The Strand Study Bible

ACTS 18:24  19:1

1818

Paul’s Second Missionary Journey

Apollos comes to Ephesus 24 And a certain Jew named 1 Apollos, born at Alexandria, an 2 eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures, came to Ephesus. 25 This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being 3 fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, 4 knowing only the baptism of John. 26 And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Pris- cilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly. 27 And when he was disposed to pass

into Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him: who, when he was come, 5 helped them much which had believed through grace: 28 For he mightily convinced the Jews, and that publickly, shewing by the scrip- tures that Jesus was 6 CHRIST. Acts 19 Paul travels to Ephesus Date - AD 54 1 And it came to pass, that, while 7 Apol- los was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples,

1. I Cor 1:12 & 3:4 & 16:12 & Titus 3:13 2. Note – This word ( eloquent ) comes from a Greek word denoting one who has become distinguished by his study and education. Its another way of saying that Apollos’ educational pedigree was impressive. 3. Rom 12:11 Note – Fervent in the spirit means that Apollo was full of enthusiasm. 4. Acts 19:3-4 & Mk 1:4 & Acts 13:24 5. I Cor 3:6 6 . Psa 16:10 & 22:1-31 7. I Cor 1:11-17 & 3:4-6 & 16:12 & Titus 3:13

BLACK SEA

BLACK SEA

• Troas

• Lystra • Derbe • Iconium • Antioch

• Ephesus

•

• Ephesus

Corinth

Antioch •

Antioch •

Cyprus

MEDITERRANEAN SEA

MEDITERRANEAN SEA

Jerusalem •

Alexandria •

EGYPT

EGYPT

Apollos travels to Corinth Map #49

Paul and Silas travel to Ephesus Map #50

18:24 The reason Apollos was such a learned man, even in the Scriptures, is because he grew up in Alexandria . Alexandria , named in honor of Alexander the Great who established the city in 332 BC, was known as one of the most glorious cities in the world, second only to Rome. Known for its universities and schools of higher education, its most important feature was the Great Library of Alexandria. First established by the Egyptian/Greek king Ptolemy II (283-246 BC), this structure was the largest and most splendid library of the ancient world. Demetrius of Phalerum, the first chief librarian, was so earnest in his desire to collect “all the books of the inhabited world” that he even gave the order for the Old Testament Hebrew Scriptures to be translated into the Greek language so they could be read by the Greek-speaking world. This massive undertaking produced a Greek version of the Old Testament called the Septuagint , considered to be one of the Alexandrian scholars’ greatest achievements. 1 The name Septuagint is derived from the Greek word meaning seventy in honor of the 70 Jewish scholars who translated it from the Hebrew language into Greek. Alexandrian scholars were noted for their intelligence and sophistication; however, none excelled more than the Jewish scholars of this splendid city. This was the environment in which Apollos was raised. It is very likely, therefore, that Apollos’ religious views had been shaped by the pervading theological beliefs held by the Jews of this city where he had spent most of his life. 18:25 Apollos was a man who knew the scriptures ( mighty in the scriptures – vs 24), loved the Lord ( fervent in the spirit – vs 25), and taught the scriptures diligently to others ( he spake and taught diligently – vs 25). His only disadvantage was that he was one of John the Baptist’s disciples and was tutored by him instead of Jesus.

1 The Letter of Aristeas , trans. H. St. J. Thackeray (New York: The Macmillan Co., 1917 Print