We have spoken about apologetics already. Some men are particularly gifted to defend the faith in public in this way. One thinks of men like Peter Kreeft & Ronald Tacelli who wrote ‘The Handbook of Christian Apologetics’; Lee Strobel and his book ‘The Case for Christ’; CS Lewis and ‘Mere Christianity’; Josh McDowell and ‘Evidence that Demands a Verdict’ … and the list is so long! I recall David Seccombe, when he was principal of George Whitefield College, debating popular Muslim apologists at a student forum.
This task is never easy, irrespective of how right you are and how much evidence you have because those in front of whom you are defending Jesus Christ and Christianity are not listening to you to hear and understand. As you defend the faith they are listening to nitpick and fault find what you have to say. The material they use generally relates to pseudo gospels, written by men whom the Early Church in the first few Centuries rejects as heretics. Often, they would retaliate with anger, slander and blasphemy.
I mentioned a few years ago that when visiting a family with my evangelism team, unknown to me, the Jehovah’s Witnesses two top guys in the province were also invited. I was startled at first, but the Holy Spirit put into my mind the idea to work through the Book of Acts and every time it referred to the Holy Spirit, to present a question to them. By the time I was two or three chapters in Acts, their temperature reached boiling point and they departed. Listen to how Peter tells us under inspiration how to behave as we defend the faith:
1Pe 3:15 But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, 16 keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.
Gentleness and respect … so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. You see, the point of Christian Apologetics is to help people develop and intellectual examination of the Gospel and attract these people to the Gospel. We pick up our message today:
Ac 18:26 He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately. 27 When Apollos wanted to go to Achaia, the brothers encouraged him and wrote to the disciples there to welcome him. On arriving, he was a great help to those who by grace had believed. 28 For he vigorously refuted the Jews in public debate, proving from the Scriptures that Jesus was the Christ.
Apollos was one of the first Christian Apologists. He was educated in culture, arts, language, etc., in Jewish religion and Christianity. But as we shall see, his education continued from the most unlikely source.
1) He was bold in the synagogue.
Ac 18:26 He began to speak boldly in the synagogue.
The phrase “to speak boldly” means “to bear one’s self boldly or confidently”. Apollos preached freely without any restriction or opposition about the Lord Jesus. He had the gift of proclaiming Truth and he used this gift wisely, yet confidently. The previous verse tells us that:
Ac 18:25 he spoke with great fervor and taught about Jesus accurately, though he knew only the baptism of John.
Even though he had been taught about Jesus, all he knew about Messiah was what John the Baptist had to say. Even so, he got the Gospel message right and with his natural abilities and the Holy Spirit’s gifting, he was able to speak the Gospel to the Jews freely and powerfully. This is what we need today … gifted men who are able to stand their ground because they know their faith sufficiently to defend it amongst people confused or opposed to the Gospel message.
2) He was befriended by Priscilla and Aquila. Just as Paul befriended this married couple, so they befriended Apollos.
Ac 18:26 He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately.
They heard Apollos preach. They were amazed at his knowledge and giftedness in defending the Gospel before the Jews. Maybe Paul had honed them in Gospel Knowledge and now they see a capable man that needs the rough edges knocked off … and they took him aside privately, befriended him and discipled him more fully. Soon after becoming a Christian I met up with a couple who had been through Bible School. They were impressed with my outspoken way of speaking about Jesus, yet saw the rough edges. They took my under their wing and gently discipled me. We need such people in our Churches who can spot men on fire for God, with talent and ability that can be shaped and used far better for Gospel purposes. Pray for this.
3) He was encouraged to broaden his ministry. It is one thing to see someone with the anointing of God for teaching and evangelism and help them improve … it is another thing to help that person accomplish greater things for the Lord Jesus.
Ac 18:27 When Apollos wanted to go to Achaia, the brothers encouraged him and wrote to the disciples there to welcome him. On arriving, he was a great help to those who by grace had believed.
We are not told why Apollos wanted to visit Achaia. This would be Corinth in Greece. It might have been because he was an apologist, attempting to do what Paul was unable to accomplish … we are not told. Although it must have been sad to see his departure, the brothers supported his desire to visit the Church in Corinth. They even wrote a letter of approval, supporting and encouraging the Church there to receive him. The presiding bishop of REACH-SA gave me such a letter to present to the Church here in the USA. Look what this did for Apollos … on arriving, he was a great help to those who by grace had believed. The word “help” means “to bring together in one’s mind”. Apollos was able to, using his knowledge, gifts and abilities to teach converts by bringing all the loose ends of Scripture, doctrine, theology and the Gospel together so that they understood it academically and in their hearts. We are not finished with Apollos yet, but again and again he shows us the type of men we need in our Churches. Ones who are able to discern where people are in their spiritual understanding and by careful use of relevant Scriptures, bring them to the point where the theory and the spiritual gel. Too often there is much head knowledge without heart understanding.
4) He was a great apologist. Maybe you’re bored by now, hearing about Apollos’ abilities … but he was extraordinary in defending the Christian Faith.
Ac 18:28 For he vigorously refuted the Jews in public debate, proving from the Scriptures that Jesus was the Christ.
The words “vigorously” and “refuted” as used together here explain so much. Vigorously means to be at full stretch and refuted means rivalry in a context. Now add the fact that this was in public … in view of everyone. In this environment, without fear where Paul was persecuted by the Jews, Apollos, in all boldness, stretched himself academically and spiritually, demonstrating that Jesus is the Messiah the Old Testament Scriptures spoke of. Oh beloved, this is what we need today. We are faced with every onslaught politically, religiously, academically and secularly when it comes to Christianity. Everyone fears the authorities, politicians, religious leaders, academics and proponents of many movements for this and against that. Why? We have the Truth. We speak because we love and want people to save themselves from certain hell … but they cannot save themselves without hearing the Gospel and having their empty way of life, belief and rebellion against God exposed. Then they need to know how to access the ear of God to confess their sin, exercise faith and commit to repentance and follow Jesus as their new Lord!
Father, give us extraordinary Holy Spirit power to be fearless and bold as Apollos was. Souls need salvation and the only way to get to them is through fearless evangelism. Make us fearless, Lord. Amen.