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 גבור בתורה, "mighty in the law" d; the same is said of the sons of Reuben e: 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.
d T. Hieros. Sanhedrin, fol. 29. 1. e Tzeror Hammor, fol. 60. 1.