Aquila and Priscilla

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 spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things of the Lord, though he knew only the baptism of John. So he began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Aquila and Priscilla heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately. And when he desired to cross to Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him; and when he arrived, he greatly helped those who had believed through grace; for he vigorously refuted the Jews publicly, showing from the Scriptures that Jesus is the Christ. – Acts 8.24-28

There are a lot of lesser know people in the Bible. These are people we come across who may only get a mention or two and then they disappear. A lot of these folks though make a tremendous impact when we meet them.

One such couple are Aquila and Priscilla. Apollos was a guy who was really seeking the Lord. He had great faith and was already proclaiming the word of God before he met Aquila and Priscilla, but he could only do so much because he did not know the whole truth. Look ate the words used for him; eloquent, mighty, and fervent in doing God’s work. But so far all he knew was the baptism of John.

So Aquila and Priscilla had a Bible study for Apollos. They explained the gospel more accurately and precisely so that Apollos would be prepared to preach and teach as God sent him out.

I love this. Here is a Christian couple. They weren’t famous. Ther had jobs. But they knew their Bibles. The took it on themselves to fill in the gaps for Apollos. When Apolloswent to Achaia we read that he ‘greatly helped those who had believed through grace; for he vigorously refuted the Jews publicly, showing from the Scriptures that Jesus is the Christ.’ He boldly spoke to the Jews from the Old Testament proving that Jesus was Messiah.

And it worked. Because this special couple knew their Bibles they could prepare Apollos to do a great work on the Jews, because now he could take his Bible and explain the truth to the Jews.

And that has been God’s plan ever since. Sure, we need preachers and teachers, but Paul says that their great job is to prepare the saints to do the work of the ministry. The word of God is not only preached from pulpits, but many a lesson has been taught over a cuppa tea at the kitchen table.

Lord, make us all Aquilas and Priscillas.