Eloquent and Competent (Acts 18:24)

 

Tuesday, 19 August, 2025

Psalms 110; 111

2 Samuel 21:1-22

Acts 18:18-28

Eloquent and Competent (Acts 18:24)

Now a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was an eloquent man, competent in the Scriptures.

Ah, good old Apollos! Digging around the texts of the primitive church, it is fun to find names that we recognise from elsewhere. Our friend Apollos is mentioned by St Paul in his first letter to the church at Corinth, which is in Achaea – the very we place we have just read about here in Acts 24.

Apollos spoke with eloquence, and was competent in the scriptures. What a deadly combination to make the forces of evil tremble! On top of this, he was humble, too. Or, shall we say, he had a teachable spirit. Priscilla and Aquila saw what he was doing, knew what gospel dynamite God had placed in their path, and offered to help Apollos get even better – and he accepted.

We read in 1 Corinthians 1 that Apollos was so charismatic that the church had formed a little following around him. Fortunately St Paul dislodged them. I wonder how Apollos felt about it, though? On the one hand, he had been gifted with an amazing set of skills. We all know how, if we are not careful, that sort of thing can go to our head. Yet on the other hand he demonstrated clear humility and willingness to learn. We probably won’t know for certain this side of eternity, but it is a helpful reminder nonetheless of what Jesus meant when he said that of those to whom much has been given, more will be asked for.

What are you good at? How willing are you to learn how to improve from someone else? How might it help God’s kingdom?

Lord Jesus, who for our sakes humbled yourself that we may be raised with you into glory: teach us to hold onto our gifts lightly, that you may make the most of them through us.