sermons by IVOR POWELL

APOLLOS in whose fiery sermons some thing was lacking

(ACTS 18 :25)

"And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria,

an eloquent man, and mighty in the Scriptures, came to

Ephesus. This man was instructed in the way of the Lord;

and being fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught dili-

gently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism

of John." The coming of this remarkable man seemed a

God-send to the harassed, persecuted Christians. He was a

most able scholar, whose fiery eloquence electrified meet-

ings and confounded the most bitter critics. He seemed

to be the answer to the Christians prayers. Yet while all

this excitement prevailed in the hearts of the Ephesian

Christians, two thoughtful people recognized that something

was wrong with the young preacher. His message was

expressed in words of fire; his knowledge of the prophets

was far above the ordinary; yet, somewhere, something was

lacking.

The Great Scholar

"He was mighty in the Scriptures." Such great know-

ledge could not have been acquired in a moment. His

parents were probably devout Jews, whose boy had been

taught in the Scriptures "from his youth up." When

Apollos passed from youth to manhood, the influence of

the law and the prophets dominated his entire thought.

The coming of Jesus of Nazareth had been the fulfilment

of the ancient predictions; the Jewish rejection of their

Messiah had been the greatest national mistake, and unless

Israel repented of sin, the outpouring of God's wrath

would be inevitable. The cry of John Baptist needed to

be repeated in every village of the land. Whenever Apollos

read his Scripture, every prophetic utterance emphasized

the importance of this fact, and finally the young man

could say, with Jeremiah, "But his word was in mine

heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones . . . and I

could not stay" (Jer. 20:9).

The Great Speaker

"He was an eloquent man . . . instructed in the way of

the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spake and

taught diligently he thrilling, passionate preaching

of this young man seemed a refreshing breeze on a sultry,

stifling afternoon. It revived drooping spirits, and gave

promise of a new leader whose exploits would lead to

greater conquests in the name of the Lord. The Christians

were thrilled at the prospect of every new oration, and

their hearts readily responded to the way in which he

marshalled his prophetic facts. He was a genius, and

"mightily convinced the Jews, and that publicly, shewing

by the Scriptures that Jesus was Christ." Yet all the

while, the cross of Calvary represented nothing but the

overwhelming folly of Israel. They had crucified their

Messiah, and had lost their greatest opportunity. That God

was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, was a truth

unknown to Apollos. His passionate outpourings were

expressive of his deep sincerity, but his Messiah was dead;

for even if Jesus of Nazareth had risen again, He had now

returned to heaven, and Israel's opportunity had gone

with Him. Repentance alone could prevent the doom of

the nation.

The Great Saint

"Aquila and Priscilla . . . took him unto them, and ex-

pounded unto him the way of God more perfectly." It is

a cause for pleasure that the Scriptures declare that both

man and wife helped to instruct this brilliant young man.

Undoubtedly the husband led the discussion, but when-

ever he failed to make a point in a way satisfactory to his

wife, she joined in the conversation, and her contributions

added charm and value to the evening. Ultimately a new

revelation changed the entire outlook of the young

preacher, "And when he was disposed to pass into Achaia,

the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him

." Eventually Apollos reached Corinth, where Paul had

founded a Church on the doctrines of redemption. He had

determined to know nothing among the people save

"Christ and Him crucified." That the Church responded

to the preaching of the young visitor proves how well

Aquila and Priscilla had done their work. A live coal

from off the altar had touched his heart and his lips; he

also preached reconciliation through the cross, and was a

worthy man to follow in the footsteps of their beloved

 Paul.