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.