Iron Sharpens Iron: Life-to-Life® Mentoring in the New TestamentSample

Day 4: Priscilla and Aquila and Apollos 

Life-to-Life isn’t merely a one-to-one proposition, as we see in the story of Priscilla and Aquila and their relationship with Apollos. Priscilla and Aquila were tentmakers, like the apostle Paul. Yet they were also a “dynamic duo” in ministry who invested in the lives of those around them. That’s where Apollos comes in. 

Apollos was an enthusiastic Christ-follower from Alexandria who had a passion to tell the world about Jesus. Writing about him in the book of Acts, Luke describes Apollos as “an eloquent man, competent in the Scriptures.” He spoke accurately about Jesus, yet “he knew only the baptism of John.” 

Priscilla and her husband, Aquila,  heard Apollos speaking boldly in a synagogue in Ephesus. They observed this gap in Apollos’ training. Would he be open to their instruction? Through Life-to-Life mentoring, likely over a number of days, God used this couple to pass along invaluable instruction. Apollos humbly listened as “they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately” (Acts 18:26). 

As we see in Scripture, Apollos went on to have quite a fruitful ministry particularly in Corinth, but perhaps also in Crete where Titus served (see Acts 19:1; 1 Corinthians 3:1-9; Titus 3:13). No doubt Apollos was well respected by fellow Christ-followers and had a dynamic ministry for the advance of the gospel. Yet what if he had never received the additional instruction Priscilla and Aquila offered? 

When it comes to making disciples, as with sharing the good news, we may only be a link in the chain of someone’s spiritual journey. Yet as this story reflects, that may make all the difference in the world for the gospel’s advance!