In the Book of Acts, we first read:
Acts 18:24-28: "Now a Jew named Apollos, an Alexandrian by birth, an eloquent man, came to Ephesus; and he was mighty in the Scriptures. 25This 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; 26and he began to speak out boldly in the synagogue."
"But when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately. 27And when he wanted to go across to Achaia, the brethren encouraged him and wrote to the disciples to welcome him; and when he had arrived, he greatly helped those who had believed through grace, 28for he powerfully refuted the Jews in public, demonstrating by the Scriptures that Jesus was the Christ" (emphasis added).
Here, we are told several things pertaining to Apollos:
- Apollos is referred to as an "eloquent man" (vs. 24);
- He is described as "mighty in the Scriptures" (vs. 24);
- He was "fervent in spirit, teaching accurately concerning Jesus" (w/o knowing of Him, vs. 25);
- He "spoke boldly in the synagogue" (vs. 26);
- He "powerfully refuted the Jews in public, demonstrating by the Scriptures that Jesus was the Christ" (vs. 28).
We do not appear to read about the superior attributes of the other apostles/disciples. 1) Is there something special about Apollos, something different and distinct about him, that we would be told all these things? And, 2) what does #5 in the list mean, that Apollos "powerfully refuted the Jews in public, demonstrating by the Scriptures that Jesus was the Christ?"