Well I don't have expertise in the Greek but seek to do my best in checking out things.
You say "before" is also acceptable to translate from ἀπὸ. I see it as an option with Strong's but it's down on the list....and as you say it's more common to translate it "from".
Things is though I don't see it in any other verse were ἀπὸ is translated as "before" When it comes to something that takes place "before" as in ahead of another I see the greek word πρίν used.
Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before (πρίν) they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. Matt 1:18
So question....can you give us an example where ἀπὸ is used by the NT writers to speak of as we say, something that takes place before? Not saying they're not there....but how about you show us.
apo and
pro are the two words
ἀπό apó, apo'; a primary particle; "off," i.e. away (from something near), in various senses (of place, time, or relation; literal or figurative):—(X here-)after, ago, at,
because of, before, by (the space of), for(-th), from, in, (out) of, off, (up-)on(-ce), since, with.
πρό pró, pro; a primary preposition; "fore", i.e. in front of, prior (figuratively, superior) to:—above, ago, before, or ever.
They both have meanings other than what was translated