Apollos (given by Apollo) a Jew from Alexandria, eloquent (which may also mean learned) and mighty in the Scriptures; one instructed in the way of the Lord, according to the imperfect view of the disciples of John the Baptist, but on his coming to Ephesus during a temporary absence of St. 54, more perfectly taught by Aquila and Priscilla. Now a Jew named Apollos, an Alexandrian by birth, an eloquent man, came to Ephesus; and he was mighty in the Scriptures. This man had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit, he was speaking and teaching accurately the things concerning Jesus, being acquainted only with the baptism of John; and he began to speak out boldly in the synagogue. The Greek of the letter is in many ways the best in the New Testament. Since the letter of Clement of Rome to the Corinthians, written about A.D. 96, most probably cites Hebrews, the upper limit for the date of composition is reasonably certain.
APOLLOS TO HIERASTHENES, GREETING.-
1 TOUCHING the matter whereby thou didst enquire in thy last epistle, I will inform thee even as I have received. I Appollos was in my house in Nazareth after the Holy City had been taken by the Romans, and the Temple of God destroyed, even as the Lord had told us.
2 And as the sun went down and I was resting from my work, the room was filled with a bright light and there appeared unto me Agella., my sister (who had been reported as dead with many others of the brethren who were in the Holy City at the time of the siege and who have never since been seen by any to this day).
3 And Agella spake to me saying, BROTHER, why grievest thou for me, and for the fall of Ierusalem and for the Holy House. Grieve rather that thou wast left behind when we with others of the brethren who were ready were taken up from the earth.
4 For when the city was sorely besieged and the battle was the most fierce and the confusion great and terrible, there was seen by all a great wonder in the heavens.
5 For the Lord himself appeared from the clouds with her to whom he first appeared after he rose from the dead, who announced his resurrection to the twelve, and the holy angels, according to the word that he Spake unto us while he was in the flesh.
6 And we who sore longed for deliverance and were ready for his appearance were caught up to him in the clouds with Iohn, who alone of the twelve remained (whether in the body or out of the body I knew not).
7 It was in a moment and we were changed in the twinkling of an eye, and those who were his enemies saw it and fled in great confusion and fell on the swords of the Romans and perished, and to me alone has it been given that I should appear unto thee for thy comfort my brother, and for the consolation of those that are left behind and those that shall come after them, that they may believe in the words spoken by the Lord before he suffered.
8 Farewell brother, and go and comfort those that are left, for there will arise those who will deny that hereturned as he said, because none of those who saw his appearance are left behind to witness thereof.
9 But believe thou that the Christ shall return againat the end of the Age in glory.
10 AND I arose and went to some of the brethren and told them these things, but they seemed to them as an idle tale, for they answered, If thy sister and the others were taken, why have we been left behind in the misery of this world? Surely they have fallen by the sword also, and it was a vision, and we which are left behind shall perish likewise?
11 And I returned to my home and held my peace, for I was in doubt, and said, If the thing is true it will be brought to light in a future day, for the Lord certainly did say that 'before this generation should pass away all these things should be,' even as my sister hath told me they have been.
12 They who are with me salute thee. Peace be with thee, and to all in thine house.
EPISTLE OF APOLLOS TO HIERASTHENES.
Apollos was a 1st century Alexandrian Jewish Christian. He ministered as an evangelist and helped in the early development of the churches of Ephesus and Corinth. He was mentioned several times in the New Testament and was a contemporary of Paul the Apostle.
Apollos was described as “being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus, though he knew only the baptism of John” (Acts 18:24-25). But he didn’t know the full truth about the baptism of the Holy Spirit. So, the Lord sent Priscilla and Aquila, a Jewish Christian couple who had come to Ephesus with the Apostle Paul and they instructed Apollos. The Bible tells us that “When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more adequately” (Acts 18:26).
The book of Acts records that Apollos came to Achaia with a letter of recommendation from the Ephesian Christians that “greatly helped those who through grace had believed, for he powerfully refuted the Jews in public, showing by the Scriptures that the Christ was Jesus (Acts 18:27-28).
Paul’s First Epistle to the Corinthians (55 AD) says that Apollos played an important role at Corinth. Paul described Apollos’ role at Corinth: “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth”(1 Corinthians 3:6). Paul’s Epistle mentions that there arose a division in the Corinthian church where some attached themselves to Paul and other to Apollos. Paul deals with this partisanship in 1 Corinthians 1:12-13. And he declared that Christ is not divided.
So, Paul urged Apollos to go to Corinth but he refused, stating that he would come later when he had an opportunity. Jerome tells us that Apollos was so dissatisfied with the division at Corinth, that he retired to Crete with Zenas the lawyer. But after the division was healed through Paul’s letters to the Corinthians, Apollos returned to the city, and became one of its elders.
The last mention of Apollos in the New Testament is found in Paul’s letter to Titus:
“Do everything you can to help Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their way and see that they have everything they need” (Titus 3:13).
Apollos’ life and ministry is a testimony of a faithful minister to the Lord who possessed zeal and upright spirit which should serve as an example to all Christians that they may grow in grace and be filled with the Holy Spirit imparting to others the knowledge of truth with all boldness and courage.
The Epistle Of Apollos The Prophetrejected Scriptures In The Bible
In His service,
BibleAsk Team