayers. Thus, let’s make ourselves available in spreading the gospel.

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- Acts 20:7-11 ESV

7 On the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul talked with them, intending to depart on the next day, and he prolonged his speech until midnight. 8 There were many lamps in the upper room where we were gathered. 9 And a young man named Eutychus, sitting at the window, sank into a deep sleep as Paul talked still longer. And being overcome by sleep, he fell down from the third story and was taken up dead. 10 But Paul went down and bent over him, and taking him in his arms, said, “Do not be alarmed, for his life is in him.” 11 And when Paul had gone up and had broken bread and eaten, he conversed with them a long while, until daybreak, and so departed. 12 And they took the youth away alive, and were not a little comforted.

AN EXTENDED TALK

It was Lord’s day. Luke accounted that they were gathered together in unnamed 3 storey building at Troas. It should be noted that the early Christians met on Sundays. Why? First, because it is the day of the week that Jesus rose from the dead (Matt 28:1). Second, because it represented the first day of creation—the church is something new, and the Jesus-followers have work to do.

"Breaking of bread" may refer to a community meal (a "love feast"), a meal provided for the poor, or the Lord's supper. As it was a first day of the week, this was probably communion. In the early church, communion was practiced every Sunday. The bread and cup are one part of the entire service which also included a reminder of the gospel and a call to repent of sins and reconcile with other church members.

Paul talked with them. It meant that Paul has a discussion with them, reasoning back and forth, instead of just lecturing. Intending to depart on the next day, he prolonged his talked until midnight. Perhaps, there were a lot of subjects and questions covered. Are we willing to spend an extended time to hear the word of God.

A young man named Eutychus who was sitting by the window, while listening. Usually, in the highest room, there was only the roof. Although people do use the roof for living space, fewer supports are needed, allowing upper rooms to be more open. These bigger windows on the higher floor will, normally, also allow for more air flow.

Eutychus had fallen asleep and fell dead to the ground. He died trying to listen the word of God. His tiredness had caught him. However, Paul will bring him back to life and the group will continue talking until daybreak (see v.9–12). The crisis even was transformed into a wonderful testimony. Consequently, they were much encouraged.

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Acts 20:1-6 ESV

After the uproar ceased, Paul sent for the disciples, and after encouraging them, he said farewell and departed for Macedonia. 2 When he had gone through those regions and had given them much encouragement, he came to Greece. 3 There he spent three months, and when a plot was made against him by the Jews as he was about to set sail for Syria, he decided to return through Macedonia. 4 Sopater the Berean, son of Pyrrhus, accompanied him; and of the Thessalonians, Aristarchus and Secundus; and Gaius of Derbe, and Timothy; and the Asians, Tychicus and Trophimus. 5 These went on ahead and were waiting for us at Troas, 6 but we sailed away from Philippi after the days of Unleavened Bread, and in five days we came to them at Troas, where we stayed for seven days.

BE AN ENCOURAGEMENT

Paul's third missionary journey was about to end. He spent three years in Ephesus then went north to Troas, across to Philippi, and south to Thessalonica, Berea, and Corinth (Acts 20:1–2, 31). His primary reason for revisiting the churches he planted is to encourage them but also to collect donations for believers in Jerusalem (Rom 15:26).

Difficulties and persecutions don’t define Paul. It was his deep love for God and the gospel that drove him. Nothing could stop him going to the churches and encouraging the believers. As he encouraged the elders at Ephesus later, he said, “But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.”[Acts 20:24]

Paul takes the long way from Corinth to Jerusalem. The Jewish leaders in Corinth plotted against him so he can't sail straight to Caesarea Maritima. Instead, he returns up the coast to Macedonia, across the Aegean to Troas, and back down the coast of modern-day Turkey to Miletus before he can take a ship to Judea. In other words, God could protect us but we need also to use our common sense unless the Lord prompts us to do something else.

Paul was encouraged by the wonderful and godly men with him. They came from all over the place. They were together because of the gospel. Sopater, was a Berean, and most likely a careful, considerate scholar (Acts 17:10–12). Aristarchus is apparently the same man who was caught in the riot in Ephesus (Acts 19:29]. We know nothing of Secundus. Gaius was from Galatia, in central modern-day Turkey now (Acts 19:29). Timothy, the young man Paul met in Lystra at the beginning of his second missionary journey and he mentored (Acts 16:1) Tychicus and Trophimus were from the province of Asia in southwest Turkey. And, Tychicus became Paul's faithful messenger (Eph 6:21; Col 4:7; 2 Tim 4:12; Titus 3:12).

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Acts 19:29-41 ESV

29 So the city was filled with the confusion, and they rushed together into the theater, dragging with them Gaius and Aristarchus, Macedonians who were Paul's companions in travel. 30 But when Paul wished to go in among the crowd, the disciples would not let him. 31 And even some of the Asiarchs, who were friends of his, sent to him and were urging him not to venture into the theater. 32 Now some cried out one thing, some another, for the assembly was in confusion, and most of them did not know why they had come together. 33 Some of the crowd prompted Alexander, whom the Jews had put forward. And Alexander, motioning with his hand, wanted to make a defense to the crowd. 34 But when they recognized that he was a Jew, for about two hours they all cried out with one voice, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”

35 And when the town clerk had quieted the crowd, he said, “Men of Ephesus, who is there who does not know that the city of the Ephesians is temple keeper of the great Artemis, and of the sacred stone that fell from the sky? 36 Seeing then that these things cannot be denied, you ought to be quiet and do nothing rash. 37 For you have brought these men here who are neither sacrilegious nor blasphemers of our goddess. 38 If therefore Demetrius and the craftsmen with him have a complaint against anyone, the courts are open, and there are proconsuls. Let them bring charges against one another. 39 But if you seek anything further, it shall be settled in the regular assembly. 40 For we really are in danger of being charged with rioting today, since there is no cause that we can give to justify this commotion.” 41 And when he had said these things, he dismissed the assembly.

A CONFUSION

It was frenzy and chaotic. The preaching of the gospel had stirred people. Earlier at Athens, Gentiles rejected Paul's offer of salvation on the grounds of philosophical differences. They didn't believe in the resurrection of the dead (Acts 17:32). In Philippi and Ephesus, it was because Paul's ministry threatened a small group's ability to make money (Acts 16:19; 19:26–27). Here at Ephesus, so many people were abandoning the Greek gods and following Jesus. Thus, the craftsmen who make idols were losing business.

They dragged Paul’s companions, Gaius[from Corinth] and Aristarchus[from Thessalonica] into the theatre. The theater is also used as a forum where people meet three times a month to work out issues that threaten the peace of the city. However, this is not a forum, it's a mob that has been worked into a frenzy. Paul was prevented by his disciples and some of his Asiarch friends to come in. "Asiarchs" were people from Asia, the province in southwestern modern-day Turkey. They maybe were high-ranking officers. But it's not clear if these men were Jesus-followers or if they just cared about Paul's well-being as his friends. The people of Ephesus don't know what's going on.[v.32] Fortunately, the town clerk can disperse the riot (v.41)

This experience was overwhelming. Paul was rattled as he expressed to the church in Corinth, "For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead" (2 Cor 1:8–9).

An apostle may experience sufferings to represent Christ.[John 16:33] This hardship had given another benefit of Paul's suffering. He understood how deep pain and a sense of loss feel. He had received God's comfort in the worst affliction. As a result, he could understand and offer God's comfort to anyone who was experiencing something similar.[2 Cor 1:3]

Acts 19:21-28 ESV

21 Now after these events Paul resolved in the Spirit to pass through Macedonia and Achaia and go to Jerusalem, saying, “After I have been there, I must also see Rome.” 22 And having sent into Macedonia two of his helpers, Timothy and Erastus, he himself stayed in Asia for a while.

23 About that time there arose no little disturbance concerning the Way. 24 For a man named Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver shrines of Artemis, brought no little business to the craftsmen. 25 These he gathered together, with the workmen in similar trades, and said, “Men, you know that from this business we have our wealth. 26 And you see and hear that not only in Ephesus but in almost all of Asia this Paul has persuaded and turned away a great many people, saying that gods made with hands are not gods. 27 And there is danger not only that this trade of ours may come into disrepute but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis may be counted as nothing, and that she may even be deposed from her magnificence, she whom all Asia and the world worship.” 28 When they heard this they were enraged and were crying out, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”

THE GOSPEL DISTURBS

For almost three years (Acts 20:31), Paul has been ministering in Ephesus, a city well known for demonic activities and witchcraft. When the people who practiced witchcraft realized Paul's power was greater than the demons they served, they renounced their beliefs and burned their books (Acts 19:11–20). As a result, in the province of Asia, particularly at the southwest modern-day Turkey, people were not only abandoning the demon worship, but also the Greek gods.

This meant they stopped worshipping the goddess Artemis or Diana. Thus, they were not buying her idols and shrines anymore. The craftsmen, led by Demetrius should had not cared that Paul is rescuing people having been enslaved to demons if it was not a threat to their livelihood. Thus, Demetrius incited a mob under the guise of concern for Artemis worship and regional patriotism. The city was in chaos, as the mob marched to protest to the theater. Many joined in their chant—"Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!" —although they have no idea what's going on (see v.24–34)

The gospel is a radical truth. Should people receive the gospel, there would be transformations in their lives and culture. One couldn’t be a follower of Jesus and idols simultaneously. Jesus demands absolute loyalty unto Himself. It’s either Jesus or idols. It couldn’t be both. As the saying goes, “ If Jesus isn’t the Lord of all, He isn’t Lord at all.” People who are radically changed would radically change their culture also.

Jesus has warned us, by saying, “The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify about it that its works are evil.”[John 7:7] He added, “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.”[John 15:18,19]

The craftsmen livelihood was at stake. Obviously, they won’t be happy and allow their business to vanish in thin air. As hornests whose nest was destroyed, they attacked and persecuted the believers. These believers left worshipping idols to serve the living and true God. Indeed, those who lived godly in Christ will be persecuted. [2 Tim 3:12] Thus, the persecutions reveal the genuineness of a believer’s spirituality. Do we?

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Acts 19:17-20 ESV

17 And this became known to all the residents of Ephesus, both Jews and Greeks. And fear fell upon them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was extolled. 18 Also many of those who were now believers came, confessing and divulging their practices. 19 And a number of those who had practiced magic arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted the value of them and found it came to fifty thousand pieces of silver. 20 So the word of the Lord continued to increase and prevail mightily.

THE RENOUNCING OF SINFUL PRACTICES

When the exorcists were humiliated, fear came upon those who saw it, even to all the people in Ephesus, both Jews and Greeks, who heard about it. This had prompted the believers to renounce their wicked practices of magic arts and divinations.

They came and humbly were confessing and divulging their practices. A great number of magic arts practitioners brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. The total value is fifty thousand pieces of silver. If these were silver drachma, the value would be more than $10,000 today.

This demonstrates that the people of Ephesus was saturated with paganism as part of the Roman Empire. They even had household idols and city gods and was known for the temple of Artemis[Diana]. A culture of witchcraft, which attracts demons and Jewish exorcists was prominent. But sometimes people are just waiting for rescue to hear the truth. They were ignorant until they heard Paul preached and saw the power of God through him. Let’s remember that ‘faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.’ [Rom 10:17]

Jesus said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin. ….So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”[John 8:34,36] They renounced in public that they abandoned their old beliefs. Like the Thessalonian believers, they turned from idols to serve the living and true God. Paul even said, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”[2 Cor 5:17] One couldn’t claim that he loves the Lord and practices sin at the same time, could he? John said, “No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God's seed abides in him; and he cannot keep on sinning, because he has been born of God.”[1 John 2:9]

Today, let’s confess, repent and renounce the sin that beset us. Let’s uproot it from our lives as a gardener who loves flower should uproot the weeds in his garden.

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Acts 19:11-17 ESV

11 And God was doing extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul, 12 so that even handkerchiefs or aprons that had touched his skin were carried away to the sick, and their diseases left them and the evil spirits came out of them. 13 Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists undertook to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “I adjure you by the Jesus whom Paul proclaims.” 14 Seven sons of a Jewish high priest named Sceva were doing this. 15 But the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I recognize, but who are you?” 16 And the man in whom was the evil spirit leaped on them, mastered all of them and overpowered them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. 17 And this became known to all the residents of Ephesus, both Jews and Greeks. And fear fell upon them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was extolled.

A FRAUD EXPOSED

God was doing extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul at Ephesus, a city famous of the worship of Artemis and witchcraft. These miracles were directly identified as acts of power of the Holy Spirit who is working through him. "Extraordinary" is from the Greek root word tynchanō and has the idea of "accurate," "effective," or "hitting the target." "By the hands of Paul" means the miracles came through Paul, not necessarily only from his hands but even those who touched his skin were healed.

In the Gospels, some people were healed by touching Jesus' robes (Mat 9:20–22; 14:34–36). However, this does not validate the modern practice of "prayer handkerchiefs." There are televangelists who sell pieces of cloth they claim to have the power to heal, earn money, or otherwise send God's blessings. Demanding money for a magical piece of fabric is for frauds and the greedy for money.

Seeing what Paul did, some itinerant Jewish exorcists undertook to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits. They were the seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish high priest. They used the name of Jesus. Fraudsters often take advantage of the search for a deeper connection to the spirit world. During their first missionary journey, they had encountered one in Cyprus named Bar-jesus.

However these exorcists use the sounds that identify the Jesus Paul worships, they don't use Jesus' name. Why? His name includes His power, sovereignty, character, and authority. When we are baptized in Jesus' name, we submit ourselves to Him. To use Jesus without really knowing Him is to risk His rejection. Clearly, Jesus says, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’ [Matt 7:21-23]

It's also to risk being ignored, even worse to be attacked by the demons being addressed. The man in whom was the evil spirit leaped on them, mastered all of them and overpowered them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.[v.16] The evil spirit could make their lives miserable. As Mark wrote, “And whenever it seizes him, it throws him down, and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid.”[Mark 9:18]

In other words, God would expose the fraud. Ironically, He even used the demon to expose their folly and extoll the integrity of Paul. The spirit answered, “Jesus I know, and Paul I recognize, but who are you?” The people in response feared God. Thereby, their wicked ways was turned around as a means for God’s glory. In the Old Testament, He even could use an animal, a donkey spoke and exposed Balaam’s wickedness. God can turn things around for He is in control. God and the Spirit’s work could neither be misappropriated nor duplicated.

Acts 19:8-10 ESV

8 And he entered the synagogue and for three months spoke boldly, reasoning and persuading them about the kingdom of God. 9 But when some became stubborn and continued in unbelief, speaking evil of the Way before the congregation, he waithdrew from them and took the disciples with him, reasoning daily in the hall of Tyrannus. 10 This continued for two years, so that all the residents of Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks.

THE HALL OF TYRANNUS

For three months in the synagogue , Paul had tried to reason and persuade the Jews about the kingdom of God, that is, the gospel of the kingdom of God. He was persuasive. But, some became stubborn and continued in unbelief, speaking evil of the Way before the congregation.

Paul deemed it was not wise to continue. It was a signal to shake the dust off from his feet and move on. There was no use to spend time with people knowing they were hardening their hearts. The more they resist the truth, the more they thickened the wall of their unbelief.

Hence, Paul withdrew from them and took the disciples with him to the hall of Tyrannus. It was here that he was reasoning daily in the next two years. Through this, all the residents of Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks. That is, everyone from all walks of life had the opportunity to hear the gospel.

There are school of thoughts who was Tyrannus. His name in Greek means “prince” or “ruler.” Was he a believer or not? Was he a teacher, businessman, orator or philosopher? Perhaps, he has this hall rented to traveling philosophers and teachers like Paul. Was he a Jewish scholar or rabbi who had his own private synagogue or operated a school? The place could have been called “Tyrannus Lecture Hall” in the same way that a university today might christen a building “Jose Rizal Hall.”

It is believed that Paul taught in this hall “from the 5th- 10th hour [11:00 AM - 4:00 PM.] This period typically was when workers had their lunch and rested from their work and the heat of the day. As a tentmaker, It’s possible that Paul would have worked during the other parts of the day (cf. Acts 18:3) and had utilized this midday period of rest to ‘reason and persuade’ everyone about the gospel.

He was hitting two birds with one stone through his teaching ministry at the school of Tyrannus, notably. While preaching the gospel to others, he was observed by his disciples, who should have caught his skills first hand. It was life-on-life experience for them.

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Acts 19:1-7 ESV

And it happened that while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed through the inland country and came to Ephesus. There he found some disciples. 2 And he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” And they said, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” 3 And he said, “Into what then were you baptized?” They said, “Into John's baptism.” 4 And Paul said, “John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, Jesus.” 5 On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 And when Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking in tongues and prophesying. 7 There were about twelve men in all.

THE BAPTISM OF JOHN

To begin with, the Jews had already practiced baptism in ritual cleansing ceremonies of Gentile proselytes. John applied it to those who received his message of cleansing for both Jewish and Gentiles. He clearly declared the purpose of baptizing, that is, “I baptize you with water for repentance.” [Matt 3:11a] Paul had affirmed this saying, “John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, Jesus.”

It was a recognition of one’s sin, a desire for spiritual cleansing, and a commitment to follow God’s law in anticipation of the Messiah’s arrival. In other words, John prepared the way for Christ by calling people to acknowledge their sin and their need for salvation. His baptism was a purification ceremony meant to ready the peoples’ hearts to receive Jesus, the Messiah. It foreshadowed what Jesus would accomplish, resembling much to the Old Testament sacrificial system did.

Notedly, John had emphasized the exaltation of Christ. He said, “He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.”[Matt 3:11] When he knew that Jesus was baptizing as He began His public ministry, he was elated to say, “ You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ‘I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before him.’ The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom's voice. Therefore this joy of mine is now complete. He must increase, but I must decrease.”[John 3:28-30]

Christian baptism, however, is a mark of one’s identification with the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. It symbolizes of a cleansing that is complete and a commitment that is the natural response of one who has been made new. The sarifice of Jesus only on the cross does completely wash away our sins, and we are raised to new life empowered by the Holy Spirit (see 2 Cor 5:17–21; Rom 6:1–11).

Paul met these twelve Jewish disciples at Ephesus, who were baptized in John’s baptism only. The problem was not that they did not want it. They did not know about it, even hear about the Holy Spirit. They believed, were baptized and spoke in tongues. This does accentuates the need of discipleship, does it not? Today, many become believerss and receive the Holy Spirit with little understanding of who Jesus is and who the Trinity is.

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Acts 18:24-28 ESV

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. 27 And when he wished to cross to Achaia, the brothers encouraged him and wrote to the disciples to welcome him. When he arrived, he greatly helped those who through grace had believed, 28 for he powerfully refuted the Jews in public, showing by the Scriptures that the Christ was Jesus.

APOLLOS

Apollos was an evangelist, apologist, church leader, and friend of the apostle Paul. Apollos was a Jew from Alexandria, Egypt, described as “eloquent,” “mighty in the Scriptures,” “fervent in the spirit” and “instructed in the way of the Lord” (see v.24). His academic excellence is not a surprise. Alexandria was known for being an academic center. Its had a library that its loss was a historical tragedy. In the 3rd and 4th BC, 70 Jewish scholars in Alexandria translated Hebrew Scriptures into Greek. This version called the Septuagint has been largely quoted by Jesus and the other New Testament characters.

Apollos was a close follower of John the Baptist. He knew something about Jesus, but it's unclear if he only knows what John had taught (Mark 1:2–8) or if he heard more from believers later. If he knew that Jesus is the Messiah, he didn't quite understand what that means (see v.25). He preached repentance and faith in the Messiah—even had believed that Jesus of Nazareth was the Messiah—but he did not know the full essence of Jesus’ death and resurrection. Definitely, his zealousness showed that it doesn’t need that we know so much before God could use us.

When Apollos arrived at Ephesus, the synagogue leaders invited him to speak. Priscilla and Aquila, the couple incharge to take care the church in Ephesus by Paul (Acts 18:19), realized he needed more help to know Jesus more. Thus, they took him aside and showed him who Jesus is and what He came to do. Apollos had enthusiastically accepted their explanation, became a powerful evangelist. Like him, let us be teachable. He was a dynamic speaker but was humble enough to recognize his need to grow.

Eventually, he took the role of Paul in leading the church at Corinth (see v 26–28). He made an impact on the Corinthian church for some were claiming ultimate loyalty to him. The others had expressed their loyalties to either Paul or Peter, even to Jesus (1 Cor 1:12). In other words, he was considered as one of their great leaders. But, he remained humble. In fact Paul commented the significance of his humility and giftedness, by saying, “What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, as the Lord assigned to each. I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth.”[1 Cor 3:5-8]

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