APOLLOS
                           Acts 18:24-28

1. The study of Bible characters is always very interesting.
2. Apollos became a very prominent man along with Paul and others.
3. His influence was so great that Paul speaks of the church in
   Corinth in its division: "Now this I say, that every one of you
   saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I
   of Christ." (1 Cor. 1:12).
4. Thus, his influence is comparable to that of Paul and Peter.
5. Yet, when he is first introduced there is something wrong with
   him and with his teaching.
6. Acts 18:24-28.
7. Let us notice some of his shortcomings.

BODY:
  I. HE WAS AN ELOQUENT MAN:
     The only man mentioned in the N. T. where the word is used.
     Apollos is spoken of by some as being the "Bryan" of N.T.
     Few men who have lived that would be entitled to this adj.

 II. HE WAS MIGHTY IN THE SCRIPTURES:
     Apollos had a knowledge of the scriptures and knew how to use
        them in argument and exposition, which thing he did to the
        best of his knowledge.
     There have been many mighty sermons, written and spoken by
        men of our age upon such subjects as, "The Deity of
        Christ," "The Virgin Birth," etc., and yet many of these
        men who have spoken are in the same position as Apollos,
        in that they do not have a full knowledge of scriptures.
     Thus, a person can be mighty in the scriptures and still not
        be in accordance to the N.T.

III. HE WAS INSTRUCTED IN THE WAY OF THE LORD:
     Highly educated in the scriptures.
     Many today that could be said same thing. How can we question
        them. Years and years of study, but in the same condition
        as Apollos.

 IV. HE WAS FERVENT IN SPIRIT:
     This is talking about Apollos' spirit, his zeal.
     He was fervent and earnest.
        Paul expressed this characteristic in his previous life;
            Acts 23:1-- honest, conscientious, yet wrong.
     Many religious  people today are fervent in spirit.
     Even more fervent than many Christians; put us to shame.
     NOTE: Apollos was as fervent before his conversion, as after.
     Paul said of the Jews of his day-- Rom. 10:1-2.
     But, simply being fervent and zealous will not suffice.

  V. HE "TAUGHT DILIGENTLY THE THINGS OF THE LORD":
     As far as he knew he taught diligently, yet did not know all
        of the truth.
     Many teach diligently today, but do not have all of the
        truth.
     John 8:32-- "Ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make
        you free." NOT PART OF IT, BUT ALL OF IT.

 VI. BUT, HE KNEW ONLY THE BAPTISM OF JOHN:
     Here was Apollos' error.
     All these points thus mentioned are fine, nothing wrong.
     But his error off-set his good points.
     Not only was he in error, but he was teaching others his
        error. In Acts 19, we learn of 12 men who had accepted his
        teaching; they knew only the baptism of John.
     Apollos's teaching had been effective.
     Like many today, teaching error, at least not all of the
        truth, even being effective in it, but, still in error.

VII. WHAT WAS WRONG WITH THE BAPTISM OF JOHN, AS APOLLOS WAS
     TEACHING?
     Some say, John did not baptize for the remission of sin, but
        not so, Mk. 1:14; Luke 3:3 -- "for (unto) the remission of
        sin."
     When Paul came to Ephesus and found the 12 men who had
        received only John's baptism, he asked them -- Acts 19:3-4
     The thing that made the 12 wrong was their FAITH, and that in
        turn made their baptism wrong.
     Jesus said-- Mk 16:16, believe what? The gospel!!!
     What is the gospel?  1 Cor. 15:3-4, Death, burial, res.
        NOTE: Cannot believe something wrong and be scripturally
            baptized.

VIII. THERE ARE THOSE TODAY WHO CLAIM TO BAPTIZE FOR REMISSION OF
      SINS, BUT THEIR FAITH IS WRONG.
      Our Mormon friends baptize for remission of sins, but is it
        valid? It is wrong because they teach that you must
        believe in the Book of Mormon, and that Joseph Smith, Jr.,
        received a "latter day" revelation.
     Thus, their faith is wrong, their baptism likewise wrong.

 IX. OTHER DENOMINATIONAL MEMBERS:
     Some say, "I was immersed or baptized for the remission of
        sins," but, before their baptism they confessed, "I
        believe that God had for Christ sake pardoned (past tense)
        my sins."  If that statement was made, then the baptism
        was not valid. They would be in the same condition as the
        12 in Ephesus. Their baptism based on a wrong faith.
     The faith that precedes baptism has something to do with the
        validity of a person's baptism.
     Acts 8:5, 12 -- must learn (1) kingdom, (2) authority of
        Christ, (3) baptism.

  X. AQUILLA AND PRISCILLA TOOK HIM ASIDE AND EXPOUNDED THE WAY...
     Vs. 26 -- He was truly converted.
     Suppose Apollos had heard the truth and had refused it. He
        would have gone down as a false teacher, lost, along with
        all who heard and responded to his teaching.
     We should follow the example sat by Apollos. When we find
        that we are wrong, have the courage to change.
     Apollos became a mighty preacher, compared to Paul and Peter
        in influence as the result to his open mind and obedience.

CONCLUSION:
     1. We, too, need to be receptive to the revealed Word of
        truth and allow it to permeate our hearts and minds.
     2. Thus, leading to our obedience in all things.
     3. Apollos had the proper attitude toward God's truths.

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