Interlude - The Preparation of Apollos

Luke's brief narrative transition between the second and third missionary journeys focuses on a man named Apollos. One likely reason for doing so is the important role Apollos would play in the church at Corinth - as a teacher and discipler, but also as God's providential instrument for exposing and addressing areas of destructive immaturity and sinful attitudes among the Corinthian believers. But this episode also makes an important contribution to Luke's overall account and his purpose in writing it. The Lord had appointed Apollos to be a mighty servant of His gospel and so had given him many natural and providential gifts. But there yet remained a crucial deficiency that needed to be addressed before Apollos would be ready to enter upon Christ's work in the power of His Spirit.