Apollos (Acts 18:24–28; Acts 19:1; 1 Corinthians 1:10–13; 1 Corinthians 3:3–9; 1 Corinthians 3:21–23; 1 Corinthians 4:6; 1 Corinthians 16:12; Titus 3:12–13)

An Alexandrian Jew, mighty in the scriptures

A Jew of Alexandria, an eloquent man and mighty in the scriptures, who came to Ephesus knowing only the baptism of John, was taught more accurately by Priscilla and Aquila, helped the believers in Achaia, and is named by Paul as one who watered at Corinth.

Acts introduces him: “a certain Jew named Apollos, an Alexandrian by race, an eloquent man, came to Ephesus; and he was mighty in the scriptures” (Acts 18:24). He “had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit, he spake and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus, knowing only the baptism of John” (Acts 18:25).

Priscilla and Aquila “expounded unto him the way of God more accurately” (Acts 18:26). When he was minded to pass over into Achaia, the brethren encouraged him and wrote to the disciples to receive him, and “he helped them much that had believed through grace” (Acts 18:27).

At Corinth some said “I am of Paul; and I of Apollos” (1 Corinthians 1:12). Paul answers: “I planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase” (1 Corinthians 3:6). Of Apollos the brother Paul also writes: “I besought him much to come unto you with the brethren: and it was not at all his will to come now; but he will come when he shall have opportunity” (1 Corinthians 16:12).

Strengths

• Eloquence
• Mighty in the scriptures
• Fervent in spirit
• Bold speech
• Accurate teaching
• Public confuting from the scriptures

Weaknesses

• Incomplete knowledge: only the baptism of John

Themes

• Scripture
• Teaching and being taught
• Partnership in ministry
• Divisions at Corinth
• Fellow-workers

Comes to Ephesus (Acts 18:24–26)

Apollos, an Alexandrian Jew, eloquent and mighty in the scriptures, comes to Ephesus and speaks boldly in the synagogue.

Comes to Ephesus

“Now a certain Jew named Apollos, an Alexandrian by race, an eloquent man, came to Ephesus; and he was mighty in the scriptures” (Acts 18:24).

“This man had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit, he spake and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus, knowing only the baptism of John: and he began to speak boldly in the synagogue” (Acts 18:25-26).

Priscilla and Aquila expound the way of God to him (Acts 18:26)

Priscilla and Aquila hear him, take him unto them, and expound the way of God more accurately.

Goes to Achaia (Acts 18:27–28)

Minded to pass into Achaia, he is encouraged by the brethren, who write to the disciples; there he helps the believers and confutes the Jews publicly from the scriptures.

Goes to Achaia

“And when he was minded to pass over into Achaia, the brethren encouraged him, and wrote to the disciples to receive him: and when he was come, he helped them much that had believed through grace; for he powerfully confuted the Jews, and that publicly, showing by the scriptures that Jesus was the Christ” (Acts 18:27-28).

Acts then says: “while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper country came to Ephesus” (Acts 19:1).

Named among the parties at Corinth (1 Corinthians 1:10–13; 1 Corinthians 3:3–9)

Paul writes that Corinthian believers say they are of Paul, of Apollos, of Cephas, of Christ; he asks what Apollos and Paul are, and answers: ministers through whom they believed.

Named among the parties at Corinth

Paul has heard of contentions: “each one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ” (1 Corinthians 1:11-12).

“What then is Apollos? and what is Paul? Ministers through whom ye believed; and each as the Lord gave to him. I planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase” (1 Corinthians 3:5-6).

“Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: but each shall receive his own reward according to his own labor” (1 Corinthians 3:8).

Paul's words for the Corinthians' sake (1 Corinthians 3:21–23; 1 Corinthians 4:6)

Paul says he has in a figure transferred these things to himself and Apollos, that they might learn not to go beyond the things which are written.

Besought to come to Corinth (1 Corinthians 16:12)

Paul says he besought Apollos the brother to come to the Corinthians with the brethren; it was not at all his will to come now, but he will come when he has opportunity.

Set forward on his journey (Titus 3:12–13)

The letter to Titus asks that Zenas the lawyer and Apollos be set forward on their journey diligently, that nothing be wanting to them.

Priscilla & Aquila (Acts 18:24–26)

Heard him at Ephesus, took him unto them and expounded the way of God more accurately.

Paul (1 Corinthians 3:4–9; 1 Corinthians 16:12)

Paul names him with himself as ministers through whom the Corinthians believed, and calls him the brother he besought to come to Corinth.

The brethren at Ephesus (Acts 18:27)

Encouraged him to go to Achaia and wrote to the disciples to receive him.

The believers in Achaia (Acts 18:27–28)

He helped them much that had believed through grace.

Major sections

• Acts 18:24–28
• 1 Corinthians 1–4
• 1 Corinthians 16:12

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