“Reasoning from the Spirit"
Acts 18:24-19:10
This man had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things of the Lord, though he knew only the baptism of John. [Acts 18:25]
Is it possible to know and teach the Bible without power? Is it possible to be “mighty in the Scriptures” and insignificant amongst hearers? These are interesting questions to ponder but ones that can be asked from our passage this morning. Also worth noting is the flipside in Philippians 1:12-18 where Paul suggests that even if some preach Christ out of “selfish ambition,” the power of God’s Word goes forth.
But there is an obvious association between the Word of God preached and the Spirit of God permeating that Word into its hearers, and that dynamic is touched upon in our passage this morning, specifically in Acts 18:24-28.
“Now a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man and mighty in the Scriptures, came to Ephesus. This man had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things of the Lord, though he knew only the baptism of John.” [vv.18:24-25, emphasis added]
Apollos was learned in the Scriptures, eloquent in speech, fervent in spirit, and taught accurately. HOWEVER, he lacked the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
Remember what Jesus said to His disciples before ascending to heaven? “And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart to Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, ‘which,’ He said, ‘you have heard from Me; for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.’” [Acts 1:4-5]
There is an enormous difference in John’s baptism and Jesus’ baptism of the Spirit. John even prophesied this. “I [John] indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.”
Learning the Scriptures is important. Spirit-filled-ness, however, is the key to understanding and expounding them.
