Paragraph 18:24–26
18:24a
Meanwhile: The Berean Standard Bible adds the word Meanwhile to indicate that 18:24–28 occurs while Paul was going from town to town in Galatia and Phrygia (18:23b). For example:
Now (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
At that time (Good News Translation)
a Jew named Apollos: Apollos believed in Jesus, so the word Jew only refers to his ethnic group. In some languages a literal translation would wrongly indicate or imply that Apollos did not believe in Jesus. If that is true in your language, you may want to explain it in your translation. For example:
a Jewish ⌊believer⌋ named Apollos
a native of Alexandria: This phrase indicates that Apollos was born in the city of Alexandria. Alexandria was in the country of Egypt on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea. It was a very large city at that time.
18:24b
an eloquent man: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as eloquent can also mean “educated.” These two ideas went together in Paul’s time. A learned man had to be able to demonstrate his knowledge through eloquent speaking. Many English versions translate the Greek word as eloquent. For example:
a very good speaker (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
learned and eloquent
-or-
skilled in speaking
well versed in the Scriptures: This phrase in Greek is literally “powerful in the Scriptures.” It indicates that Apollos knew the Scriptures well and was able to use them effectively in preaching, teaching, and discussing. For example:
and he was mighty in the Scriptures (New American Standard Bible)
-or-
powerful in his use of the scriptures (Revised English Bible)
-or-
and he knew ⌊and discussed⌋ the Scriptures in powerful ways
Scriptures: This refers to the Hebrew Bible. Christians now call it the Old Testament. Christians then only referred to it as the Scriptures.
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