6th week in Easter Time, Saturday – 20th May 2023 — Acts 18,23-28; Jn 16, 23b-28
Passionate Evangelist
In the first reading, we come to know about a Jewish scripture scholar, Apollos, who proclaims the coming of the Messiah, but did not have a personal experience of Jesus. He is eloquent, fervent, and a good teacher. He has come to Ephesus with a full understanding of John the Baptist’s baptism of repentance. When the synagogue leadership invites him to preach, Aquila and Priscilla, Paul’s friends, are there to listen to him. They pull aside Apollos and share with him the full good news of Jesus. Apollos easily accepts the gospel message since it fits with his understanding of Hebrew scriptures. He then goes on to proclaim to the Jews that the Hebrew Scriptures point to Jesus, the Messiah. He is so passionate about Jesus and goes on to build up the church Paul planted in Corinth. He makes such an impression, that some of the Corinthian believers break into factions, some claiming to follow Paul and some Apollos. Though greatly knowledgeable and eloquent, Apollos expresses humility, as he willingly takes correction from Priscilla. When Paul speaks of Apollos’s work in Corinth, he considers him a fellow worker.
