Apollos

Apollos is a fascinating person in the story of the New Testament. He features prominently in a story in Acts 18, and Paul mentions him in 1 Corinthians and Titus. Besides that, he is rather mysterious. though some have speculated that he might be the author behind Hebrews, there isn’t much definitive evidence to support such a conclusion.

Here is what we can gather from the New Testament about Apollos:

• He was a Jewish Jesus-follower (Acts 18:24)

• He was a native of Alexandria (in Egypt) (Acts 18:24)

• When he came to Ephesus he only knew the “baptism of John” (as opposed to Jesus baptism) (Acts 18:25)

• He was an eloquent and passionate teacher. (Acts 18:24-25)

• He willingly learned from Priscilla and Aquila. (Acts 18:26)

• He was a traveling teacher.

• He came to Ephesus (modern day Turkey) soon after Paul (Acts 18:24)

• He also spent time in Corinth, where some of his loyal followers developed a rivalry with followers of other Christian teachers (1 Cor 1:12)

• Paul refers to him as someone who watered what he had planted. (1 Cor 3:5-6)

• Paul later encouraged him to return to Corinth, but he didn’t want to at that time, and delayed a return to Corinth (1 Cor 16:12)

• He was with Titus in Crete, along with a lawyer named Zenas. (Titus 3:13)