INTRODUCTION

Left in Ephesus by Paul, Priscilla and Aquila met a gifted speaker named Apollos, who had great passion for Christ but an incomplete knowledge of the gospel (Acts 18:24-28). Equipping him with a more accurate message, they sent him on to Achaia, where he was used powerfully by God. 

Paul returned to Ephesus and met twelve disciples who knew about the message of John and was baptised with his baptism of repentance. But their understanding was not complete. After Paul introduced them to Jesus, they received the baptism of the Holy Spirit and followed Paul to proclaim the gospel in Asia (Acts 19:1-7).

This week, we ask: What would it mean for our understanding of the gospel to be more complete? Would it compel us to go further than where we are right now?

DISCUSSION

1. Have you ever known someone who just didn’t have all the facts regarding something important? If so, what did you do?
   
   
2. Read Acts 18:24-28.
   
   a. What good qualities did Apollos have?
   
   b. What was the “baptism of John” (cf. Luke 3:3-6)?
   
   (i) What was wrong with Apollos knowing only the “baptism of John” (cf. Luke 3:16-17)?
   
   c. How did the time with Priscilla and Aquila affect the ministry of Apollos (Acts 18:28; cf. 1 Corinthians 3:6)?
   
   
3. Read Acts 19:1-7.
   
   a. Pay attention to verses 4 and 5. What is the difference between the “baptism of John” and “baptism in the name of the Lord Jesus”?
   
   (i) What is the relationship between the “baptism of the Holy Spirit” and “baptism in the name of the Lord Jesus”?
   
   b. What is “speaking in tongues” (Acts 19:6)? What is its relation to baptism? What is its purpose? (cf. Acts 2:4, 10:44-46; Mark 16:17; 1 Corinthians 14:4)
   
   
4. In the passage studied, Luke emphasised an incomplete understanding of the way of God in Apollos and in the disciples of John who were ignorant of the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
   
   a. Was their ignorance blameworthy? How then might we see our own incomplete understanding of the gospel?
   
   b. What can we do to have a complete and accurate understanding of the Scriptures and the way of God?
   
   (i) Based on what we have read, what can we expect to result?
   
   
5. What might it look like to be someone like Priscilla and Aquila or Paul?
   
   a. Do you have Priscillas, Aquilas, or Pauls in the church? What have they done?
   
   b. Are you ready to be a Priscilla, Aquila, or Paul in the church? What might you need to be ready?

WHAT WILL YOU DO

Knowing Christ and learning to be led by the Holy Spirit is a daily commitment and journey for every Christian. In the first story, the things Apollos taught were about Jesus, about the Christ — but Priscilla and Aquila introduced Apollos to Jesus by explaining to him that the Christ of Scripture is Jesus. They completed his message. It is one thing to know about a person, it is another thing to truly know the person. Jesus is the key to understanding the ways of God.

In Paul’s story, the disciples whom Paul met in Ephesus knew John’s message. They knew that a mightier one was coming, they knew what it meant to repent. They were baptised with the baptism of repentance and united with John’s message. But it appears that they did not know Jesus, or that Jesus was the one John was preparing for. So Paul introduced them to Jesus and baptised them in the name of the Lord Jesus and as a result, they received the infilling of the Holy Spirit. Just like Apollos, the twelve disciples found completion in Jesus. 

Will you seek to know Jesus intimately and be open to receive the empowerment of the Holy Spirit daily? Will you try to help others do the same?

MEMORY VERSE

John answered, saying to all, “I indeed baptise you with water; but One mightier than I is coming, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose. He will baptise you with the Holy Spirit and fire. – Luke 3:16