You are introduced to two important disciples here:
Apollos was a well-educated, eloquent teacher from the Roman empire’s greatest cultural and educational center- Alexandria. His resume was great. But what was Luke’s last comment about Apollos in v25- he didn’t know about the baptism and filling of the Holy Spirit. As great as all his cultural accolades were, he was missing a crucial element to the full Christian experience- the Holy Spirit.
In contrast to this, Luke introduces us to Pricilla. She was a woman, with a Jewish background, living in a Hellenistic city. In many ways, Pricilla had no cultural credibility, and yet she and her husband took Apollos home to “explain to him the way of God more adequately” (v26). (And yes, biblical evidence in other epistles and historical documents emphasize that Pricilla took the lead in this and in the church, its just too much to lay out here). You will see in the context to come, that what she taught Apollos was about the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
You have to read this through Luke’s eyes to catch the profound statements and stark contrasts he was making: He was writing to Theopholis, a well-educated man living in a society where education and cultural status were your value. But in this new life of following Jesus, those things are worthless! Paul says is pretty well in Philippians 3 3-11.
Let’s take it to another level: Oswald Chambers says, “We must learn that our individual effort for God shows nothing but disrespect for Him.”
Let that sink in.
Be honest- are you depending on the Holy Spirit or your own efforts today? Do you hold that as your most valuable asset, or does your experience and education lead the way? Today, be filled with the Holy Spirit and trust God in new and unexpected ways.