Imitate Their Faith – Apollos

by Chris Simmons

In Hebrews 13:7 we read, “Remember those who led you, who spoke the word of God to you; and considering the result of their conduct, imitate their faith.” We need to look to those around us today who are walking according to the pattern and we need to look to those recorded in scripture who provide us with biblical examples to follow.

One such example is a man named Apollos. At the beginning of Paul’s third missionary journey, Luke records in Acts 18:24-28 that a Jew named Apollos came to the city of Ephesus and began to preach the gospel there. There are a number of qualities that by inspiration Luke records for us about Apollos that we would do well to imitate.

First, Luke records that Apollos was “an eloquent man.” Now, one who knows the scriptures might say, “But I thought Paul said eloquence was a bad thing.” Indeed Paul wrote in I Corinthians 2:1, “And when I came to you, brethren, I did not come with superiority of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God.” Paul’s goal was not to be known as a master story teller and use flowery oratory skills. Rather, he believed in and practiced his faith in the power of the gospel. Apollos (as we will note later) also believed in the power of the scriptures and I believe did not use his oratory skills as the focal point but rather focused on accurately and boldly speaking the truth. What Acts 18:24 tells me was that Apollos worked on his ability to effectively and powerfully present the truth. We need to understand that the ability to articulate and speak clearly can be useful but it is not the most important aspect in our preaching and teaching. We all should work on our ability to speak with others so that we can effectively present God’s revealed will to others. We need to become skilled in the ability to reason and persuade from the scriptures as Paul always did (Acts 17:2-3; 18:4). Like Apollos, we need to work on, develop, and utilize the talents given to us (Matthew 25:14ff) and make ourselves “useful to the Master” (II Timothy 2:21). May we always pray that nothing in our delivery and presentation of the truth distract or hinder the power God said is in His gospel (Romans 1:16).

Second, Luke tells us in Acts 18:24 that Apollos was “mighty in the scriptures.” The word for “mighty” means strong, powerful, and capable. It refers to a high level of competence in handling God’s word. This is the same word that Paul used in II Corinthians 10:4 where he refers to the “weapons of our warfare” against Satan as being “divinely powerful.” Apollos was skilled and effective in using the power of the gospel. How did Apollos get to that point and how can we also become “mighty in the scriptures”? Was it miraculous? Or was it a lot of hard work and diligence? If it was a matter of just waiting till we’re zapped with biblical knowledge, then why did Paul tell the evangelist Timothy in II Timothy 2:15 to “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth”? Only through continual and repeated study can we become “skilled in the Law” (Ezra 7:6) as Ezra was. We need to imitate Apollos in taking advantage of every opportunity to be “instructed in the way of the Lord” (Acts 18:25) so we can develop our own high level of competence in presenting the Gospel message to others.

Third, Luke also tells us that Apollos was “fervent in spirit” (Acts 18:25). The word for “fervent” simply means to be hot, boil, or glow. This is what Paul was speaking of in a series of admonitions in Romans chapter 12 when he added “fervent in spirit” (verse 11). It’s the opposite of what was written about the Christians in Laodicea whom the Lord said He would “spit you out of My mouth” because they were “neither hot nor cold” but “lukewarm” (Revelation 3:15-16). We read in Ezra 7:23, that even a heathen king such as King Artaxerxes recognized that whatever God asks of us should illicit a response of zeal. “Whatever is commanded by the God of heaven, let it be done with zeal for the house of the God of heaven, so that there will not be wrath against the kingdom of the king and his sons.” The key is to have zeal that’s properly educated. Paul wrote in Romans 10:2, “For I testify about them that they have a zeal for God, but not in accordance with knowledge.” Solomon wrote in Ecclesiastes 9:10, “Whatever your hand finds to do, verily, do it with all your might; for there is no activity or planning or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol where you are going.” We need to learn to imitate Apollos’ fervency in spirit that was guided and directed by instruction in God’s word.

Fourth, Luke tells us that Apollos wasn’t just about learning but sharing what others needed to hear. He was “speaking and teaching accurately the things concerning Jesus” (Acts 18:25). He understood what Ezra expressed in Ezra 7:10 that it’s not enough to study the law of the Lord and to practice it, but that we must teach others what we know and do. Will we have the attitude of Peter and John in Acts 4:20 that “we cannot stop speaking” about the things that we have studied and learned in God’s word? Woe are we if we do not preach the gospel (I Corinthians 9:16). Will we recognize our duty over time to progress from students to teachers (Hebrews 5:12)? Apollos’ competence and skill in handling the word of God wasn’t for his benefit only but also for everyone else he had a chance to teach. We need to imitate his commitment to speak and teach accurately the word of God.

Finally, Luke tells us that Apollos had a good and honest heart and was willing to receive correction when he practiced or taught something inaccurately. Luke explains in Acts 18:25 that Apollos was “acquainted only with the baptism of John” and was ignorant of baptism in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins. Fortunately, he encountered a husband and wife named Priscilla and Aquila who “took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately.” It’s interesting that Luke doesn’t record any defensive or angry reaction by Apollos to Priscilla and Aquila and their efforts to correct his teaching on the subject of baptism. Nor do we read of Apollos giving up his efforts to teach and speak God’s word but rather a renewed focus to continue his efforts by “seeking to go across to Achaia” and continue his work there where he “greatly helped those who had believed” (Acts 18:27). As we study and grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ, let us imitate the humility of Apollos when we’re honestly mistaken and stop being mistaken rather than stop being honest.

Apollos is someone all Christians should strive to imitate in terms of his efforts to develop and use his talents and abilities for the cause of Christ, to become “mighty in the scriptures,” to maintain fervency in spirit, to speak and teach to others what we’ve learned of God’s will, and make any necessary corrections in our living and our teaching when others speak the truth in love to us.