Acts 18: 24-28

Pivotal moments are part of everyone’s life. They have the power to shape the future. The choices, actions and reactions that we make can determine the success or failure of everything before and after. Pivotal moments are not always obvious. We may not recognize their importance until after they have passed.

In verse 24, Luke introduces us to Apollos. Apollos had many things going for him. He was a native of Alexandria, the second largest city in the empire. He was well-educated, with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures. Apollos was a Greek-speaking Jew, and he would have studied the Scriptures in the Greek translation. He received instruction in the way the Lord.

When he came to Ephesus, (most scholars believe he was there on a business trip), as a faithful Jew, he attended the synagogue. At the synagogue, he began to speak boldly and passionately about Jesus. He was careful to be accurate in his teaching. His teaching was eloquent and effective as he used the scriptures to reveal that Jesus was the Messiah.

With all he had going for him, he still had an inadequate understanding of God’s plan of salvation. He had not heard of the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Priscilla and Aquila invited him to their home, and it is at this point that he made a pivotal decision. He chose to learn from Priscilla and Aquila, and with his improved knowledge, he went on to become a skilled worker in the harvest.

Because he chose correctly, he may never have recognized that was a pivotal moment, but it was. If pride had kept him from accepting instruction, or if he had refused instruction from a woman, his ministry would have gone a different direction. I do not believe the Bible would have included his name.

Apollo made the right decision at the crucial time because he sought righteousness all the time. Christians are not afraid of pivotal moments. We never face them alone; Jesus is with us.