God Uses Eloquent Men - Acts 17-18

Acts 18:24-25 (ESV Strong's)
Now a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was an eloquent man, competent in the Scriptures. 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.

God Uses Eloquent Men

We often hear about how Jesus picked “fishermen” and “tax-collectors” and unknown men to be His disciples.    That is a true fact.   That has become a theme of modern pastors and teachers of the Scripture today.  We often hear them tell us that God chooses the weak things of this world to confound the wise; also a true fact (1 Corinthians 2).  We can often see these “truths” bore out in who God uses today.  God is a master at using those who are less “finished” by the “world’s standards” to accomplish His plans.   Yet, in the above passage we read about other people Christ uses to tell the message of the gospel.   Apollos was a very eloquent man.  The word for “eloquent” is used only here in this passage and no other book in the New Testament.   Vine describes the word as follows:

(Vine's Complete Expository Dictionary) logios (λόγιος, 3052), an adjective, from logos, “a word,” primarily meant “learned, a man skilled in literature and the arts.” In the kjv of Acts 18:24, it is translated “eloquent,” said of Apollos; the rv is almost certainly right in translating it “learned.” It was much more frequently used among the Greeks of one who was erudite than of one who was skilled in words. He had stores of “learning” and could use it convincingly.

It goes on to say, however, that Apollos had to be instructed in the exact messaging of the Gospel.  Others, more learned in doctrine, pulled Apollos off to the side to instruct him.   Perhaps this is an even more testament to who God uses to preach His gospel.  They are not just eloquent but also coachable.  God uses men who will learn to teach others to learn.   God can uses the weak in speaking skills and He can uses those who are eloquent in speaking the word.   But, both have to be willing to learn the Scriptures to teach the Scriptures.  Paul was, perhaps, the most skilled in knowledge, but, according to some interpretations, weak in tongue.   God uses all types.    It is not a weakness to be eloquent in words.   Used for the Glory of God it is a beautiful thing.