Mentoring

Priscilla and Aquila, Paul’s fellow tentmakers, traveled with him when he left Corinth for Syria. When Paul recognized the openness of the Jews in Ephesus, he left Priscilla and Aquila there until he could return (Acts 18:18-20). While they were working and ministering in Ephesus, a preacher named Apollos arrived. Though he was well-educated and passionate about Jesus, there were gaps in his knowledge. Priscilla and Aquila recognized the gifting and boldness of this younger man but were concerned about his lack of understanding of Jesus’ baptism. They graciously mentored Apollos until he was fully equipped to continue his itinerant ministry.

Read Acts 18:24-28 and then consider the following:

1. Apollos came from Alexandria, an important city in North Africa and a center of learning. Luke’s description of Apollos as an eloquent man indicates that he was formally schooled in rhetoric. How might Priscilla and Aquila have been tempted to view themselves in comparison with Apollos?
2. As a Jew, Apollos was well-versed in Scripture. As a Christian, he understood the story of Jesus. Yet he only knew of the baptism of John. Why was this concerning to Priscilla and Aquila? How did they respond to Apollos?
3. Priscilla and Aquila worked as tentmakers yet knew more about ‘the Way of God’ than Apollos did. How does this fact challenge common assumptions about workplace Christians and preachers?
4. The church in Ephesus wrote a letter of recommendation for Apollos, which enabled him to minister to the churches in Achaia. How did Priscilla and Aquila’s investment in Apollos bear fruit? What does this story reveal about who can mentor and why mentoring is important?