apollos Summary and Overview

a Jew "born at Alexandria," a man well versed in the Scriptures and eloquent (Acts 18:24; R.V., "learned"). He came to Ephesus (about A.D. 49), where he spake "boldly" in the synagogue (18:26), although he did not know as yet that Jesus of Nazareth was the Messiah. Aquila and Priscilla instructed him more perfectly in "the way of God", i.e., in the knowledge of Christ. He then proceeded to Corinth, where he met Paul (Acts 18:27; 19:1). He was there very useful in watering the good seed Paul had sown (1 Cor. 1:12), and in gaining many to Christ. His disciples were much attached to him (1 Cor. 3:4-7, 22). He was with Paul at Ephesus when he wrote the First Epistle to the Corinthians; and Paul makes kindly reference to him in his letter to Titus (3:13). Some have supposed, although without sufficient ground, that he was the author of the Epistle to the Hebrews.

(given by Apollo) a Jew from Alexandria, eloquent (which may also mean learned) and mighty in the Scriptures; one instructed in the way of the Lord, according to the imperfect view of the disciples of John the Baptist, #Ac 18:24| but on his coming to Ephesus during a temporary absence of St. Paul, A.D. 54, more perfectly taught by Aquila and Priscilla. After this he became a preacher of the gospel, first in Achaia and then in Corinth. #Ac 18:27; 19:1| When the apostle wrote his First Epistle to the Corinthians, Apollos was with or near him, #1Co 16:12| probably at Ephesus in A.D. 57. He is mentioned but once more in the New Testament, in #Tit 3:13| After this nothing is known of him. Tradition makes him bishop of Caesarea.

APOL'LOS (belonging to Apollo), born at Alexandria, in Egypt, of Jewish parents, and described as an eloquent man and mighty in the Scriptures. Acts 18:24. As one of John's disciples he had been instructed in the elements of the Christian faith, but coming to Ephesus, a.d. 54, during the temporary absence of Paul, was more fully taught the doctrines of the gospel by Aquila and Priscilla, who had themselves been favored with the company and instruction of Paul at Corinth and on a voyage from that city to Ephesus. He afterward preached with abundant success in Achaia and at Corinth. Paul had already been instrumental in establishing a church there, to the care of which Apollos succeeded. 1 Cor 3:6. The members of it were divided into parties, some being particularly partial to Paul, others to Apollos, and others still to Cephas or Peter. The rebuke of the apostle, 1 Cor 1:12, is directed against these partialities, in all which the power and grace of God seemed to be overlooked or disregarded. When Paul wrote his Epistle it is likely Apollos was either with him or near him, probably at Ephesus, a.d. 57. From 1 Cor 16:12 we learn that in consequence of these dissensions Apollos absolutely declined to go to Corinth. It has been remarked as an exemplary trait of character of these two eminent apostles that the contentions of their respective friends and admirers had no effect on their love and respect for each other. They both refrained from visiting the church while it was distracted with such prejudices and partialities, though a worldly ambition might have selected it as the field and the season of self-aggrandizement. Apollos is last mentioned Tit 3:13, and very affectionately. He was probably a more brilliant man than Paul. Some scholars consider him to have been the author of the Epistle to the Hebrews. But this is a mere conjecture; no exact proof can be given.

(Apollonius or Apollodorus). An Alexandrine Jew, "eloquent (or learned) and mighty in the Scriptures" (which had been translated into the famous Greek version, the Septuagint, at his birthplace) (Acts 18:24-25). "Instructed in the way of the Lord,"so far as John the Baptist could instruct hint; for this had been the main subject of John's ministry, "prepare ye the way of the Lord" (Matthew 3:3). Apollos was "fervent in spirit;" and so when he came to Ephesus, "he spoke and taught diligently the things of Jesus" (so the three oldest manuscripts read), as John had pointed to Jesus as the Messiah. But Apollos knew only the water baptism of John; he did not yet know that what John had foretold ("I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He Messiah shall baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire") had actually come to pass, in the church's baptism with the Spirit on Pentecost, and that graces and gifts were now being bestowed on the several living stones composing "the temple of the Holy Spirit." (Compare Acts 19:1-6.) But Aquila and Priscilla, on hearing him, "took him unto them and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly." Thus having received new light he went forth to Achaia, watering the seed there that Paul had already planted (1 Corinthians 3:4-6), and "helped them much which had believed through grace." His deep knowledge of the Old Testament gave him especial power with the Jews, "for he mightily convinced them publicly, showing by the Scriptures that Jesus is the Christ." Some at Corinth abused his name. into a party watchword, saying, "I am of Apollos," so popular was he. But Paul, while condemning their party spirit, commends Apollos, and writes that he had "greatly desired our brother Apollos to come" unto the Corinthians (1 Corinthians 16:12). But Apollos was disinclined to come at that time; probably to give no handle for party zeal, until the danger of it should have passed away. Those who made his name their party cry were attracted by his rhetorical style acquired in Alexandria, as contrasted with the absence of "excellency of speech and enticing words of man's wisdom" (1 Corinthians 2:1-4), and even in their estimation "the contemptible speech" (2 Corinthians 10:10), of Paul. The last Bible notice of him is in Titus 3:13, where Paul charges Titus, then in Crete, "bring Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their way diligently, that nothing may be wanting to them." Jerome states that Apollos remained at Crete until he heard that the divisions at Corinth had been healed by Paul's epistle; then he went and became bishop there. Apollos's main excellency was as builder up,' rather than founder, of churches. His humility and teachableness in submitting, with all his learning, to the teaching of Aquila and even of Priscilla (a woman), his fervency and his power in Scripture, and his determinably staying away from where his well deserved popularity might be made a handle for party zeal, are all lovely traits in his Christian character.