Did Paul attract followers because of his appearance and speaking ability?
No. Paul did not draw people to himself by physical appearance or speech; it was quite the opposite. His converts were gained strictly through the working of the Holy Spirit. By contrast, Apollos attracted a following through magnetism and charisma.
Les explains that Paul was not the kind of man who simply drew people to himself from his appearance or his speech; it was quite the opposite. Paul gained his converts strictly through the working of the Holy Spirit, and physically he did not have that much to offer, unlike Apollos. Some believers in Corinth adhered to Paul because he had brought them out of idolatry and immorality. But Apollos came with magnetism and charisma and took a group, saying they wanted little to do with Paul and would follow Apollos. Les notes people still do the same today, and churches can fall apart when a pastor leaves, which is not right; loyalty should be to the Word of God and to Christ, not to a man. Another group adhered to Peter.