Thoughts for the Day

Now there came to Ephesus a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria. He was an eloquent man, well-versed in the scriptures. He had been instructed in the Way of the Lord; and he spoke with burning enthusiasm and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus, though he knew only the baptism of John. He began to speak boldly in the synagogue; but when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained the Way of God to him more accurately. And when he wished to cross over to Achaia, the believers encouraged him and wrote to the disciples to welcome him. On his arrival he greatly helped those who through grace had become believers, for he powerfully refuted the Jews in public, showing by the scriptures that the Messiah is Jesus.

While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul passed through the inland regions and came to Ephesus, where he found some disciples. He said to them, ‘Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you became believers?’ They replied, ‘No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.’ Then he said, ‘Into what then were you baptized?’ They answered, ‘Into John’s baptism.’ Paul said, ‘John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, in Jesus.’ On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. When Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied— altogether there were about twelve of them.

(Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

This little story in Luke's second work, the Acts of the Apostles, is about a man who knows only of the baptism of John and has never heard of the Holy Spirit. Apollus comes from Alexandria a great centre of learning. Along with Antioch, these two cities were to be produce many learned Christians. Apollus, is knowledgeable but his understanding is not complete. At the same time, Paul who has just started his Third Missionary journey also comes across a group of men who knew only of the baptism of John.

So what makes these and other baptisms different:

1. Gentiles who wished to become Jews were customarily baptised - as a symbol of their ritual purity.
2. John the Baptist offered baptism as a sign of repentance to those who had confessed their sin..
3. Baptism in the name of Jesus offered God's forgiveness, through the power of the Holy Spirit.

All of us who are Christians know how weak we are, and how we cannot hope to stop sinning on our own. We simply don't have the strength, and, if we're honest we know that God should condemn us. It is only Jesus who can offer us hope, with the help of the Holy Spirit who will encourage and strengthen our feeble efforts. No matter how much we wish to change, we cannot do so without the help of the Holy Spirit. He is the power of God at work in our life.

Lord Jesus Christ,
You promised to send the Holy Spirit
to Your Church
to guide and instruct us in Your ways.
You know our weaknesses
so help us to confess our sin
that we may be forgiven,
and with the help of the Spirit
that we may continue in all holiness
today and in the days to come.
Amen.