The Eloquent Apollos

²⁴ Now a Jew named Apollos,^(A) a native Alexandrian, an eloquent man who was competent in the use of the Scriptures, arrived in Ephesus.

Twelve Disciples of John the Baptist

19 While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul traveled through the interior regions and came to Ephesus. He found some disciples^(A)

¹² What I am saying is this: One of you says, “I belong to Paul,” or “I belong to Apollos,”^(A) or “I belong to Cephas,”^(B) or “I belong to Christ.”^(C)

⁴ For whenever someone says, “I belong to Paul,” and another, “I belong to Apollos,”^(A) are you not acting like mere humans?

The Role of God’s Servants

⁵ What then is Apollos? What is Paul? They are servants through whom you believed, and each has the role the Lord has given. ⁶ I planted,^(B) Apollos watered, but God gave the growth.

²² whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas^(A) or the world or life^(B) or death^(C) or things present or things to come^(D)—everything is yours,

The Apostles’ Example of Humility

⁶ Now, brothers and sisters,^(A) I have applied these things to myself and Apollos^(B) for your benefit, so that you may learn from us the meaning of the saying: “Nothing beyond what is written.” The purpose is that none of you will be arrogant, favoring one person over another.

¹² Now about our brother Apollos:^(A) I strongly urged him to come to you with the brothers, but he was not at all willing to come now. However, he will come when he has an opportunity.