Apollos

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.