Apollos of Alexandria

When did Apollos die?

Apollos of Alexandria is dated d. later 1st c. in the archive, which places Apollos in the Apostolic Fathers (AD 70–130). The dating is traditional and approximate; the archive marks it as uncertain rather than fixing a year the sources do not give.

Which early sources mention Apollos?

Apollos of Alexandria is named in 4 primary-source passages catalogued here, drawn from Paul, Luke the Evangelist, Paul of Tarsus and John Chrysostom. Every passage is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.

Where was Apollos from?

The archive associates Apollos of Alexandria with Alexandria, Ephesus, Corinth. The sources record more than one location, so the places are listed in the order the record moves through them.

Who were Apollos’ contemporaries?

The archive links Apollos of Alexandria to 5 other figures, including Prisca (Priscilla), Aquila of Pontus, Paul of Tarsus and Zenas the Lawyer. Each connection is drawn from a source that places them together, not from inference.

I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.

A certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures.

Bring Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their journey diligently, that nothing be wanting unto them.

“And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the Scriptures, came to Ephesus.” **Lo, even learned men are now urgent, and the disciples henceforth go abroad. Do you mark the spread of the preaching?** … For he was **an awakened man, travelling in foreign parts for this very purpose**. Writing of him the Apostle said, “Now concerning Apollos our brother.” … nowhere envy, nowhere an evil eye. Aquila teaches, or rather **this man lets himself be taught**. … by this, that he “publicly” convinced them, his boldness was shown: by the clearness of his arguing, his power was declared: by his convicting them out of the Scriptures, his skill of learning. **For neither boldness by itself contributes anything, where there is not power, nor power where there is not boldness.** … Great was the boldness of the man. “He taught diligently the things concerning Jesus,” but he needed more diligent teaching. Thus, though not knowing all, **by his zeal he attracted the Holy Ghost**, in the same manner as Cornelius and his company. [Chrysostom treats Apollos as the moment the mission reaches the educated classes — “lo, even learned men are now urgent” — and the whole passage is built on a balance he states outright: boldness without power is nothing, and power without boldness is nothing. He works at the awkward question of why a man who knew only John’s baptism was already “fervent in the Spirit,” canvasses several answers, and settles on none, judging it likely Apollos was baptised though the text does not say so.]

Chrysostom's Homilies on the Acts of the Apostles, preached at Constantinople c. AD 400. Critical Greek: *Patrologia Graeca* 60. English translation by J. Walker, J. Sheppard and H. Browne, revised by George B. Stevens, Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, 1st series, vol. 11 (1889), public domain.