By Robert Austell
Have you ever known someone who was involved with a project from the ground up? Often folks like this are dynamic, motivational individuals. What is often even more powerful and effective than an individual of this kind is one who has an effective (and diverse) team around her or him. There can be a real multiplication of gifts, interests, and passions; there can also be a very helpful self- correction that comes from a team working together with a trust-filled relationship.
Apollos was just this kind of dynamic, motivating individual. He was a Greek from Alexandria, and was eloquent and trained in Hebrew scripture. He also knew about Jesus and was speaking out boldly in the Jewish synagogues in the region, connecting the scriptural promises about the Jewish Messiah to Jesus of Nazareth.
But, he also was missing some things. A couple named Priscilla and Aquila heard him and pulled him aside to explain more of who Jesus was and what he had done. They did not refute him publicly, but took him aside and privately shared truth with him in a way that enhanced his teaching. When Paul came to Ephesus, he found some believers already there, thanks to Apollos and Priscilla and Aquila. Yet Paul also realized that they didn't have the full story; Apollos had shared Jesus, but only “John’s baptism” – one of repentance; he did not know about the Holy Spirit and Pentecost. So Paul stayed and taught some more, ultimately staying in Ephesus as home base for some three years.
There was every potential for Apollos and Paul to become rivals, and some of their followers even tried to stir up such rivalry. In the narrative, however, we see a remarkable spirit of cooperation and willingness to learn between Apollos, Priscilla, Aquila and Paul!
- In what ways has another person “corrected” something you believed or held dear? What in that person’s approach helped you hear and receive what he or she was saying or showing you?
- What have you found is necessary in yourself to learn from another person? What in you gets in the way of learning from another person?
- What other details did you notice in today’s reading?
Prayer: God of truth and grace, who has come among us as one of us, help us to listen and learn from you and from others. Soften what hinders and blocks; grow humility within, after the pattern of Christ, our Savior. Amen.
