13 Send Zenas, the lawyer, and Apollos on their journey speedily, that nothing may be lacking for them.
*Minor differences ignored. Grouped by changes, with first version listed as example.
Zenas a lawyer It is uncertain whether "Zenas", was a Doctor of the Civil Law or of the Law of Moses; but as we may learn from Paul's words that he was a poor man and needed the help of others, it is probable that he belonged to the same rank with Apollo, that is, an expounder of the Law of God among the Jews. It more frequently happens that such persons are in want of the necessaries of life than those who conduct causes in civil courts. I have said that Zenas's poverty may be inferred from the words of Paul, because the expression, conduct him, means here to supply him with the means of accomplishing his journey, as is evident from what follows.
Bring Zenas the lawyer - - This person is not elsewhere mentioned in the New Testament, and nothing more is known of him. He belonged doubtless to that class of persons so often mentioned in the New Testament as lawyers; that is, who were regarded as qualified to expound the Jewish laws; see the notes at Matthew 22:35. It does not mean that he practiced law, in the modern sense of that phrase. He had doubtless been converted to the Christian faith, and it is not improbable that there were Jews at Nicopolis, and that Paul supposed he might be particularly useful among them.
And Apollos - Notes, Acts 18:24. He was also well-skilled in the laws of Moses, being "mighty in the Scriptures" Acts 18:24, and he and Zenas appear to have been traveling together. It would seem that they had been already on a journey, probably in preaching the gospel, and Paul supposed that they would be in Crete, and that Titus could aid them.
Diligently - 2-Timothy 4:9; Greek Speedily; i. e., facilitate their journey as much as possible.
That nothing be wanting unto them - Nothing necessary for their journey. Paul desired that they might meet with hospitable treatment from Christians in Crete, and might not be embarrassed for the want of that which was needful for their journey. It would seem most probable that they had been sent by Paul on a visit to the churches.
Bring Zenas the lawyer - This person is only mentioned in this place; whether he was a Jewish, Roman, or Greek lawyer, we cannot tell.
And Apollos - Of this person we have some valuable particulars in Acts 18:24; 1-Corinthians 1:12; 1-Corinthians 3:5, 1-Corinthians 3:6; 1-Corinthians 4:6. Either St. Paul had left these at Crete when he visited that island, or he had heard that, in their evangelical itinerancy, they were about to pass through it.
On their journey diligently - Afford them the means to defray their expenses. The Churches through which these evangelists passed, bore their expenses from one to the other. See 3-John 1:6.
Bring Zenas the lawyer,.... Whether he was brought up to the civil law, either among the Greeks or Romans, is not certain; it may be he was a Jewish lawyer, or scribe, an interpreter of Moses's law among the Jews; for with them a lawyer and a scribe were one and the same, as appears from Matthew 22:35 compared with Mark 12:28 and the Syriac version here calls him "a scribe", and the Ethiopic version "a scribe of the city"; which looks as if it was a civil office he bore; but however, be he what he will, he seems to have been now a preacher of the Gospel, being joined with Apollos, who certainly was one: he is said to have been one of the seventy disciples of Christ, and afterwards bishop of Diospolis; See Gill on Luke 10:1; his name is the contraction of Zenodorus: him the apostle would have Titus bring,
and Apollos, on their journey diligently; who was a Jew born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the Scriptures; who had preached at Corinth, but was now at Crete; and whom the apostle, with Zenas, would have provided with everything necessary for their journey:
that nothing be wanting unto them; which might be proper for them in their travels, to make them comfortable, and their journey pleasant and easy.
Bring . . . on their journey--Enable them to proceed forward by supplying necessaries for their journey.
Zenas--the contracted form of Zenodorus.
lawyer--a Jewish "scribe," who, when converted, still retained the title from his former occupation. A civil lawyer.
Apollos--with Zenas, probably the bearers of this Epistle. In 1-Corinthians 16:12, Apollos is mentioned as purposing to visit Corinth; his now being at Corinth (on the theory of Paul being at Corinth when he wrote) accords with this purpose. Crete would be on his way either to Palestine or his native place, Alexandria. Paul and Apollos thus appear in beautiful harmony in that very city where their names had been formerly the watchword of unchristian party work. It was to avoid this party rivalry that Apollos formerly was unwilling to visit Corinth though Paul desired him. HIPPOLYTUS mentions Zenas as one of the Seventy, and afterwards bishop of Diospolis.
Send forward Zenas the lawyer - Either a Roman lawyer or an expounder of the Jewish law.
*More commentary available at chapter level.