Acts 18:24

24 But a Jew, Apollos by name, a man of Alexandria of kind, a man eloquent, came to Ephesus; and he was mighty in scriptures. [Soothly some Jew, Apollos by name, a man of Alexandria of kind, a man eloquent, came to Ephesus, mighty in scriptures.]

Acts 18:24 Meaning and Commentary

Acts 18:24

And a certain Jew named Apollos
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" ^F4; the same is said of the sons of Reuben ^F5: 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.

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FOOTNOTES:

F4 T. Hieros. Sanhedrin, fol. 29. 1.
F5 Tzeror Hammor, fol. 60. 1.

Acts 18:24 In-Context

22 And he came down to Caesarea, and he went up [and ascended up], and greeted the church, and came down to Antioch.

23 And when he had dwelled there somewhat of time, he went forth, walking by row [walking by order] through the country of Galatia, and Phrygia, and confirmed all the disciples [confirming all the disciples].

24 But a Jew, Apollos by name, a man of Alexandria of kind, a man eloquent, came to Ephesus; and he was mighty in scriptures. [Soothly some Jew, Apollos by name, a man of Alexandria of kind, a man eloquent, came to Ephesus, mighty in scriptures.]

25 This man was taught the way of the Lord, and was fervent in spirit, and spake, and taught diligently those things that were of Jesus, and knew only the baptism of John [knowing only the baptism of John].

26 And this man began to do trustily in the synagogue. Whom when Priscilla and Aquila heard, they took him [to], and more diligently expounded to him the way of the Lord.