May 07, 2026 | Be Connected
Gentle Correction
Scripture: Acts 18:24-26(NIV)
24 Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was a learned man, with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures. 25 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. 26 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.
Devotional
Our reading today marks the beginning of Christianity’s entry into Ephesus—the same city and church that would later receive Paul’s famous letter, the Book of Ephesians.
Paul arrived in Ephesus with his friends, Priscilla and Aquila. Soon after, they encountered a fascinating man named Apollos. The Bible describes him as eloquent and "mighty in the Scriptures" (v. 25 KJV).
Based on his name, we can deduce that Apollos was named after the Greek god Apollo and was likely raised in a Greek cultural environment. Despite this background, he had encountered the message of Jesus and became a believer. He began preaching with great passion, but there was one problem: he didn’t know the full story.
As Aquila and Priscilla listened to him, they realized his message was incomplete. Pastor J.D. Greear humorously likens this to hearing a Muslim convert to Christianity preach that, "Jesus is the Son of God and He’s coming back one day in a sleigh with eight tiny reindeer!"
Imagine if you heard your children or grandchildren say that? You wouldn’t mock them, but you certainly would correct them!
That is precisely what Aquila and Priscilla did. They didn't embarrass Apollos publicly; instead, they invited him into their home and explained "the way of God to him more accurately" (v. 26).
The results were spectacular. Because of their investment, Apollos’ ministry flourished. He became a pillar of the early church, mentioned in Acts, 1 Corinthians, and Titus. You may recognize him from Paul’s famous reminder to keep God at the center of your ministry when he states that, "I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow." (1 Corinthians 3:6)
It is telling that Aquila and Priscilla were gentle enough to welcome Apollos into their home, yet faithful enough to ensure the Gospel wasn't misrepresented.
Neither Aquila nor Priscilla were "famous" preachers, and neither wrote a book of the Bible. However, they used their hearth and home to magnify the name of Jesus. They saw a gap in someone's understanding and filled it with love and truth.
Today, consider: Who are you investing in to "water the seeds" of their faith? Could a similar "gentle correction" guide them to see Jesus more clearly?
