boldness

What made Apollos so bold?

Acts 18:24-26: “Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was a learned man, with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures. He had been instructed in the way of the Lord, and he spoke with great fervor and taught about Jesus accurately, though he knew only the baptism of John. 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.”

Evidently, although he was a learned man with a thorough knowledge of the Lord, and although he spoke accurately about Jesus, he didn’t know enough. Priscilla and Aquilla knew more than he did; his knowledge was adequate, but they made him more adequate.

So if he was only adequate, and not great, why was he so bold? Could it be that Apollos was bold because he knew he went with Jesus? Was he relying on Jesus to make him more than adequate, to make his words sufficient?

That’s what we’re supposed to do. When God shows us something he wants us to do, we’re supposed to step out faithfully, trusting that he’ll make it possible. Is that what Apollos was doing?

It could be that Apollos was confident in himself, trusting in his own learning and thorough knowledge. That doesn’t sound right to me, because that doesn’t seem like the kind of man God would call, or the kind who would end up doing so much good. In some churches, he was considered equal to or even superior to Paul.

No, I like to think that Apollos was a faithful servant who didn’t wait until he felt ready to do what God asked him to do. I picture him as that soldier who sees the odds, gulps down his fear, and moves out to do his best.

It’s what I should do. Sometimes, I do it. Sometimes, though, my fears speak louder than my trust.