David Bahn – Reflections

Acts 18:24-28

Now a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was an eloquent man, competent in the Scriptures. 25 He had been instructed in the way of the Lord. And being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus, though he knew only the baptism of John. 26 He began to speak boldly in the synagogue, but when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately. 27 And when he wished to cross to Achaia, the brothers encouraged him and wrote to the disciples to welcome him. When he arrived, he greatly helped those who through grace had believed, 28 for he powerfully refuted the Jews in public, showing by the Scriptures that the Christ was Jesus.

Our Christmas Tree has an angel on top of it. Growing up we had a star. It was about 6 inches in diameter, and designed so that a Christmas tree light would protrude through the center. I’ve seen others with a spiked ornament, and  still others with nothing on top of the tree. The idea of the star or angel being on the tree top goes to the Christmas story of angels announcing the birth of the Savior to the shepherds. The star is a reminder of how the magi came from the east, following a star. But the presence or lack of a tree-top ornament as little or no real impact on one’s Christmas celebration. Frankly it doesn’t matter one way or the other.

When Priscilla and Aquila heard Apollos teaching in Ephesus, they discovered a missing element to his teaching. It was one which was more important than Christmas tree-top ornaments. Apollos knew about Jesus and was a powerful witness to the Gospel message. But Apollos’ understanding about Christian baptism was lacking. The problem was significant enough that Priscilla and Aquila took Apollos aside to instruct him privately about the matter. The instruction must have been well-received, since Apollos is soon sent off to Achaia and shares the Gospel there.

I am struck by how these new people (Aquila and Priscilla) are used by God to correct a new teacher (Apollos), with little more said than that fact. There seemed to be no controversy. There seems to have been no bitter struggle. There is no mention of going to Jerusalem to consult with the Apostles there. It seems that the simple truth of Jesus’ institution of Baptism was sufficient to direct and correct Apollos along a new path.

It is also interesting to me that the issue of Christian baptism was significant enough to warrant the conversation. Some speak of open-handed and closed handed doctrines. Some would put baptism into the open-handed category; that is baptism is something we don’t have to agree on in order to be brothers and sisters in Christ. It is clear here, however, that at least some understanding of Christian baptism was necessary. And although we don’t know what was said, it is also clear that Jesus’ institution of baptism into the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:16-20) is a vital part of the Christian witness.

When a person is converted and confesses his or her newly-founded faith, the way in which the promises are sealed, and the manner in which the conversion is ratified by God is through baptism. One may say a prayer. One may confess the faith publicly. But in the New Testament, baptism is the seal-the-deal event for the newly converted. We’ve seen it with the jailer at Philippi and his household, Lydia, the Ethiopian eunuch, Paul himself, and the 3000 converts on Pentecost.

Our Christmas tree may be OK with or without star, or angel. But baptism is more than a tree-top teaching. The reason has little to do with the doctrinal position or a disconnected truth. The reason is that baptism is a gift of God – rich and gracious. It is the means by which the promises of life and salvation are sealed. It is the manner in which the new believer has promises and blessings made more certain. When Apollos learned this, he was an even more powerful tool of God. When we are reminded of the blessings we have received in our baptism, we are ever more confident of God’s love and grace. That is a blessed assurance to be sure.