THE
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APOLLOS

Russell Ebbs

I AM THE voice of one crying...", said John the Baptist (Jno. 1:23), and, though he preached in all the country about Jordan, yet that mighty voice sounded throughout the known world, even as far as Alexandria in Egypt. In this latter city, the name of which contains the idea of ‘man defender’, there was born Apollos, a Jew, who, despite his mother’s Hebrew descent, had been given the name of a Greek god which means ‘destroyer’. How marvellous that, from the darkness of Egypt, from a Greek classical culture which deified the destroyer of its ideals, from a place where the perceived pre-eminence of man was defended, came forth such a godly man!

Perhaps, like Timothy, it was his mother who taught him the Scriptures. Whatever the case, we know that he was "mighty in the scriptures" (Acts 18:24). The word "mighty" in Greek is dunatos, meaning ‘powerful’. This signifies that Apollos had more than just a knowledge of the Scriptures; they were exhibited in him as a power, a force in his life and speech.

This man was "instructed in the way of the Lord... knowing only the baptism of John" (v. 25). (The RV marginal alternative for "instructed" is "taught by word of mouth", as in the margin of Luke 1:4.) He was also "fervent in the spirit", which contrasts with the lack of effort by the man with one talent (Mt. 25:24,25), and this phrase is repeated in Romans 12:11 as an exhortation for us all.

It is noteworthy that Apollos "spake and taught diligently". The latter word (Gk. akribos) is used, for example, when Herod told the wise men to "search diligently for the young child" (Mt. 2:8). Thus we can discern that Apollos’s use of the Word was intense, precise and definite.

It is not surprising that he felt constrained to speak openly of the Truth in the Ephesian synagogue, where his words would have contrasted with the ignorant sermons of the rabbis. As to how he came to be in Ephesus, we can say no more than that the hand of an angel must surely have been involved in arranging that he would meet Aquila and Priscilla.

What a joy it would have been for Aquila and Priscilla to hear Apollos speak! In the words "they took him unto them" (Acts 18:26) one can perceive the warmth of fellowship of finding someone of like precious faith. They "expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly [akribos again, see above]", revealing that, although he was powerful in the Scriptures and fervent in spirit, he had developed, through his association with the Word, a willingness to learn, meekness.

No doubt hearing that Paul had sown the seed of the Word of God in Corinth, Apollos desired to follow Paul there, and, with willingly given letters of commendation from the Ephesian brethren (v. 27, cf. 2 Cor. 3:1), he travelled to Corinth and became a tremendous source of help, both within and without the ecclesia. (Paul later returned to Ephesus; see Acts 19:1.)

One can almost perceive in Apollos the words of Jeremiah: "But His word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay" (Jer. 20:9); and indeed, of what Yahweh Himself says of His Word: "Is not My word like as a fire? saith the LORD [Yahweh]; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?" (23:29). Hence Acts 18:28 reads: "for he mightily convinced the Jews, and that publickly, shewing by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ".

Clearly Apollos’s ability as a servant of Christ, as he is described in 1 Corinthians 3:5, following in the footsteps of Paul, can be attributed to his love of the Word. Indeed, he became a key figure in supporting the work of the apostles of Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 3:6 implies that, after Paul preached the Word in Corinth, and his hearers had grown in knowledge and also spiritually, then it was Apollos who baptized them: "I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase".

The last two Bible references to Apollos are: (a) a good testimony from Paul (who cared for the ecclesias as a father cares for his children), in that he called Apollos to return to strengthen the Corinthian ecclesia (1 Cor. 16:12); and (b) an instruction to Titus to facilitate the journey and needs of Zenas and Apollos (Tit. 3:13).