SEV Biblia, Chapter 18:24
¶ Lleg entonces a Efeso un judío, llamado Apolos, natural de Alejandría, varn elocuente, poderoso en las Escrituras.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Acts 18:24
Verse 24. A certain Jew named Apollos] One MS., with the Coptic and Armenian, calls him Apelles; and the Codex Bezae, Apollonius. It is strange that we should find a Jew, not only with a Roman name, as Aquila, an eagle; but with the name of one of the false gods, as Apollos or Apollo in the text. Query: Whether the parents of this man were not originally Gentiles, but converted to Judaism after their son Apollo (for so we should write the word) had been born and named. Born at Alexandria] This was a celebrated city of Egypt, built by Alexander the Great, from whom it took its name. It was seated on the Mediterranean Sea, between the Lake Mareotis and the beautiful harbour formed by the Isle of Pharos, about twelve miles west of the Canopic branch of the Nile, in lat. 31. 10'. N. This city was built under the direction of Dinocrates, the celebrated architect of the temple of Diana at Ephesus. It was in this city that Ptolemy Soter founded the famous academy called the Museum, in which a society of learned men devoted themselves to philosophical studies. Some of the most celebrated schools of antiquity flourished here; and here was the Tower of Pharos, esteemed one of the seven wonders of the world. Alexandria was taken by the French, July 4, 1798, under the command of Bonaparte; and was surrendered to the English under General, now Lord, Hutchinson, in 1801.
And, in consequence of the treaty of peace between France and England, it was restored to the Turks. Near this place was the celebrated obelisk, called Cleopatra's Needle; and the no less famous column, called Pompey's Pillar. This city exhibits but very slender remains of its ancient splendour.
An eloquent man] Having strong rhetorical powers; highly cultivated, no doubt, in the Alexandrian schools.
Mighty in the Scriptures] Thoroughly acquainted with the law and prophets; and well skilled in the Jewish method of interpreting them.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 24. And a certain Jew named Apollos , etc.] Who by some is thought to be the same with Apelles, ( Romans 16:10), his name is Greek, though he was a Jew, not only by religion, but by birth, being of a Jewish extract: born at Alexandria ; in Egypt, which was built by Alexander the great, from whence it had its name; it was the metropolis of Egypt, and the seat of the kings of it; great numbers of Jews were in this place; here lived Philo the famous Jew: an eloquent man ; in speech, as well as learned, wise, and prudent, as the Ethiopic version renders it: and mighty in the Scriptures ; of the Old Testament, particularly in the prophecies of them concerning the Messiah; he had thoroughly read them, and carefully examined them, and could readily cite them; as well as had great knowledge of them, and was capable of explaining them; he was skilful in the Scriptures, as the Syriac version renders it; or he knew them, as the Ethiopic; he had large acquaintance with them, and was well versed in them: it is a Jewish way of speaking; so Ahithophel is said to be hrwtb rwbg , mighty in the law f965 ; the same is said of the sons of Reuben f966 : this man came to Ephesus ; after the departure of the Apostle Paul, and while Aquila and Priscilla were there; the reason of his coming hither was to preach the word, as he did.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 24-28 - Apollos taught in the gospel of Christ, as far as John's ministry woul carry him, and no further. We cannot but think he had heard of Christ' death and resurrection, but he was not informed as to the mystery of them. Though he had not the miraculous gifts of the Spirit, as the apostles, he made use of the gifts he had. The dispensation of the Spirit, whatever the measure of it may be, is given to every man to profit withal. He was a lively, affectionate preacher; fervent i spirit. He was full of zeal for the glory of God and the salvation of precious souls. Here was a complete man of God, thoroughly furnishe for his work. Aquila and Priscilla encouraged his ministry, be attendance upon it. They did not despise Apollos themselves, or undervalue him to others; but considered the disadvantages he ha laboured under. And having themselves got knowledge in the truths of the gospel by their long intercourse with Paul, they told what the knew to him. Young scholars may gain a great deal by converse with ol Christians. Those who do believe through grace, yet still need help. A long as they are in this world, there are remainders of unbelief, an something lacking in their faith to be perfected, and the work of fait to be fulfilled. If the Jews were convinced that Jesus is Christ, eve their own law would teach them to hear him. The business of minister is to preach Christ. Not only to preach the truth, but to prove an defend it, with meekness, yet with power __________________________________________________________________
Greek Textus Receptus
ιουδαιος 2453 A-NSM δε 1161 CONJ τις 5100 X-NSM απολλως 625 N-NSM ονοματι 3686 N-DSN αλεξανδρευς 221 N-NSM τω 3588 T-DSN γενει 1085 N-DSN ανηρ 435 N-NSM λογιος 3052 A-NSM κατηντησεν 2658 5656 V-AAI-3S εις 1519 PREP εφεσον 2181 N-ASF δυνατος 1415 A-NSM ων 5607 5752 V-PXP-NSM εν 1722 PREP ταις 3588 T-DPF γραφαις 1124 N-DPF
Vincent's NT Word Studies
24. Eloquent (logiov). Only here in New Testament. The word is used in Greek literature in several senses. As logov means either reason or speech, so this derivative may signify either one who has thought much, and has much to say, or one who can say it well. Hence it is used: 1. Of one skilled in history. Herodotus, for example, says that the Heliopolitans are the most learned in history (logiwtatoi) of all the Egyptians. 2. Of an eloquent person. An epithet of Hermes or Mercury, as the God of speech and eloquence. 3. Of a learned; person generally. There seems hardly sufficient reason for changing the rendering of the A.V. (Rev., learned), especially as the scripture-learning of Apollos is specified in the words mighty in the scriptures, and his superior eloquence appears to have been the reason why some of the Corinthians preferred him to Paul. See 1 Corinthians i. 12; ii. 4; 2 Cor. x. 10.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
18:24 {Apollos} (apollws). Genitive -" Attic second declension. Probably a contraction of apollonios as D has it here. {An Alexandrian} (alexandreus). Alexander the Great founded this city B.C. 332 and placed a colony of Jews there which flourished greatly, one-third of the population at this time. There was a great university and library there. The Jewish-Alexandrian philosophy developed here of which Philo was the chief exponent who was still living. Apollos was undoubtedly a man of the schools and a man of parts. {A learned man} (aner logios). Or eloquent, as the word can mean either a man of words (like one "wordy," verbose) or a man of ideas, since logos was used either for reason or speech. Apollos was doubtless both learned (mighty in the Scriptures) and eloquent, though eloquence varies greatly in people's ideas. {Mighty in the Scriptures} (dunatos wn en tais grafais). Being powerful (dunatos verbal of dunamai and same root as dunamis, dynamite, dynamo) in the Scriptures (in the knowledge and the use of the Scriptures), as should be true of every preacher. There is no excuse for ignorance of the Scriptures on the part of preachers, the professed interpreters of the word of God. The last lecture made to the New Testament English class in Southern Baptist Theological Seminary by John A. Broadus was on this passage with a plea for his students to be mighty in the Scriptures. In Alexandria Clement of Alexandria and Origen taught in the Christian theological school.
