When was Apollos "saved" ?

Acts 18:24-25
Iudaeus autem quidam Apollo nomine Alexandrinus natione vir eloquens devenit Ephesum potens in scripturis
hic erat edoctus viam Domini et fervens spiritu loquebatur et docebat diligenter ea quae sunt Iesu sciens tantum baptisma Iohannis

Now a certain Jew, named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, came to Ephesus, one mighty in the scriptures. This man was instructed in the way of the Lord: and being fervent in spirit, spoke and taught diligently the things that are of Jesus, knowing only the baptism of John.

His knowledge about Jesus was limited to what John the Baptist preached.
Who was this man?  I must admit, I’m not impressed with the explanations about Apollos I’ve heard. I’ve read that Apollos was just strong in human power, and his ministry is an example of a failed attempt to preach without the Holy Spirit. I’ve also heard the same re-hash that the baptism of John as well as all his preaching was nothing more than a “turn or burn” ministry. Don’t we believe the Prophecy? I’d like to take another look at the prophecy of John’s father, Zacharias, because if it was true, John’s message (and that of Apollos) was much fuller and more gracious than I had previously assumed.

Apollos was knowledgeable about the Scriptures. He was an eloquent speaker. He cared about honouring God and he spoke boldly to his fellow Jews about Jesus, yet his knowledge about Jesus was limited to the baptism of John; that is, what John would have been preaching and teaching about the messiah. Who was Apollos?  He was a Jew. He had a Greek name and he came from Egypt – from Alexandria, and he knew about John’s message of repentance and good works – and salvation. Could the preaching of Apollos and John result in or affirm salvation? According to Zacharias’ prophecy, yes. Knowledge of salvation- Salvation that is real and comes  with the “forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God”(see Zacharias’ prophecy)  Is Zacharias’ prophecy saying that knowledge of Salvation (knowing that God forgives and saves) enables us to serve God and walk in the way of peace? Or is he saying that such knowledge is required for salvation to “take effect” and it must be obtained before God shows us his tender mercy?  When preachers today declare that one must actually believe/know that Jesus has risen from the dead before the tender mercy of God may be received, how close have such preachers come to Gnosticism?  See what the Scripture says in Luke 1… “knowledge of salvation by the forgiveness of their sins”, not, forgiveness of sins through the knowledge of salvation. First God forgives. (Forgave?), then he lets us know about it. That’s what brings freedom in this life to serve him “without fear, In holiness and righteousness before Him all our days”.

Luke 1:67-79
et Zaccharias pater eius impletus est Spiritu Sancto et prophetavit dicens
benedictus Deus Israhel quia visitavit et fecit redemptionem plebi suae
et erexit cornu salutis nobis in domo David pueri sui
sicut locutus est per os sanctorum qui a saeculo sunt prophetarum eius
salutem ex inimicis nostris et de manu omnium qui oderunt nos
ad faciendam misericordiam cum patribus nostris et memorari testamenti sui sancti
iusiurandum quod iuravit ad Abraham patrem nostrum
daturum se nobis ut sine timore de manu inimicorum nostrorum liberati serviamus illi
in sanctitate et iustitia coram ipso omnibus diebus nostris
et tu puer propheta Altissimi vocaberis praeibis enim ante faciem Domini parare vias eius
ad dandam scientiam salutis plebi eius in remissionem peccatorum eorum
per viscera misericordiae Dei nostri in quibus visitavit nos oriens ex alto
inluminare his qui in tenebris et in umbra mortis sedent ad dirigendos pedes nostros in viam pacis

And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying: “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, For He has visited us and accomplished redemption for His people, And has raised up a horn of salvation for us In the house of David His servant -As He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from of old -Salvation FROM OUR ENEMIES, And FROM THE HAND OF ALL WHO HATE US; To show mercy toward our fathers, And to remember His holy covenant, The oath which He swore to Abraham our father, To grant us that we, being rescued from the hand of our enemies, Might serve Him without fear, In holiness and righteousness before Him all our days. And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; For you will go on BEFORE THE LORD TO PREPARE HIS WAYS; To give to His people the knowledge of salvation By the forgiveness of their sins, Because of the tender mercy of our God, With which the Sunrise from on high will visit us, TO SHINE UPON THOSE WHO SIT IN DARKNESS AND THE SHADOW OF DEATH, To guide our feet into the way of peace.” NASV

Interestingly, Apollos is described as being “instructed in the way of the Lord”. Interesting to me, because he hadn’t the further knowledge of Jesus that Pricilla and Aquila had; yet the Scripture says he “taught diligently the things that are of Jesus”, or as the amplified version puts it: “he spoke and taught diligently and accurately the things concerning Jesus, though he was acquainted only with the baptism of John.”  He lacked not courage, nor eloquence. He was fervent, and he must have spoken boldly to the Jews of the Knowledge of Salvation – the Mercies of God – the Forgiveness of Sin.  Acts doesn’t record that he was  converted upon hearing more about Jesus – that He had risen etc.  It simply says Aquila and Priscilla expounded to him the way of God more definitely and accurately. It doesn’t say he then received the Holy Ghost, or at the moment he believed Jesus had risen etc., suddenly became Christian. He wanted to continue (as opposed to commence) his service and was encouraged by the brethren and was a huge help to those who by grace had believed; publicly proving that Jesus was the Christ.  He knew that God loved people, and had provided for their salvation and had forgiven them their sins. Very different from Saul- who breathed out threats, obviously didn’t know God loved anyone, and did not preach that God had forgiven anybody. Apollos started with love and forgiveness and was instructed more accurately in the way of Jesus. Saul started with violence and condemnation and had to be converted. Saul had to be turned completely around – from hatred, to love and when he was converted, he commenced his service to God.