"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 diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John.
And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly."
Acts 18:24-26
I love the phrase "mighty in the scriptures." It seems like something to aspire to. The cool thing about Apollos is that he wasn't just eloquent and mighty in the scriptures--he was also humble enough to learn from Aquila and Priscilla when they taught him more than he already knew. Someone so knowledgeable and fervent could certainly have thought that he knew more, or that they were deluded. It is easy to get prideful about being good at something... but this guy listened, and learned, and became a powerful force in speaking for Christ (verse 28).
In 2 Nephi 9:28-29 we read that for many people, "when they are learned they think they are wise, and they hearken not unto the counsel of God," but that "to be learned is good if they hearken unto the counsels of God." Apollos was on the good side I think, and that's something that we can also strive for. God wants us to learn about him, about his gospel, about the world, about other people... there is so much knowledge that can help us, and that he wants to share. But as we learn, it's important to keep our focus on God, and make sure that we don't start thinking of *ourselves* as the font of wisdom. :)
Today, let's remember Apollos, and his humility before God despite his great knowledge and eloquence. Let's be like him, putting God first, and being willing to learn, and revise our views based on whatever additional truth God sends us. Let's listen to God and his apostles and prophets, and to the spirit as we work to apply truth and knowledge in our lives and do good with our own knowledge and eloquence. :)
This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John.
And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly."
Acts 18:24-26
I love the phrase "mighty in the scriptures." It seems like something to aspire to. The cool thing about Apollos is that he wasn't just eloquent and mighty in the scriptures--he was also humble enough to learn from Aquila and Priscilla when they taught him more than he already knew. Someone so knowledgeable and fervent could certainly have thought that he knew more, or that they were deluded. It is easy to get prideful about being good at something... but this guy listened, and learned, and became a powerful force in speaking for Christ (verse 28).
In 2 Nephi 9:28-29 we read that for many people, "when they are learned they think they are wise, and they hearken not unto the counsel of God," but that "to be learned is good if they hearken unto the counsels of God." Apollos was on the good side I think, and that's something that we can also strive for. God wants us to learn about him, about his gospel, about the world, about other people... there is so much knowledge that can help us, and that he wants to share. But as we learn, it's important to keep our focus on God, and make sure that we don't start thinking of *ourselves* as the font of wisdom. :)
Today, let's remember Apollos, and his humility before God despite his great knowledge and eloquence. Let's be like him, putting God first, and being willing to learn, and revise our views based on whatever additional truth God sends us. Let's listen to God and his apostles and prophets, and to the spirit as we work to apply truth and knowledge in our lives and do good with our own knowledge and eloquence. :)
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