Apelles is a name found in the King James Bible, appearing 1 time in the text.
Who This Was
Apelles was a Christian believer living in Rome in the first century, known to the apostle Paul and greeted by name in his letter to the Romans. He appears in Romans 16, a chapter composed largely of personal greetings sent to members of the Christian community in the imperial capital. Paul, writing near the end of his ministry, took care to name individuals within that congregation, and Apelles is one of them.
The single verse that mentions him is Romans 16:10: “Salute Apelles approved in Christ. Salute them which are of Aristobulus’ household.” From this brief greeting we learn that Apelles was a man held in good standing within the church. Paul’s phrase “approved in Christ” indicates that his faith and conduct had been tested and found genuine—not merely that he was a member of the community, but that he had proven faithful. The greeting also places him in connection with the household of Aristobulus, suggesting that Apelles may have been associated with that household or known among its members.
Scripture records nothing further about Apelles—no account of his conversion, his labors, or his later life. He did not write, travel, or perform any deed the Bible preserves. What remains is the testimony of a single line: a man whose faithfulness was recognized by an apostle and whose name was carried across the Mediterranean in a letter that would be read for centuries. The source note confirms this same understanding: Apelles was a Christian in Rome commended by Paul for being “approved in Christ.” His significance lies entirely in that commendation.
The Name
The name Apelles is Greek in form, and its meaning is not clearly recoverable. It appears to be a common Greek personal name rather than a name with an obvious devotional or descriptive sense in the way some biblical names carry. Some suggest a connection to a root meaning “separated” or “set apart,” but this is not firmly established, and other proposals exist. Because the etymology is uncertain, no meaning should be asserted as definite. What can be said is that the name was familiar in the Greek-speaking world of the first century, which fits a Roman congregation that included both Jewish and Gentile believers. Beyond this, the text itself assigns no interpretation to the name.
A Closing Thought
Apelles is remembered for one thing: he was approved in Christ. No sermon of his survives, no miracle, no journey. Yet Paul, who knew the cost of faithfulness, singled him out as genuine. That is a quiet encouragement. Much of the Christian life is unseen—ordinary obedience, quiet endurance, a reputation for integrity known mainly to those nearby. God does not require that our names be widely known; He requires that our faith be found real. Apelles had no legacy but this, and it was enough: a brother commended by an apostle, approved in Christ.
At a Glance
- Gender: Male
- Testament: New
- Mentions in the KJV: 1
Where It Appears in Scripture
- Romans 16:10 — Salute Apelles approved in Christ. Salute them which are of Aristobulus’ household.