Acts 18:24-28 - Acts 19:1
18:24 Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was a learned man, with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures.
25 He had been instructed in the way of the Lord, and he spoke with great fervor and taught about Jesus accurately, though he knew only the baptism of John.
26 He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately.
27 When Apollos wanted to go to Achaia, the brothers encouraged him and wrote to the disciples there to welcome him. On arriving, he was a great help to those who by grace had believed.
28 For he vigorously refuted the Jews in public debate, proving from the Scriptures that Jesus was the Christ.
19:1 While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus. There he found some disciples

Apollos was an evangelist, apologist, church leader and a friend of the apostle Paul. He was from Alexandria in Egypt, the second most important city in the Roman empire , the home of a great university with a thriving Jewish population . Apollos was a scholar, orator and debator and after coming to know about Jesus' life, His crucifixion and resurrection ,he became fully equipped and begun to share about Jesus in manners described as "eloquent," "competent in Scriptures," "fervent in the spirit." He also "spoke and taught accurately," and "taught boldly in the synagogue".

Far from his home in Alexandria, Apollos preached about Jesus in Ephesus. He was a learned man but did not have the complete understanding of baptism. He needed someone to help him understand the Gospel more completely.

Priscilla and Aquila heard Apollos speaking in the local synagogue and invited him to their home - choosing a wise mentoring approach . Rather than correcting him in public or openly challenging his teaching, they fostered a relationship with him in the context of a loving fellowship. They guided Apollos by clearly explaining God's Word to him.

This couple did not just go home and criticize the preacher. They did not gossip with their neighbours about how Apollos was getting things wrong. Rather, they went to him directly and invested in him, reaching out in love and gaining a friend and a partner in the ministry of the Gospel.

Apollos learnt from Priscilla and Aquila and he went on to preach with greater vigour and accuracy. He was corrected in a way that encouraged and strengthened him for effective ministry.

How would our communities / churches be if we chose to guide others in more loving fellowship? Choose to come alongside and invest in people's lives!

What are great qualities can we learn from Apollos?

Do you have a humble spirit when you are wrong and corrected ?

Are you bold like Apollos to preach the Gospel?

How helpful was Apollos in Achaia (Vs 27,28)? Are you of great help in the ministry you are part of? How can you of better help in the ministry? Can you talk to others about how much more you can help out in the ministry?

Prayer

Lord, give us compassion for one another so that we can speak the truth in love. May we offer correction in encouraging ways. Help us to invest in one another and care enough to correct in love. Help us to have a humble spirit to accept when I am corrected. And please, guide me so that I can be of great help to all who are in my ministry. Amen.