You may remember the division that arose in the Corinthian church over personalities.
What I mean is that each of you says, “I belong to Paul,” or “I belong to Apollos,” or “I belong to Cephas,” or “I belong to Christ.” (1 Corinthians 1:12)
The leaders themselves were probably not the problem. More likely, the names of leaders became rallying points for the ego and self-assertion of individual members. Apollos was caught up in the middle of it. Who was he? Luke gives us some insight in Acts 18.
Who Was Apollos?
Before he arrived in Corinth, Apollos met Priscilla and Aquila in Ephesus.
Now there came to Ephesus a Jew named Apollos from Alexandria. He was an eloquent man, well-versed in the scriptures. (Acts 18:24)
Apollos later traveled to Corinth, a city where status mattered a great deal. His eloquence may have given him an elevated standing among some in the church.
No one knows for certain what caused the division in Corinth, and most explanations are educated guesses. But we do know this from our own age: clever, entertaining speech earns “likes” on social media and draws crowds for performers.
Modern listeners need to discern the voice of the Holy Spirit in every speaker, entertaining or not. Whether a sermon thrills us or bores us, we can ask the Spirit to speak to us through it.
Always Learning
I have studied the Bible as a profession and a passion for almost 60 years, and hardly a week goes by that I don’t learn something new. Right now I am focused on passages from the Psalms and John. As I have prayerfully meditated on them, the Holy Spirit has shown me insights I had never noticed before. We are never too old or experienced to learn more from our gracious Lord.
Like me, Apollos was open to more knowledge so he could better serve the One he loved.
He had been instructed in the Way of the Lord, and he spoke with burning enthusiasm and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus, though he knew only the baptism of John. (Acts 18:25)
Luke tells us Apollos proclaimed Jesus with “burning enthusiasm.” But the heat of his message needed the light of further instruction, and Priscilla and Aquila supplied it.
He began to speak boldly in the synagogue, but when Priscilla and Aquila heard him they took him aside and explained the Way of God to him more accurately. (Acts 18:26)
Gifted, enthusiastic, and eloquent as he was, Apollos was still open to instruction from this godly couple.
When he went on to Achaia, Luke says he greatly helped those who had come to believe and powerfully showed from the scriptures that Jesus is the Messiah (Acts 18:27-28). After a few brief mentions in 1 Corinthians and Titus, we lose sight of him. But his openness to the Holy Spirit, and to guidance from people like Priscilla and Aquila, clearly bore fruit.
Receiving Guidance
I can relate to Apollos. When I started preaching at a young age, I was full of enthusiasm. Unfortunately, I had more heat than light.
During my college years, invitations came in to speak at many youth events: high school baccalaureates, an Easter service at a small-town high school, and several church youth Sundays.
I was full of youthful excitement and more than a little pride. Once I preached at a church with a radio broadcast, and my father listened from home. The next night he took me to dinner and spent about an hour and a half telling me how poor my sermon was. Point by point, he took it apart.
My first reaction was self-righteous anger. “How could he say that about me?” I thought. But the Holy Spirit had a different plan.
That dinner became a turning point in my ministry. God used my father’s critique to push me to study more, learn more, and become more open to what He was doing.
I doubt Apollos reacted with the pride I did, but I am thankful that both of us were shown a better way to share God’s message.
YouTube Discussion
On November 4, 2026, Rudy Ross, Bruce Kirby, and I discussed Acts 18:18-28 on YouTube. Watch the discussion here.
