“When Priscilla and Aquila heard him preaching boldly in the synagogue, they took him aside and explained the way of God even more accurately.”
Acts 18:26 (NLT)
Apollos was gifted, knowledgeable, bold, and accurate. He knew Jesus was the Messiah, and he could prove it from the Scriptures. He had holy fire and a passion to tell others the good news. But Acts 18 also shows us something important: a person can be accurate and anointed, yet still have more to learn.
Priscilla and Aquila heard what was missing. They did not publicly shame him or treat his ministry like it was worthless. They took him aside and explained the way of God even more accurately to Apollos. Because this couple had spent time in conversation with Paul at home, work, and church, they had received more of the story. Because they were unified, they could help Apollos hear what Holy Spirit wanted to add to his ministry.
That moves me, because there is depth in the ways of God. We can know the truth and still only be carrying part of the story. We can be effective and still need correction. We can be used by God and still need people in our lives who have experienced more, seen more, or been taught more in the Kingdom than we have.
So I pray we stay open to the Priscillas and Aquilas that God sends us. If there is something key to following Jesus that we have resisted, missed, or never been taught, may we listen and learn. Anything God wants to offer us is good. And when we receive it with humility, our ministry can become even more accurate, even more powerful, and even more helpful.