Apollos

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An eloquent, Scripture-trained Jewish teacher from Alexandria whose preaching was corrected and deepened by Priscilla and Aquila, and who became such a popular figure in Corinth that a faction of believers there began identifying with him over Paul.

Life and work

Apollos was a Jew from Alexandria, described as 'a learned man, with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures' and 'a great fervor,' who arrived in Ephesus already teaching accurately about Jesus — though he knew only the baptism of John, meaning his understanding was incomplete (Acts 18:24-25). When Priscilla and Aquila heard him speak boldly in the synagogue, they invited him home and 'explained to him the way of God more adequately' (Acts 18:26).

Strengthened by that instruction, Apollos moved on to Achaia, carrying a letter of recommendation from the Ephesian believers. In Corinth he 'was a great help to those who by grace had believed,' publicly and 'vigorously refuted the Jews in open debate, proving from the Scriptures that Jesus was the Messiah' (Acts 18:27-28).

His popularity in Corinth had an unintended consequence: the church there splintered into competing loyalties, with some believers declaring 'I follow Apollos' as a rival camp to those following Paul or Cephas (1 Corinthians 1:12). Paul addresses this directly, insisting the two men were partners rather than rivals — 'I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow... he who plants and he who waters have one purpose' (1 Corinthians 3:4-9). Paul later mentions urging Apollos to visit Corinth again, though Apollos was reluctant to go at that time (1 Corinthians 16:12), and he's mentioned once more in Titus 3:13.

Occupation: Teacher and preacher
Places: From Alexandria, Egypt; later taught in Ephesus and Corinth (Achaia).

Questions and debates

Apollos's popularity produced a real, documented factional split in the Corinthian church, with some members forming a party around him in preference to Paul or Peter (1 Corinthians 1:12, 3:4-6). Paul treats this as a serious problem of division and immaturity, not a personal rivalry between himself and Apollos.

Extra-biblical evidence

No contemporary extra-biblical source records Apollos; everything known about him comes from Acts and Paul's letters.

Scripture references

Acts 18:24-26 — Corrected by Priscilla and Aquila in Ephesus
Acts 18:27-28 — Powerfully debates and encourages believers in Corinth
1 Corinthians 1:12 — A Corinthian faction forms around his name
1 Corinthians 3:4-6 — Paul frames Apollos as his partner, not rival

Reflect

Apollos was eloquent and still teachable — which is harder for you: speaking well or being taught?

More people

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