Bring Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their journey diligently, that nothing be wanting unto them. Titus 3:13
Another unknown leaps out at us from the pages of Holy Writ: Zenas the lawyer. Who was this man? We are not told. He appears nowhere else in the Scriptures, and in very few places in tradition or history. Was he a Jew? If so, he was an expert in the Jewish laws and traditions. Was he a Gentile? If so, he was well schooled in civic and Roman law. The most that we know about him is that he was a companion of Apollos. As such, he comes well recommended, because Apollos was one of the leading men in the early days of Christianity. If Zenas and Apollos were travelling together, they were probably fellow workers in the Gospel. With his Jewish background, Apollos would have greatly benefitted from the experience and training of his companion. Together, they would have made a powerful combination both in preaching the Gospel and in ministering to the saints. Paul is wise to encourage Titus to assist this dynamic pair in their efforts.
Although neither Zenas nor Apollos was an apostle, both were commended workers among the Lord’s people. As such, they have counterparts today among the preachers, missionaries, and others who have been commended to the Lord’s work. We don’t know what help Titus was able to provide to Zenas and Apollos: food and lodging, and possibly money, encouragement, prayer, and the Scriptures. These men were travelling, and they would appreciate whatever Titus could do for them. As the Lord’s servants, they would be limited in their own resources and would depend on fellowship from Christians in cities where they visited and worked. In this, they were no different from the commended workers among us today. As an apostle and a commended worker, Paul could understand the needs of these men, and bring that need before such people as Titus. His urging of Titus to provide aid to Zenas and Apollos is extended to urging us today to provide aid to the workers among us today.
Do any of the workers that we encounter want for anything? Is their work for the Lord hindered in any way because you or I fail to provide them with what they need? Do they experience discomfort or inconvenience because we did not step up and provide them with what they were lacking? Yes, God supplies these dear brethren and sisters with what they need, and He is faithful. But sometimes, He expects us to be part of that faithfulness. Paul’s appeal to Titus concerning Zenas and Apollos is that he is to be diligent in helping them.
We know why Apollos is mentioned in our Bible; he was a major figure among those early brethren, a spiritual giant among them. And now we know why Zenas the lawyer is mentioned in our Bible: he serves to remind us to be faithful in our support for the Lord’s servants. -Jim MacIntosh