24 Now a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was an eloquent man, competent in the Scriptures. 25 He had been instructed in the way of the Lord. And being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus, though he knew only the baptism of John. 26 He began to speak boldly in the synagogue, but when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately. 27 And when he wished to cross to Achaia, the brothers encouraged him and wrote to the disciples to welcome him. When he arrived, he greatly helped those who through grace had believed, 28 for he powerfully refuted the Jews in public, showing by the Scriptures that the Christ was Jesus. (Acts 18)
Paul was traveling around proclaiming the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, but he was not the only one. In his travels, he came across people like Apollos, and Priscilla and Aquila. These people were great in faith and in their knowledge of the Scriptures, and went to some of the same places Paul did, as well as to other places he could not get to. In our reading today, we are told that Apollos knew scripture well, but needed some further instruction. After he was discipled more, he was sent out with recommendations to receive Him as a Bible teacher. We are told that when he arrived, he greatly helped those who through grace had believed. God's grace is complemented by the teaching of God's Word. As great as God's grace is, that is not all He has given us to know what to believe and how to live. He has also given us His Holy Spirit and the Bible, which we also need to pay attention to. God's power and His grace - that ability in Christ to do what we cannot do on our own, could become power out of control, without the guidance of the Holy Spirit and the truth and instructions He gives us in scripture. So let us ask for and receive God's amazing grace, but let us also continue to study His Word and learn to listen to His Holy Spirit as He guides us to live by His grace.
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