Apollos was “an eloquent man, and mighty in the Scriptures.” Acts 18:24. He is the only man spoken of as “eloquent” in the whole Word of God. This man had been converted, was well-read in the Scriptures, and had a fervent spirit. He labored diligently according to the light he had, but he needed to be better instructed in the way of God. He received this instruction at Ephesus and then went to Corinth where he labored after the Apostle Paul. In 1 Corinthians 3, Paul speaks of himself as having planted the seed, and of Apollos as watering it, but only God gave the increase—made it grow.
Moses pleaded with God that he was not eloquent when God told him to go to Pharoah. Forty years before this, Moses started out in his natural strength to deliver the Israelites from the Egyptian bondage. When his own courage failed, he fled. Then after forty years God calls him to go to “bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt.” Now he was reluctant to go and used his lack of eloquence as a reason for not going. God reproved him for this, saying, “Who hath made man’s mouth? ... have not I the Lord?” (See Ex. 2:11-22; 4:10-16.)
Thus we see that while Apollos had great ability to convince people with his words, only God could make his labor fruitful. Apart from God’s blessing, the greatest human oratory is worthless in the things of God. Mere human persuasiveness cannot do the work of God. He may use an eloquent man, but it is He Himself who works. The converse is also true; God may use a man who lacks eloquence, but again it is God who works. He can give the word of wisdom, or He may bless a very faltering word. May we neither disparage gift, nor think of it more highly than we ought.