"And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures, came to Ephesus. This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John. And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly. And when he was disposed to pass into Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him: who, when he was come, helped them much which had believed through grace: For he mightily convinced the Jews, and that publickly, shewing by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ.
And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples, He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism. Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied. And all the men were about twelve.
And he went into the synagogue, and spake boldly for the space of three months, disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God. But when divers were hardened, and believed not, but spake evil of that way before the multitude, he departed from them, and separated the disciples, disputing daily in the school of one Tyrannus. And this continued by the space of two years; so that all they which dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks. " - Acts 18:24-19:10
We left Paul in Antioch, resting from journeys, and Aquila and Priscilla in Ephesus, left there by Paul to minister to the Church in Ephesus (one of the first churches our Lord mentions in the book of Revelation). Paul now leaves the comfort of Antioch, and sets out on his wanderings again ( "And after he had spent some time there (i.e. Antioch), he departed, and went over all the country of Galatia and Phrygia in order, strengthening all the disciples." - Acts 18:23 ), but there is an interesting interlude between Acts 18:23, and acts 19:1 where we see Paul arriving at Ephesus after his journeys through Galata, Phyrigia & the upper coasts.
This interlude concerns a person called Apollos, evidently a greek (from his name), from Alexandria, a pagan, but well read, and eloquent... and he is noted as being "fervent in the spirit", speaking and teaching, "diligently", the things of the Lord. Luke notes that this person is speaking boldly in the synagogue , a pagan, ministering to the Jews!! This draws the attention of Priscilla and Aquila, who "expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly."
What is this more perfect way?
The Word gives us a hint, in that we see the incompleteness of another group of people at Ephesus - twelve men - that were asked a very pointed question by the Apostle.... "Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed?"
We submit, that this was the "more perfect" exposition given to Apollos as well, who HAD received the Spirit (that baptism being responsible for his "fervency") , but may not have been aware of its central application to the new dispensation that he was preaching. This baptism is a CORE experience that every believer needs to experience, not just the twelve disciples in Ephesus that were anointed by the Spirit by the hands of Paul, but EVEN IN THIS AGE! The Pentecostal movement has garnered a lot of flak for some of their doctrine, but they are CORRECT in their core belief that ALL believers need to be baptised by the Holy Spirit, a principle very clearly articulated at the very beginning of the Apostolic era.
The church at Ephesus was commended by Jesus for their works, and their careful adherence to correct doctrine:
" I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted. " - Rev 2:2-3
This church was well educated by Priscilla and Aquila.... in doctrine, and being careful to test those that were allowed to preach in their pulpit! We should be careful in this age to do the same! While we commend the Pentecostals for their core belief, there are doctrinal errors in their congregations which are not supported by the word of God.
- Speaking in tongues WITHOUT interpretation.
If there is no interpretation of an utterance in tongues, IT IS JUST GIBBERISH. Tongues are ALWAYS accompanied by PROPHECY (speaking an intelligible word from/of God). This was true at Pentecost, where everyone heard the tongue speakers speaking in their Native language, and it is evident here, where Luke notes that "they spake with tongues, and prophesied. " In Pauls letter to the Corinthians, he says the same thing.
"Now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, except I shall speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine? And even things without life giving sound, whether pipe or harp, except they give a distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped? For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle? So likewise ye, except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye shall speak into the air. " - 1 Cor 14:6-9
He is very clear that tongues, and interpretation go together, so that what is said can be understood. If It is true for things that are "without life giving sound" , how much truer is it for the speech of those who proclaim the life-giving Gospel? - Taking up snakes and vipers to "Prove" that they are in-dwelt by the Spirit.
This is a satanic practice, and we have the clearest example in the Gospels, where Satan asks Christ to throw himself off the temple, saying that God will protect him. " Jesus said unto him (Satan), It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God" - Mat 4:7. We are NOT to seek out examples to "show" what can do, unless we have clear direction to do so!! This is the mind-set that encourages believers to stay away from life-saving medicines and medical treatments, which God has ordained for our benefit! We are also NOT to put ourselves in Harms way, trusting that the LORD will deliver us.... rather we should exercise the God-given Spiritual gifts of Wisdom, Understanding and the Fear of the LORD!
It is clear to see how easy it is for congregations to diverge from the straight and narrow path of "Love Go/Love your neighbor" even if, like the Ephesian church, or the Pentecostals, they started out in the right way!! Let that be a warning to all churches and congregations which swerve from the straight and narrow of preaching the Gospel, and discipling/growing the congregation in the knowledge of God, and the exercise of their God-given gifts and talents!!
Paul resumes his studies in the synagogue at Ephesus, when familiar opposition arises again... so he turns from the house of Israel, to the pagan believers at Ephesus, preaching and teaching in the school of Tyrannus, for two years, "so that all they which dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks. " What a wonderful testimony recorded for us in the Word about Paul's ministry!
The PRIMARY function of us as believers is to preach the Word of God faithfully.... EVERYTHING else is secondary, and is just AUTHENTICATION of the Ministry! We see it right here, in the Ephesian Ministry.
"And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul: So that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them.
Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth. And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so. And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye? And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. And this was known to all the Jews and Greeks also dwelling at Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified. And many that believed came, and confessed, and shewed their deeds. Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver.
So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed."- Acts 19-11-20
God DID do Miracles (which are a gift of the Spirit ALSO), by the hands of Paul, JUST AS HE DID WITH JESUS -- to authenticate His Messenger, and to spread the WORD OF GOD! In Ephesus, it had the salutary effect of people instilling the fear of God into the people there, and repentance (they confessed their sins, and turned from their occult practices), but again, the important thing was the growth of the WORD!
"After these things were ended, Paul purposed in the spirit, when he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, to go to Jerusalem, saying, After I have been there, I must also see Rome. So he sent into Macedonia two of them that ministered unto him, Timotheus and Erastus; but he himself stayed in Asia for a season. " - Acts 19:21-22
Paul sends two of his companions to go into Macedonia (Timothy and Erastus), but stays behind in Ephesus, where shortly, things are going to boil over and cause him to pull up his roots again!
