The Metamorphose of Apollos

[Ben_Masada]

The text is in Acts 18:24-28

The Sect of the Nazarenes was blooming in Alexandria. Apollos, a Nazarene Jew from Alexandria decided to go on a trip North to Ephesus. Being well known as a charismatic and eloquent Teacher in the Scriptures, he was invited to deliver the Sabbath sermon in the local Nazarene Synagogue. The text says that he would speak about Jesus with accuracy. (Acts 18:25)

It happens that on that same day, a couple of Jews called Aquila and Priscilla were attending services at the same Synagogue. The couple had recently arrived from Italy because of a decree signed by Claudius, the Roman Emperor, that would expell
all Jews from Rome. (Acts 18:2) Their trade was Tentmaking. Since Paul was also a Tentmaker, they somehow met, got together, and Paul succeeded to convert them. (Acts 18:1-3)

So, back at the Nazarene Synagogue of Ephesus, Aquila and Priscilla realized that there was something wrong with Apollos’ sermon. He would not mention even once that Jesus was the Messiah, son of God, and that he had resurrected. After the services, they invited Apollos to their home, converted him to the Pauline way they believed about Jesus, and the Apollos who returned was no longer the same who had left. He would now preach that Jesus was the Messiah. (Acts 18:28) He was still charismatic and eloquent, but the previous accuracy about Jesus was no longer the same. He had experienced complete metamorphose.

The point for discussion is: If Apolos was an expert in the Scriptures and a member of the Sect of the Nazarenes, how come he had to know from Christians all those things about Jesus? The obvious conclusion is that the whole thing had been fabricated by Paul about 30 years after Jesus’ death.

Now, please, kindly share with me your comments. Thanks

Ben:

 

[thistle]

D-R Bible, Haydock Commentary:

Ver. 24. Apollo…one mighty in the Scriptures. Literally, powerful in the Scriptures, yet knew no baptism, but that of John. (Witham) — When we consider the great harvest, and few labourers, and the small time that the apostles could give to any one place for instructions, we shall not be so much surprised, that this zealous convert should not yet be perfectly instructed in every doctrine of Christianity. This happened about twenty years after our Lord’s ascension. He is the same person as is mentioned 1 Corinthians iii. 7.[4.?] (Haydock)

 

[Ben_Masada]

D-R Bible, Haydock Commentary:

Ver. 24. Apollo…one mighty in the Scriptures. Literally, powerful in the Scriptures, yet knew no baptism, but that of John. (Witham) — QUOTE]​

The expression, “Yet he knew no baptism, but that of John,” means only that he had been baptized with the same baptism Jesus had been baptized with, as well as all the Apostles. It means he had no knowledge of the gospel of Paul.
It means that he had never heard that Jesus was Christ, considering that Paul had been the first one to preach about Jesus as Christ. (Acts 11:26) It means that he was one of the converts of the Nazarenes, who normally were staunch defenders of the Law, according to Acts 21:20.

Ben:

 

[thistle]

thistle;4741167:

D-R Bible, Haydock Commentary:

Ver. 24. Apollo…one mighty in the Scriptures. Literally, powerful in the Scriptures, yet knew no baptism, but that of John. (Witham) — QUOTE]​

The expression, “Yet he knew no baptism, but that of John,” means only that he had been baptized with the same baptism Jesus had been baptized with, as well as all the Apostles. It means he had no knowledge of the gospel of Paul.
It means that he had never heard that Jesus was Christ, considering that Paul had been the first one to preach about Jesus as Christ. (Acts 11:26) It means that he was one of the converts of the Nazarenes, who normally were staunch defenders of the Law, according to Acts 21:20.

Ben:

There is no Gospel of Paul!

 

[NotWorthy]

The text is in Acts 18:24-28

…After the services, they invited Apollos to their home, converted him to the Pauline way they believed about Jesus, and the Apollos who returned was no longer the same who had left. He would now preach that Jesus was the Messiah. (Acts 18:28) He was still charismatic and eloquent, but the previous accuracy about Jesus was no longer the same. He had experienced complete metamorphose.

The point for discussion is: If Apolos was an expert in the Scriptures and a member of the Sect of the Nazarenes, how come he had to know from Christians all those things about Jesus? The obvious conclusion is that the whole thing had been fabricated by Paul about 30 years after Jesus’ death.

Now, please, kindly share with me your comments. Thanks

Ben:

Well, the Messiah wasn’t a big thing. Peter had started preaching it 50 days after the Resurrection.

**Therefore let the whole house of Israel know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Messiah, this Jesus whom you crucified."
**

The text is in Acts 18:24-28

The Sect of the Nazarenes was blooming in Alexandria. Apollos, a Nazarene Jew from Alexandria decided to go on a trip North to Ephesus.

BTW, where are you getting that Apollos was a Nazarene in a Nazarene synagogue?

I see in Acts where it says:

A Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, an eloquent speaker, arrived in Ephesus. He was an authority on the scriptures. He had been instructed in the Way of the Lord and, with ardent spirit, spoke and taught accurately about Jesus, although he knew only the baptism of John.

It looks like he was instructed about Jesus from the teachings of John the Baptist.

 

[Nita]

It means that he had never heard that Jesus was Christ, considering that Paul had been the first one to preach about Jesus as Christ. (Acts 11:26)
If you’ve read the actual text, you’ll know that is when the believers were first called “Christians”. (You know, Jews weren’t called “Jews” from the start either!)

As to when Jesus was first preached as the Christ/Messiah, see the very first sermon - preached by St. Peter on Pentecost Sunday. (Acts 2:14-42)
The title “Christ” (in reference to Jesus) mentioned specifically in:
verses 31-32: he (David) foresaw and spoke of the resurrection of the Christ… This Jesus God raised up, and of that we are all witnesses.
verse 36: “Let all the house of Israel therefore know assuredly that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.”

Ben:

It might help if you read the entire New Testament. Less likely that way to make such errors. It’ll change that to a .

God bless,
Nita

 

[Ben_Masada]

Well, the Messiah wasn’t a big thing. Peter had started preaching it 50 days after the Resurrection.

Ben: NotWorthy, Peter never delivered that speech for three reasons: First, take a look at Acts 2:14. The guy who introduced himself before the Jews in that speech was not Jewish. Here is how he introduce himself, “You who are Jews, indeed all of you staying in Jerusalem…” A Jew would never introduce himself like that. Second, Peter was a Nazarene and the Nazarenes were not anti-Semites to accuse the Jews with having crucified Jesus. He knew that the Romans had crucified Jesus. (Acts 2:23) Third, being Peter a Nazarene, none of the writings of the Nazarenes was approved into the Cannon of the NT due to their controversial writings vis-a-vis the writings of Paul.

BTW, where are you getting that Apollos was a Nazarene in a Nazarene synagogue?

Ben: A Nazarene or Christian could never take the pulpit of a regular Synagogue to deliver a sermon on the Shabbat. Apollos was accepted to deliver the sermon of that Shabbat in the Synagogue of Ephesus. Paul had the custom to overturn Nazarene Synagogues into Christian churches as he did in Antioch. The Nazarene Synagogue of Ephesus was in the process of being overturned as Paul left Aquila and Priscilla to watch while he continued in his travels. The Nazarenes knew only the baptism of John. And Apollos knew only the baptism of John.
Therefore, Apollos was a Nazarene and that Synagogue of Ephesus was a Nazarene Synagogue.

Ben:

 

[NotWorthy]

NotWorthy;4741346:

Well, the Messiah wasn’t a big thing. Peter had started preaching it 50 days after the Resurrection.

Ben: NotWorthy, Peter never delivered that speech for three reasons: First, take a look at Acts 2:14. The guy who introduced himself before the Jews in that speech was not Jewish. Here is how he introduce himself, “You who are Jews, indeed all of you staying in Jerusalem…” A Jew would never introduce himself like that. Second, Peter was a Nazarene and the Nazarenes were not anti-Semites to accuse the Jews with having crucified Jesus. He knew that the Romans had crucified Jesus. (Acts 2:23) Third, being Peter a Nazarene, none of the writings of the Nazarenes was approved into the Cannon of the NT due to their controversial writings vis-a-vis the writings of Paul.

BTW, where are you getting that Apollos was a Nazarene in a Nazarene synagogue?

Ben: A Nazarene or Christian could never take the pulpit of a regular Synagogue to deliver a sermon on the Shabbat. Apollos was accepted to deliver the sermon of that Shabbat in the Synagogue of Ephesus. Paul had the custom to overturn Nazarene Synagogues into Christian churches as he did in Antioch. The Nazarene Synagogue of Ephesus was in the process of being overturned as Paul left Aquila and Priscilla to watch while he continued in his travels. The Nazarenes knew only the baptism of John. And Apollos knew only the baptism of John.
Therefore, Apollos was a Nazarene and that Synagogue of Ephesus was a Nazarene Synagogue.

Ben: :thumbsup:Ben, when you get around to completely re-writing the Bible, send me your first copy.

In Acts, Luke writes that it was Peter who stood up and addressed the crowd. For you to come up with a different version simply because Peter says, “You who are Jews” is simply ludicrous. It makes one question your wisdom…

And in Acts, Luke writes that Apollos was a native Alexandrian. Alexandria, if I remember correctly (having heard it from real scholars! ) had a larger authentic Jewish population than Palestine (or was it just Jerusalem, I can’t recall right now… sorry, I’m at work). During this time, the Christians celebrated the Jewish Sabbath Liturgy with their brother Jews (it seems the Alexandrian Jews were not as “gung ho” anti-Christian as the Pharisees in Jerusalem).

So Ben, you’re claims that “this couldn’t have happened” or “that couldn’t have happened”, to me sounds petty and unfounded.

 

[adrift]

he was invited to deliver the Sabbath sermon in the local Nazarene Synagogue…So, back at the Nazarene Synagogue of Ephesus, Aquila and Priscilla realized that there was something wrong with Apollos’ sermon. He would not mention even once that Jesus was the Messiah, son of God, and that he had resurrected.

26
He began to speak boldly in the synagogue; but when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the Way (of God) 11 more accurately.
27

The text does not indicate an invitation to speak but him speaking boldly which means showing or requiring a fearless daring spirit. If he had been invited, he wouldn’t have had to do it boldly. It didn’t say they found something wrong but that he didn’t have a complete knowledge of Jesus. Not all that Jesus taught was in the Jewish scripture. What you have written about there reasoning isn’t in the scripture you quote. You just made it up:shrug:

 

[Ben_Masada]

The text does not indicate an invitation to speak but him speaking boldly which means showing or requiring a fearless daring spirit. If he had been invited, he wouldn’t have had to do it boldly. It didn’t say they found something wrong but that he didn’t have a complete knowledge of Jesus. Not all that Jesus taught was in the Jewish scripture. What you have written about there reasoning isn’t in the scripture you quote. You just made it up:shrug:

---

Sorry but your argument is too weak. Read Acts 18:26. “He was expressing himself fearlessly in the Synagogue.”
Try to get to a Church where you are not known, and start preaching in there without being invited. Then, you will understand what I mean.

The knowledge that he didn’t have complete about Jesus, I agree with you that it was what Aquila and Priscilla completed, which was that Jesus was the Messiah, and Apollos did not know it.
So, I stand right about my interpretation of the text.

Ben:

 

[Ben_Masada]

Ben Masada;4741560:

Ben, when you get around to completely re-writing the Bible, send me your first copy.

Ben: That’s exactly what I have been thinking of you guys. Everyone seems to be trying to rewrite the NT.

In Acts, Luke writes that it was Peter who stood up and addressed the crowd. For you to come up with a different version simply because Peter says, “You who are Jews” is simply ludicrous. It makes one question your wisdom…

Ben: But of course! What did you expect? Besides, he wrote that almost 50 years after the fact. Who could be better than Peter to foster their aims? Poor Peter, a Nazarene, who never had anything to do with Christianity.

And in Acts, Luke writes that Apollos was a native Alexandrian. Alexandria, if I remember correctly (having heard it from real scholars! ) had a larger authentic Jewish population than Palestine (or was it just Jerusalem, I can’t recall right now… sorry, I’m at work).

Ben: One thing I tell you to refresh your memory:
It was not Palestine. There was no such a thing as Palestine at that time, and there was never a Palestinian country in the History
of the world.

During this time, the Christians celebrated the Jewish Sabbath Liturgy with their brother Jews (it seems the Alexandrian Jews were not as “gung ho” anti-Christian as the Pharisees in Jerusalem).

Ben: There was never a Christian until Paul started with them 30 years after Jesus was gone. Read Acts 11:26. Paul was the one who started Christianity in Antioch.

So Ben, you’re claims that “this couldn’t have happened” or “that couldn’t have happened”, to me sounds petty and unfounded.

Ben: One has to use logic to deal with the contradictions of the NT.

Ben:

 

[adrift]

---

Sorry but your argument is too weak. Read Acts 18:26. “He was expressing himself fearlessly in the Synagogue.”
Try to get to a Church where you are not known, and start preaching in there without being invited. Then, you will understand what I mean.

The knowledge that he didn’t have complete about Jesus, I agree with you that it was what Aquila and Priscilla completed, which was that Jesus was the Messiah, and Apollos did not know it.
So, I stand right about my interpretation of the text.

Ben:

I find it insulting that you say read it when I quoted it. It is your argument that is weak. It says boldly which I gave the definition. He was a Jew in a Synagogue doesn’t seem he would be a stranger. Your interpretation is off because nowhere does it say what they taught him but we do know that he taught from Scripture that Jesus was the Messiah. That shows that your made up scenario is false.

 

[NotWorthy]

---

Sorry but your argument is too weak. Read Acts 18:26. “He was expressing himself fearlessly in the Synagogue.”
Try to get to a Church where you are not known, and start preaching in there without being invited. Then, you will understand what I mean.

The knowledge that he didn’t have complete about Jesus, I agree with you that it was what Aquila and Priscilla completed, which was that Jesus was the Messiah, and Apollos did not know it.
So, I stand right about my interpretation of the text.

Ben:

I would think that an “intellectual” city like Alexandria would welcome new-comers who had knowledge in that which they speak. The Greeks, such as the Athenians demonstrated this trend, and Alexandria was home of some of the greatest thinkers in the world during this time.

Not all groups were as close-minded as Jerusalem’s Pharisees, my friend.

 

[NotWorthy]

NotWorthy;4741919:

Ben, when you get around to completely re-writing the Bible, send me your first copy.

Ben: That’s exactly what I have been thinking of you guys. Everyone seems to be trying to rewrite the NT.

Everyone, except your Catholic brothers, my friend!

Notworthy says: In Acts, Luke writes that it was Peter who stood up and addressed the crowd. For you to come up with a different version simply because Peter says, “You who are Jews” is simply ludicrous. It makes one question your wisdom…

Ben: But of course! What did you expect? Besides, he wrote that almost 50 years after the fact. Who could be better than Peter to foster their aims? Poor Peter, a Nazarene, who never had anything to do with Christianity.

But, he wrote what had been said and preached. If Luke changed or made up this story, many knowledgeable Jews would have said “this is not how its been preached for 50 years”. There’s no record of this dispute.

Notworthy says: And in Acts, Luke writes that Apollos was a native Alexandrian. Alexandria, if I remember correctly (having heard it from real scholars! ) had a larger authentic Jewish population than Palestine (or was it just Jerusalem, I can’t recall right now… sorry, I’m at work).

Ben: One thing I tell you to refresh your memory:
It was not Palestine. There was no such a thing as Palestine at that time, and there was never a Palestinian country in the History of the world.

Quit dodging the issue, Ben. I never said “the country of Palestine”. By referring to it as this area, we all know what I am speaking of.

The fact remains, Apollos was a native Alexandrian. Alexandria had a larger Jewish population than “insert your own name to reference what I call the Palestinean area”.

During this time, the Christians celebrated the Jewish Sabbath Liturgy with their brother Jews (it seems the Alexandrian Jews were not as “gung ho” anti-Christian as the Pharisees in Jerusalem).

Ben: There was never a Christian until Paul started with them 30 years after Jesus was gone. Read Acts 11:26. Paul was the one who started Christianity in Antioch.

Again, the issue is dodged.

The early Church was called “The Way”. Then it was called “Chrstian” without losing the term “The Way”. Wouldn’t people who do things “In the name of Jesus the Christ” be properly considered Christians.

Notworthy says: So Ben, you’re claims that “this couldn’t have happened” or “that couldn’t have happened”, to me sounds petty and unfounded.

Ben: One has to use logic to deal with the contradictions of the NT.

Ben:

And you have displayed a wealth of “lack of knowledge”. You didn’t address that Apollos was Alexandrian. You didn’t address that Alexandria had a larger Jewish population. You create “Chrstians” out of think air, as if they are different than "“The Way”.

 

[Ben_Masada]

I find it insulting that you say read it when I quoted it. It is your argument that is weak. It says boldly which I gave the definition. He was a Jew in a Synagogue doesn’t seem he would be a stranger. Your interpretation is off because nowhere does it say what they taught him but we do know that he taught from Scripture that Jesus was the Messiah. That shows that your made up scenario is false.

---

Let’s make a deal so that your hostility may abate a little. You show me where Apollos preached that Jesus was the Messiah before he met Aquila and Priscilla, and I’ll commit myself to become a Catholic. If you can’t, you will commit
yourself to consider that you could be mistaken about your beliefs.
Is that a deal?

Ben:

 

[Ben_Masada]

I would think that an “intellectual” city like Alexandria would welcome new-comers who had knowledge in that which they speak. The Greeks, such as the Athenians demonstrated this trend, and Alexandria was home of some of the greatest thinkers in the world during this time.

Not all groups were as close-minded as Jerusalem’s Pharisees, my friend.

---

You are confusing Alexandria with Ephesus. Apollos was not a newcomer to Alexandria but to Ephesus. I agree with you about Alexandria. Alexandria was Apollos’ hometown.

Ben:

 

[Ben_Masada]

Everyone, except your Catholic brothers, my friend!

But, he wrote what had been said and preached. If Luke changed or made up this story, many knowledgeable Jews would have said “this is not how its been preached for 50 years”. There’s no record of this dispute.

Ben: No, he did not. I told you already that Peter was not an anti-Semite, and he would never falsely accuse the Jews with having crucified Jesus. He knew who had crucified Jesus, and they were not the Jews, but the Romans. Luke attributed that speech in Acts 2 to Peter with the purpose to grant
some Apostolical credibility to the Church. And regarding the interest of knowledgeable Jews in Christianity, it was only in the sense of sufocating the movement.

Quit dodging the issue, Ben. I never said “the country of Palestine”. By referring to it as this area, we all know what I am speaking of.

Ben: I know what you mean. But why not referring
to the area as Israel, its legitemate name, as it is throughout the world? I hope you are not an Arab.

The fact remains, Apollos was a native Alexandrian. Alexandria had a larger Jewish population than “insert your own name to reference what I call the Palestinean area”.

Ben: Yes, Alexandria had a larger Jewish population than… why don’t you mention the name, is it hatred for Israel, the homeland of your Messiah? Only an Arab would exhibit
such a nonsense. America has a larger Jewish population than in
Israel. What is that supposed to mean, that Alexandria had a larger Jewish population than in Israel?

The early Church was called “The Way”. Then it was called “Chrstian” without losing the term “The Way”. Wouldn’t people who do things “In the name of Jesus the Christ” be properly considered Christians.

Ben: “The Way” was the name used for the Sect of Nazarenes. The Sect of the Nazarenes did not become Christian. Christianity rather absorbed more than half of the Nazarenes, because of Paul’s intensive missionary work among them. The Sect of the Nazarenes was but one of the Jewish sects
of the time. Christianity was never a Jewish sect. The converts of the Nazarenes would become staunch defenders of the Jewish laws. Christianity would preach against the Jewish laws and customs. Reas Acts 21:20,21.

And you have displayed a wealth of “lack of knowledge”. You didn’t address that Apollos was Alexandrian. You didn’t address that Alexandria had a larger Jewish population. You create “Chrstians” out of think air, as if they are different than "“The Way”.

Ben: Anything you say won’t affect me because I know what I know. I addressed more than twice that Apollos was from Alexandria, and here in this post that Alexandria had a larger
Jewish population than in Israel. I do not create Christians out of thin air; Paul was the one who started them in Antioch, according
to Acts 11:26. Read it, please. If you need any more light on the subject, feedback.

Ben:

 

[Ben_Masada]

Ben Masada;4741240:

There is no Gospel of Paul!

---

Sorry Thisthe, you only lose credibility as you
declare NT statements without knowing what you are talking about. Take a look at II Timothy 2:8. Paul reports to Timothy that
Jesus was of the lineage of David and that he resurrected according to his gospel. Opposite to what gospel? Obviously, there was another gospel being preached at the time. And it’s not hard to figure what gospel was it. The real gospel of Jesus preached by the Apostles, which would make the converts to it staunch defenders of the Jewish laws. (Acts 21:20) Then, if you read Galatians 1:3-6, you will see that even if an angel came down from Heaven with a gospel different from Paul’s, this would curse that angel. Read those quotations above please, so that you won’t declare again that there was no gospel of Paul. Thank you.

Ben:

 

[thistle]

thistle;4741300:

---

Sorry Thisthe, you only lose credibility as you
declare NT statements without knowing what you are talking about. Take a look at II Timothy 2:8. Paul reports to Timothy that
Jesus was of the lineage of David and that he resurrected according to his gospel. Opposite to what gospel? Obviously, there was another gospel being preached at the time. And it’s not hard to figure what gospel was it. The real gospel of Jesus preached by the Apostles, which would make the converts to it staunch defenders of the Jewish laws. (Acts 21:20) Then, if you read Galatians 1:3-6, you will see that even if an angel came down from Heaven with a gospel different from Paul’s, this would curse that angel. Read those quotations above please, so that you won’t declare again that there was no gospel of Paul. Thank you.

Ben:

There is no Gospel of Paul.

 

[stephraim]

thistle;4741300:

---

so that you won’t declare again that there was no gospel of Paul. Thank you.

Ben:

Galatians 2:1-10

Then after fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus along with me. I went up by revelation; and I laid before them (but privately before those who were of repute) the gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, lest somehow I should be running or had run in vain. But even Titus, who was with me, was not compelled to be circumcised, though he was a Greek. But because of false brethren secretly brought in, who slipped in to spy out our freedom which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage -- to them we did not yield submission even for a moment, that the truth of the gospel be preserved !or you. And from those who were reputed to be something (what they were makes no difference to me; God shows no partiality) -- those, I say, who were of repute added nothing to me; but on the contrary, the gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been entrusted with the gospel to the circumcised (for he who worked through Peter for the mission to the circumcised worked through me also for the Gentiles ), and when they perceived the grace that was given to me, James and Cephas and John, who were reputed to be pillars, gave to me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised; only they would have us remember the poor, which very thing I was eager to do.