on the walk

Here is a link to today’s reading:

Acts 18:18-28

You still have things to learn. If that sentence shocks you, then you may need to look again at the story about Apollos in the book of Acts. Even with all his credentials (which are pretty impressive) he had something to learn from two Corinthian leather workers. If he had ignored their teaching he would have missed an opportunity to serve God in a powerful way. Likewise, if we are too proud to learn from such surprising teachers, we may miss what God needs to teach us.

Today’s Challenge:

Write down some things that you sense God wants to teach you this week. Admit before God and others that you don’t have all the answers. Ask someone you trust to give you an honest appraisal if you are teachable. Do something with the answer.

Textual Reflections:

I had mixed feelings about Apollos as a kid.  I know that every kid goes through that stage, but for me it was prolonged.  He seemed dangerous.  Here we find that he is going around teaching the wrong things.  In the first letter to the Corinthians, he is one of teachers around whom a faction has coalesced (of course so is Paul).  So I kind of developed this since that he was not quite to be trusted.

I have recently changed my mind.  In his letter to the Corinthians, Paul does not act like the factions are Apollos’ fault anymore than they are the fault of Peter and Paul. (See 1 Corinthians 1 for more details.) So my bias against Apollos has softened and with this softened bias, I feel like I have seen this text for the first time.

Apollos was from the center of Jewish academic thought at the time (Alexandria).  He was a learned man from that town with a thorough knowledge of the scriptures.  We learn that he was a skilled debater.  Nothing about a man like that makes us expect that he will be ready to be taught by two itinerant laborers. (This also tells us something about the care and wisdom of Priscilla and Aquila.)  But he did listen.  What a remarkable thing for a man at the prime of his career to listen to someone an learn from them.

After all this time I find that I want to be like Apollos.  I don’t want to be wrong, but I assume that I probably am.  What I want to be is teachable, at all times from anyone.

on the walk

-Ethan

Ps. There is one cool detail that must not be missed.  Priscilla and Aquila did not address his error publicly.  They did not humiliate him or call him out.  They handled the situation carefully and kindly.     They had him over to their house.  They explained, they did not ridicule or belittle.  May we all be so careful when we need to teach someone else. And then when he had learned, they supported him and endorsed him to further ministry.

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