Because Apollos was eloquent, learned, and magnetic, while Paul did not draw people by his appearance or speech — not because Apollos preached a different gospel.
Apollos was a polished, seminary-taught speaker with personality and charisma, while Paul gained converts strictly through the Holy Spirit. Les Feldick also shows that after Priscilla and Aquila instructed Apollos, he was in agreement with Paul's Gospel, so the Corinthian preference was over personalities, not doctrine.
1 Corinthians 1:12 — This verse names Paul and Apollos as two of the leaders around whom Corinthian believers divided, forming the backdrop for why some preferred Apollos.
1 Corinthians 3:4 — Paul asks whether saying 'I am of Paul' and 'I am of Apollos' is not carnal, showing the division was a fleshly, personality-based issue rather than a doctrinal one.
Acts 18:24-26 — This historical account shows who Apollos was and how Priscilla and Aquila taught him the way of God more perfectly, preparing him to serve grace-believers.
Scripture records that the believers in Corinth were dividing into factions over their favorite teachers. Paul wrote, 'Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ' (1 Corinthians 1:12). He later asked, 'For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?' (1 Corinthians 3:4). The Book of Acts describes Apollos as 'a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures' who came to Ephesus. He 'was instructed in the way of the Lord' and 'spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John.' When Aquila and Priscilla heard him, they 'took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly.' The brethren later wrote to the disciples in Achaia to receive him, and 'when he was come, helped them much which had believed through grace.'
Les Feldick explains that Apollos was 'a speaker par excellence' with 'the personality and the charisma to go with it,' and that he could 'literally magnetize his audiences.' He was a Jew from Alexandria, where there was a seminary of sorts, and he was highly educated, polished, and eloquent in the Scriptures. When he first came to Ephesus, however, he knew only the baptism of John; he was still steeped in the kingdom economy and knew nothing of the power of the cross or the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. Aquila and Priscilla, who had learned Paul's gospel while working with him, took Apollos aside and 'expounded unto him the way of God more completely.' Apollos was 'gentleman enough' to listen and learn from these two lay people. After that instruction, Apollos agreed with Paul's Gospel — Les says there were no doctrinal differences between them. The division among the Corinthians was a matter of personalities: some naturally adhered to Paul because he had led them out of idolatry and immorality, while others were drawn to Apollos's magnetism and charisma and said they would follow him.
No. Les Feldick says Apollos 'had to be in agreement with Paul's Gospel,' and there were no doctrinal differences; the conflict was over personalities. Paul was not the kind of man who drew people by his appearance and speech — he gained converts strictly through the working of the Holy Spirit. Apollos, by contrast, had magnetism and charisma, and a group of Corinthians attached themselves to him.
Apollos was born at Alexandria in Egypt, where there was a seminary of sorts, and he was an eloquent man, mighty in the Scriptures. Les Feldick calls him a 'speaker par excellence' with the personality and charisma to magnetize audiences. He spoke boldly in the synagogue because he was intelligent and well taught. Those qualities, rather than a different message, made him attractive to believers who then preferred him over Paul.
After hearing Apollos in the synagogue, Aquila and Priscilla took him and expounded unto him the way of God more completely. Les says they had learned this from Paul, and Apollos listened and learned from them. When he went into Achaia, he helped those who had believed through grace, showing that his understanding had been opened to the gospel of grace before he came to Corinth.
Apollos's Jewish Background and Limited Understanding
Les explains that Apollos was an eloquent, magnetic speaker but was still a Jew steeped in the kingdom economy, knowing only the baptism of John and nothing of the cross, death, burial, and resurrection of Christ.
Personality vs. Doctrine
Les says there were no doctrinal differences between Paul and Apollos; the Corinthian divisions were over personalities, as Apollos's charisma drew a group away from Paul.
Taught by Aquila and Priscilla
Les describes how Priscilla and Aquila, having been with Paul, expounded the way of God more completely to Apollos, and he humbly listened and learned from them.
Helping Grace Believers
Les shows that after learning from Priscilla and Aquila, Apollos went into Achaia and helped those who had believed through grace, using what he had learned from Paul's coworkers.
Apollos's Origin in Alexandria
Les notes that Apollos was a Jew born at Alexandria in Egypt, where there was a seminary of sorts, helping explain his education and oratorical skill.
Learning From Paul's Gospel
Les explains that Apollos had sat with Paul and had been taught the tremendous gospel of grace — everything accomplished on the cross and the power of His resurrection — which Apollos previously did not know.
Apollos in Corinth
Les describes the same Apollos, now fully instructed, following in Paul's footsteps and holding forth at the congregation in Corinth with eloquence and capability of opening the Scriptures — the man some believers chose to follow.
The Dinner-Table Instruction
Les pictures Aquila and Priscilla taking Apollos home and expounding the way of God more perfectly, showing how this eloquent man was humbly open to correction.
1 Corinthians 1:12: Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ.
This verse records the actual factions in Corinth, including those who said 'I am of Apollos.'
1 Corinthians 3:4: For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?
It shows Paul treating the preference for Apollos over Paul as carnality.
Acts 18:24: And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures, came to Ephesus.
It introduces Apollos's background, education, and eloquence.
Acts 18:25: This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John.
It explains what Apollos was missing before Aquila and Priscilla instructed him.
Acts 18:26: And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly.
It shows the correction Apollos received, preparing him to be used in grace.
Acts 18:27: And when he was disposed to pass into Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him: who, when he was come, helped them much which had believed through grace:
It records Apollos helping believers who had believed through grace.
Acts 18:28: For he mightily convinced the Jews, and that publickly, shewing by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ.
It records Apollos publicly proving from the Old Testament that Jesus was the Christ.
No. Les Feldick says Apollos had to be in agreement with Paul's Gospel; after Priscilla and Aquila taught him, there were no doctrinal differences. The Corinthians' division was over personality, not doctrine.
Les explains Apollos was a Jew still steeped in the kingdom economy, taught the message that John the Baptist and Christ and the Twelve proclaimed to Israel. At that point he knew nothing of the power of the cross or Christ's death, burial, and resurrection.
He listened and learned, even from two lay people. Les says he was gentleman enough to take it, and from them he learned the way of God more completely.
Some naturally adhered to Paul because he brought them out of idolatry and immorality. Others were drawn by Apollos's magnetism and charisma and decided to follow him, despite the fact that both men were preaching the same gospel.
Watch the Teaching: Why Carnal Believers Are Still Blameless — 1 Corinthians 1:8-9