Introduction:  A study of people can be very profitable.  Especially can we profit from a study of a man such as Apollos.   We first read of Apollos in Acts 18: 24-28. Apollos is said to have been a Jew, who was born at Alexandria (Acts 18: 24). He was also a very religious man, however, he lacked adequate knowledge (vss. 24, 25). 

I. Apollos, his attainments

  A. Apollos was an "eloquent man" (vs. 24).

   a. Eloquent is from the Greek logious, meaning word. The Greeks used "eloquent" not only to describe a learned person but also one skilled in words.

  B. Apollos was also "mighty in the scriptures."

   a. One can be mighty in the scriptures and still not have sufficient knowledge, as we shall see in the case of Apollos. Apollos came to Ephesus, where Aquila and Priscilla were (Christians who could teach him, cp. Jn. 7: 17).

   b. Apollos, we are told, was "instructed in the way of the Lord" and was "fervent in spirit," teaching "diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John" (vs. 25). John's baptism was important but it was only preparatory, it looked to Jesus and his baptism (Mk. 1: 3, 4, Matt. 3: 2 ff.).

  C. Apollos was, as so many preachers today, zealous in his teaching, but he lacked knowledge (see I Tim. 1: 7).

II. Apollos was teachable

  A. We all must be seekers of the truth (Jn. 7: 17).

  B. So many with the attainments of Apollos would have scoffed at a lowly couple teaching him, but not Apollos (vs. 26).

  C. Aquila and Priscilla "took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly" (vs. 26).

   a. Stress how truth and doctrine do matter (Jn. 4: 24, 2 Jn. 9-11).