Act 18:24 came .. to Ephesus a Jew named A
1Co 1:12; 1Co 3:4 I am Paul’s; and I from A; and me
1Co 4:6 I have presented as an example in myself and in A
1Co 16:12 about brother A, much I begged him
Tit 3:13 to Zenas .. A, direct them with diligence
Apollos (Gr. Apollos, “given by Apollo”; contraction of Apollonios). Jewish convert to the message of John the Baptist, described as diligent, fervent, and “eloquent, mighty in the Scriptures” (Acts 18:24, 25). He was born in the Egyptian city of Alexandria.* After his conversion he was an itinerant evangelist (18:24, 27; 19:1). While preaching at Ephesus he met Aquila * and Priscilla, * who instructed him in the teachings of Christianity (18:26, 28). After this, Apollos went to the Roman province of Achaia,* taking with him a letter of recommendation from the church at Ephesus (v 27). While in Achaia he successfully preached in the city of Corinth (18:28; 19:1), and because of his ability he became popular in certain circles who began to exalt him, as opposed to other groups who did the same with him. Paul, with Peter or with Christ (1Co 1:12). This situation did not receive the encouragement of Apollos, and this is surely why he did not want to return to Corinth when Paul asked him to do so (16:12). In his rebuke of the church for its spirit of divisions and groups, the apostle stresses that he and Apollos were “fellow workers with God” (3:6-9). In his letter to Titus, he exhorts Titus to do all he can to assist Apollos and “Zenas the lawyer,” Apollos’ traveling companion, in their preparation for a projected tour (Titus 3:13 ). 28. A house in Bethlehem. The stable on the ground floor and the rooms on the upper floor.
Source: Evangelical Bible Dictionary
Short for Apollonius, an Alexandrian Jew described in Acts 18:24-25 as a mighty man in the Scriptures, eloquent, fervent in spirit, instructed in the way of the Lord, though knowing only the baptism of John. He was discipled by Aquila and Priscilla (Acts 18:26).
Later, he refuted the Jews at Corinth in a public debate (Acts 18:27-28), and consequently a group of followers of Apollos was formed in the Corinthian church (1Co 3:4). There does not seem, however, to be any feeling of rivalry between Paul and Apollos. Paul urged Apollos to revisit Corinth (1Co 16:12), and also asked Titus to help Apollos, perhaps then or when he was on his way to Crete (Titus 3:13). Luther suggested the theory, since accepted by some scholars, that Apollos wrote the letter to the Hebrews.
Source: Hispanic World Bible Dictionary
A Jew from “Alexandria, “an eloquent man, mighty in the Scriptures” (Acts 18:24) who came to Ephesus, where he preached “boldly in the synagogue” (Acts 18:26). “Priscilla and Aquila took him aside” and instructed him in the Gospel. He seems to have known something of the doctrines of Jesus, † œalthough he only knew the baptism of John † (Acts 18:25). Then he went to Corinth, where his work made him very popular.
Of the four groups that formed in the church there, one claimed to be “of A.,” which Paul disproved (1Co 3:4-8). It is evident that this was not done with the approval of A., because Paul sets him as an example of a servant of Christ (1Co 4:6). Paul rather states that he planted, that is, that he began the work, and † œA. he watered †, helping with his preaching, † œbut that the growth is God-given † (1Co 3:6). Because “with great vehemence he publicly refuted the Jews, proving from the Scriptures that Jesus was the Christ” (Acts 18:28). Given its origin as an Alexandrian cult, many people, including Luther, think that A. was the writer of the Epistle to the Hebrews.
Source: Christian Bible Dictionary
tip, BIOG HOMB HONT Alteration of the name “Apolonio” or “Apolodoro”. Jew born in Alexandria, eloquent and powerful in the Scriptures. Knowing only the baptism of John, he diligently taught the things of Jesus. At Ephesus he was instructed in greater detail by Priscilla and Aquila. He worked in Corinth, after the apostle Paul, who was later able to say: “I planted, Apollos watered. “Later, he greatly desired that Apollos would visit Corinth again. His name is associated with that of Paul in connection with the sectarian spirit in Corinth, which the apostle harshly rebuked; but in saying that “I have presented him as an example in myself and in Apollos” (1 Cor. 4:6), it seems that the Corinthians had local leaders, among whom they placed themselves, and whom they do not name; thereby giving them a necessary lesson by establishing the general principles using his own name and that of Apollos, instead of the name of his drivers (Acts 18:24; 19:1; 1 Cor. 1:12; 3:4-22 ; 4:6; 16:12; Titus 3:13). It cannot be inferred at all, then, that there was a group in Corinth of followers of Apollos in opposition to Paul, but that there was division among them, which Paul sought to heal with an exhortation with a transferred example.
Source: New Illustrated Bible Dictionary
(short for Apollonius; Destroyer).
Jew of Alexandria (Egypt) who was distinguished by his eloquence and extensive knowledge of the Hebrew Scriptures. He seems to have received testimony from the disciples of John the Baptist or from Christian witnesses before Pentecost, for he “knew only the baptism of John.” (Ac 18:24, 25) However, impelled by his full conviction, arriving in Ephesus around 52 CE, he began to witness in the city’s synagogue. This brought him into contact with Aquila and Priscilla, who helped him broaden his understanding of Christian teaching. From Ephesus he went to the region of Achaia with a letter of recommendation, and it seems that he centered his activity in the city of Corinth, where Paul had previously been. His energetic character and his ability to refute with the Scriptures the arguments of the unbelieving Jews were of great help to those brothers. So he †˜watered what Paul had planted†™. (Ac 18:26-28; 19:1; 1Co 3:6.)
Unfortunately, by the time Paul wrote First Corinthians (about 55 CE), factions had appeared in the Corinthian congregation. There were those who considered that their leader was the eloquent Apollos, others preferred Paul or Peter, or adhered only to Christ. (1Co 1:10-12) Paul’s letter corrected this erroneous thinking by showing the vital need for unity and the relative unimportance of individuals, since they are only ministers serving under God’s direction and Christ. (1Co 3:4-9, 21-23; 4:6, 7) Apparently at this time Apollos was at or near Ephesus, where Paul wrote First Corinthians, for in that letter the apostle mentions that he urged him to visit the Corinthian congregation. (1Co 16:12) Apollos’ reluctance to go may have been due to the improper attitude of the Corinthians or simply because he believed that he had not yet finished his work where he was. However, Paul’s brief statement shows that these two active missionaries did not allow these issues to separate them. The last time Apollos is mentioned is in Titus 3:13, where Paul asks Titus, then in Crete, to supply Apollos with everything he needs for his journey.
Source: Dictionary of the Bible
Alexandrian Jew (Acts 18.24). His name is short for Apollonius. He arrived in Ephesus in AD 52 during Paul’s hasty visit to Palestine (Acts 18:22). He possessed an accurate knowledge of the Jesus story, which may have come to him (possibly in Alexandria) either from Galilean disciples of our Lord or from some early written gospel. He combined natural gifts of eloquence (or scholarship) with a deep understanding of the OT, and enthusiastically proclaimed the truths he knew (Acts 18:24–25). The obvious gap in knowledge of him was related to the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and the consequent rite of Christian baptism. This was solved by the patient instruction that Priscilla and Aquila gave him (Acts 18.26). From Ephesus, Apollos went to Corinth, where he displayed exceptional conditions for Christian apologetics in dealing with the Jews (Acts 18:27-28). In Corinth factions arose that responded to the names of Paul, Apollos, Cephas, and Christ himself (1 Cor. 1.12). Paul tries to show that this was not due to himself or to Apollos, who were working together under God’s direction (1 Cor. 3:4–6). They all belonged to the Corinthians, including Paul himself and Apollos (1 Cor. 4.6). The factions were probably due to the preference of some for the polished eloquence of Apollos. His desire to smooth over the controversy may be the reason he did not return to Corinth despite Paul’s request (1 Cor. 16:12). In Tit. 3.13 he is mentioned for the last time going on some kind of journey.
Since the time of Luther, Apollos has often been mentioned as the possible author of the Epistle to the Hebrews. This is possible, in case he used the allegorical exegesis of his native Alexandria, which is not properly demonstrated.
Bibliography.HW Montefiore, A Commentary on the Epistle to the Hebrews, 1964, pp. 9ss; F. F. Bruce, New Testament History, 1969, pp. 304ff; id., “Apollos in the NT”, Ekklesiastikos Pharos 57, 1975, p. 354ff.
REN
Douglas, J. (2000). New Biblical Dictionary: First Edition. Miami: United Bible Societies.
Source: New Bible Dictionary