The journey to the city, with friends Priscilla and Aquila, is considered part of what is called Paul's second evangelistic or missionary journey. "There he became acquainted with a Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, who had recently arrived from Italy with his wife, Priscilla. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. After Paul left them in Ephesus, they heard Apollos speaking in the synagogue, but his knowledge of the truth was deficient. The Great Fire on July 19 AD, which destroyed 10 of the 14 districts in Rome, was blamed on Christians. Then the couple started out to accompany Paul when he proceeded to Syria, but stopped at Ephesus in the Roman province of Asia, now part of modern Turkey. Tips on Being an Emotionally Intelligent Pastor (From a Christian Psychologist), 6 Key Questions to Ask of Your Sermon Before You Preach it. Amongst churches today, this passage is often held in perceived tension with 1 Timothy 2:1214, in which the author, Paul,[13] writes, "I do not permit a woman to teach or have authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet. Those 18 months led to a lifetime of friendship. In addition, the Greek Orthodox Church recognizes Aquila separately as an apostle on July 14. Priscilla used her gifts of hospitality, hosting house-churches in her home; she used her gifts of knowing Gods truth to clarify the Gospel message for the charismatic Apollos; she used the fruits of her business acumen and welcomed Paul into the heart of her leather-works shop, providing him a platform to teach and to preach. Apollos learned that the Old Testament prophecies about Jesus had already been fulfilled and that now we have salvation full and free in Jesus. I suppose the emperor didnt want them to disrupt and destroy the place any longer so he expelled them. She seems to have been 'the better man of the two'; and Aquila drops comparatively into the background. Think of it, eighteen months of intensive Bible study under the greatest Bible teacher in the early church. The Great Fire on July 19 AD, which destroyed 10 of the 14 districts in Rome, was blamed on Christians. ), but Paul was extremely thankful. Given the nature of their trade, Priscilla and Aquila could be flexible where and when they earned their income from making tents. Ones name never occurs without the other. Priscilla and Aquila had been ejected from Rome by an edict of the Emperor Claudius, expelling all Jews from Rome (the idea that anti-Jewish feeling has only begun in the Christian era is nonsense; the Book of Esther describes a nation-wide pogrom centuries before the birth of Christ, and Claudius' expulsion of Jews from Rome in 49-50AD happened But when we consider Pauls experiences and culture and the original audiences experiences and culture, those six mentions like a trumpet proclaim Priscillas significance in the nurturing of home-churches throughout the Mediterranean and impact on Pauls life and ministry. Related Topics: Christian Home, Issues in Church Leadership/Ministry, Leadership, Marriage, Richard L. Strauss authored nine books, and served as pastor of churches in Fort Worth, TX, Huntsville, AL. What could you do now to avoid those problems? What happened to Priscilla and Aquila in the Bible? She is continually paired with her husband, Aquila. Because thats what I want to be known for. He knew they were Jews, and that was enough; so all Jews were uprooted from their homes and banished from Rome, the innocent along with the guilty. This account is recorded by Suetonius, a court official who served under the Emperor Hadrian. They enjoyed being together and working together. Husbands and wives need to open the Word together. Apollos had a keen mind and a quick understanding. However we make use of it, Gods Word is one necessary ingredient for enriching our relationship with each other. In some way, Priscilla and Aquila took a risk, and exposed their lives to great danger for the purpose of protecting Paul. How can you be a layperson to help your pastor or deacon or other church leaders. Opponents of female pastorship cite his reference to Adam and Eve to be indicating that the issue is a matter of universal gender propriety. They were movers and shakers in the early church and firm believers in Jesus. Acts 18:1 Meaning 2 And found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, lately come from Italy, with his wife Priscilla; (because that Claudius had commanded all Jews to depart from Rome:) and came unto them. The emperor at the time chased out the Jews because he claimed there were too many Jewish uprisings. 8. After arriving in Corinth, they live with Paul for a year and a half. In stark contrast, Priscilla and Aquila are a husband and wife ministry team. See how youre doing with each of them. And we can fall on Him at anytime when we feel like we are insufficient to the task. Such language was traditionally used for the hero of a Greco-Roman story, not of women. They all had been Jews early in life but became Christians as adults. Aquila and Priscilla are mentioned one more time in the New Testament, in the last chapter of the last book the Apostle Paul wrote. Priscilla instructed the learned Apollos, Lois and Eunice taught Timothy, and Phoebe is named as an overseer and a deacon in the church at Cenchrea. They ended up in Corinth. Some Christians conduct evangelistic dinners, where they invite unsaved friends to hear an outstanding personal testimony. God has no problem if your ministry is your business and your business is your ministry. Fifth, they traveled with Paul. When Paul, a tentmaker himself, came to Corinth, he went to see them, no doubt having heard of their faith in Christ. He absorbed the truth they taught him and made it a part of his life and ministry. 4:15] His including them in his greetings implies that Priscilla and Aquila were also involved in the founding of that church. But that is evidently the kind of relationship Aquila and Priscilla had. But is there anything to learn from them for our lives? It is particularly to be noticed that she took part, not only in her husbands exercise of hospitality, but likewise in the theological instruction of Apollos. They did ministry together. When Paul left Corinth for Ephesus eighteen months later, Aquila and Priscilla went with him, and remained in Ephesus when Paul moved on ( Acts 18:11; Acts 18:18-19). The Apostle Paul, after staying in Corinth for a year and a half, travels to Ephesus in the spring of 52 A.D. The evidence of other ancient sources points to two possible periods during the reign of Claudius: either during his first regnal year (AD 41; so Dio Cassius, Roman History 60.6.6), or during his ninth regnal year (49; so Orosius, Historia 7.6.15f). There is so much she can teach us. And, as you might remember from BBST103 or your favorite hermeneutics courses, we are worlds apart from the biblical textfrom the culture and experiences of the authors and original audiences. Paul is the happy husband of Shauna Lee and the proud papa of 5 beautiful children, Madison, Max, Mikayla, Peyton and Noa. Permission granted for reproduction in exact form. The timing was obviously of God, for no sooner had they gotten settled down in their shop than another Jewish tentmaker arrived in town fresh from an evangelistic crusade in Athens, the Apostle Paul. The Great Fire on July 19 AD, which destroyed 10 of the 14 districts in Rome, was blamed on Christians. Their tents were made of rough goats hair fabric which took great skill to cut and sew properly. Priscilla and Aquila were instrumental by partnering with Paul to found the churches in Corinth and Ephesus, then by providing correction to ensure accurate teaching that carried into other areas, and finally by providing encouragement and support to Timothy as he led the Ephesian church that met inside their home ( 1 Corinthians 16:19 ). Research for this post came from: This article originally appeared on Biola.edu. Its impossible to know if they were already believers when they were forced out of Rome, of if they became Christians through their relationship with Paul. I love this Steve Green song about leaving a legacy of faith. Priscilla and her husband Aquila met the apostle Paul when he came to Corinth in approximately 50 C.E. Does it always mean taking the gospel to a dangerous land and literally dying there? When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained the Way of God to him "more accurately".[v.26]. She was just using her God-given abilities, as a helpmeet to her husband for the glory of God. On the other hand, Catherine and Richard Kroeger have written: The fact is that women did indeed teach men, that women served as leaders, and that in doing so they enjoyed Gods blessing and won the praise of other believers. The appearance of the two in the Acts of the Apostles helps to provide a chronological synchronism for the chronology of Paul's life. The problem was, he was going in a direction that could have become problematic in the future. Ive heard some people say this should never happen, which is probably true for certain marriages. In every place where the Bible refers to Aquila or Priscilla, it speaks of them together, suggesting that they formed a useful and well respected partnership. Priscilla was a woman whose spiritual maturity and understanding of the faith helped build up the early church. But when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately (Acts 18:26). [ a] 2 There he became acquainted with a Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, who had recently arrived from Italy with his wife, Priscilla. In fact, they were always together. Priscilla's name is mentioned first on four occasions; this may indicate her equal status with her husband, or even possibly that Priscilla was thought of as the more prominent teacher and disciple. Priscilla and Aquila were tentmakers as was Paul. How did Aquila and Priscilla die? Lets dig a little deeper into Priscilla specifically. Churches in New Testament times could not afford to own land and build buildings, nor would it have been wise to do so if they could, in view of the continual pressure and persecution. What did Paul Do you seek praise from others at his expense? They chose a wise mentoring approach with Apollos. Seventh, they learned the Scriptures together. Aquila and Pricilla were a Jewish couple that converted to Christianity and aided Paul in spreading the gospel. They had to be willing to give to each other more than they tried to take. Maybe you have space in your home to give someone food, shelter and a warm bed for a night like Lydia. Dont go away rich with wisdom while your Apollos is hungering for it. They ended up in Corinth. A passionate, young, brilliant scholar named Apollos delivered the sermon. But thats a discussion for another time. What is the meaning of Priscilla in the Bible? This might be a good thing for husbands and wives to discuss and pray about together. SELECTED SCRIPTURE: Acts 18:1-4,18-21; Romans 16:3-5. This is exactly what many Christian marriages lack. This is one of the best ways to be on one accord with each. Aquila and Priscilla may not have been accomplished public speakers, but they were diligent students of the Word, and they loved to share it with others. It was just a brief and simple greeting, using the shorter form of Priscillas name that we have seen in several other passages. Every Jewish boy in New Testament times was taught some kind of trade. They served God anyway. Aquila and Priscilla salute you much in the Lord, with the church that is in their house. 24 And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures, came to Ephesus. Are you looking for opportunities to share Christ wherever you go, as Paul did? I hear that! 9. And that is unusual! And that would not be the last time their home served that purpose. Their story begins in Acts 18 when they came in as a group of refugees who were fleeing from Rome in 49 A.D. as a result of the persecutions happening there. How could you use your home more effectively to serve the Lord? Making the decision to become Christian missionaries was a big deal. 2. This is why the Jews were wildly unhappy. Acts 18:24-26. He was an eloquent speaker and had a good knowledge of the Old Testament. . One of the outstanding practices of Priscilla and Aquila was the fact that they had a church home. And true, we better not throw in the towel. We may have the joyous privilege of nurturing a young Apollos who someday will have a wide and powerful ministry for Jesus Christ. They were tentmakers by trade (18:3). Acts 18 . He basically had two jobs going. Why the switch? In fact, we may say that Priscilla is the example of what the married woman may do, for the general service of the Church, in conjunction with home duties, as Phoebe is the type of the unmarried servant of the Church, or deaconess. Yes, you can be married to someone you dont actually like. One of the most powerful legacies you can leave is a well-lived life that others can emulate. How did Aquila and Priscilla die? (26) Whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard . They had hardly gotten to Rome and already there was a church meeting in their house. Here are the Bible passages that talk about Priscilla. They were from Pontus, a Roman province in northeastern Asia Minor. Pastor, Do You Have a Priscilla in Your Church? Now they were one in Christ, and His love made a good marriage even better. But we do know from Scripture that when they left Rome they went to Corinth. She cares deeply about seeing women and men thrive in their God-given gifts. Priscilla and Aquila stepped up to the plate. Losing your life for Jesus involves , Copyright 2015 Steve Burchett. The book of Acts informs us they leave Rome when Claudius expels the Jews from Asia Minor (Acts 18:2). They seem to have something to prove, competing with their husbands for the spotlight, grasping after authority and preeminence. And found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, lately come from Italy, with his wife Priscilla; (because that Claudius had commanded all Jews to depart from Rome:) and came unto them. Once Pauls ministry was complete the first time he went to Corinth, he set sail for Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila And they came to Ephesus, and he left them there (Acts 18:19). They are mentioned six times throughout scripture. (Romans 1:11, 12) And, as did Aquila and Priscilla, those . These three heard the gospel, embraced the gospel, and propagated the gospel all apart from the author of the gospel. Eighth, they risked their necks for Paul (Rom 16:3-4). Another thought is that Priscilla was born unto an elite Roman family but fell in love with Aquila, an ordinary Jewish tentmaker and gave up her wealth to live with the love of her life. When I am preparing a message, I often talk to my wife about it and get her thoughts on the passage I am studying. Maybe your neighbor needs to learn to read and write and you know where to get them help. They made and sold tents together. It does not always happen that way. Every time it happened, the peace of Rome was disrupted and alot of damage was caused. Priscilla, Aquila and Paul spent 18 months in Corinth together. Priscilla and her husband are identified among the power couples in Scripture. Bert and Ernie. BulletinInserts.org - A ministry of Christian Communicators Worldwide. Fourth, they became life-long friends and ministry partners of Paul. We pick up their story in Acts 18 when Paul meets them as refugees in Corinth. The three of them became instant friends. Six times. Acts 18: 1-3. Some Bible scholars believe they were martyred in Rome due to Christians being blamed for a fire which occurred when they returned and resettled there. Jesus had been crucified, was raised from the dead, went back to heaven and left a mandate for His disciples to turn the world upside down with His message of love and hope. KEY VERSE: "Greet Priscilla and Aquila my helpers in Christ Jesus: who have for my life laid down their own necks: unto whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles." Romans 16:3,4. 1 C. E. B. Cranfield, Romans (ICC) 2.784.. 2 Rebecca Merrill Groothuis, Good News for Women: A Biblical Picture of Gender Equality (Grand Rapids: Baker, 1997) 194. In Paul's list of greetings to members of the church at Rome, a list that includes 28 individuals, Priscilla is listed first (Rom. She was not competing with Aquila. What does Aquila mean in the Bible? Its a good thing to be mindful of the kind of spiritual energy we allow to influence the atmosphere of our home. At this time the church in Ephesus used the house of Aquila and Priscilla as a meeting place ( 1 Corinthians 16:19). Around the year A.D. 49, the Emperor Claudius issued an edict exiling all the Jewish people from Rome, the seat of the Roman Empire. Paul came to work with them in their shop, and even lived with them in their home during his stay in Corinth. We find written in the New Testament about a couple - Aquila and Priscilla that have left the following seven very beautiful and worthy lessons to be learned and followed by every Christian couple. Furthermore, believers are enjoined to teach and to learn from one another, without reference to gender.[14]. [10], While the view is not widely held among scholars, some scholars have suggested that Priscilla was the author of the Book of Hebrews. Most references to husbands and wives in the Bible place the man first. His two friends were willing to give everything in the service of the Savior, even their lives. There was one short statement in the greeting in the Book of Romans that we cannot afford to pass over lightly, however: Who for my life risked their own necks, to whom not only do I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles. We do not know what Paul was referring to, nor when it happened, but somewhere, somehow, Aquila and Priscilla together endangered their own lives to save Pauls. And what they were able to accomplish as a unit was magnificent. This Jewish couple was saved under the Apostle Paul's ministry and served as his spiritual coworkers. Copyright 2015 - 2023. When Priscilla and Aquila met Paul in Corinth, they spent 18 months together. Third, they worked together. Yet Priscilla and her husband took the charismatic preacher and evangelist Apollos under their wings, explaining to him the way of God more accurately, empowering him to preach the Word of God with truth and clarity (Acts 18:24-26). Acts16v31. When Priscilla and Aquila were driven out of Rome because of being Jewish, they met Paul. They risked their lives for me. Of those six references, Aquila's name is mentioned first only twice: and one of the times on account of it being Paul's first encounter with them, probably through Aquila first. She is the only Priscilla named in the New Testament. going anywhere the Lord says to go, whenever He says to go. But it may be more difficult at your house, especially if you have never done it. Apollo is often depicted as playing a golden lyre, but he was also known as the Archer, shooting with a silver bow, and also the god of healing. They cite 1 Corinthians 11:1112, where Paul writes "Nevertheless, in the Lord woman is not independent of man nor man of woman; for as woman was made from man, so man is now born of woman. They invited him to their home. 1st century Christian missionary married couple. Priscilla appears on six occasions in a King James Bible (2 Timothy 4:19 shortens her name to "Prisca" ). Acts. Priscilla and Aquila had been among the Jews expelled from Rome by the Roman Emperor Claudius in the year 49 as written by Suetonius. While we have church buildings, there is no substitute for the home as a center for evangelism and spiritual nurture in the community. Of course, its always better when you have some true believers worship with you. When you host worship and praise in your home, the devil will not be able to set up strongholds in your their. 1. Priscilla and Aquila seemed to be friends. But life is better when there is a tribe of people like this. If they didnt have kids, it may have been sad for them, but they still maximized their days for the Lord. Claudius was dead now, so the move seemed safe, and Rome surely needed a gospel witness. There are only two messages to friends in the second Epistle to Timothy, and one of these is to Prisca and Aquila. If you are a Bible study teacher, you are free to allow this content to influence the lessons you teach or the sermons you present. Priscilla and Aquila- Acts 18:1-28 www.missionbibleclass.org. They liked each other a lot. I really appreciated how she consistently poured into others. And he found a certain Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, having recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to leave Rome. Their home was an oasis. She had a budding, thriving ministry. She could have gotten killed but Priscilla kept going. Greet my beloved Epaenetus, who was the first convert to Christ in Asia. How does God want you to behave toward her on those occasions? They are mentioned six times in four different books of the New Testament, always named as a couple and never individually. In the Catholic Church, the Roman Martyrology lists their feast as July 8. When Saint Paul the Apostle visited Corinth to preach the Holy Gospel, Saints Aquila and Priscilla offered him a place to stay as they were impressed with his preaching. When Paul left Ephesus for Greece, they evidently believed God was directing them back to Rome. Your email address will not be published. He came to them, and because he was of the same trade, he stayed with them and they were working; for by trade they were tent-makers (Acts 18:1-3). Yet we observe that the husband and the wife are always mentioned together. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Priscilla and Aquila were tentmakers. 4. His sermon was just incomplete. She and Aquila worked with Paul and carried on without him when he moved on in his journey. They had to be able to accept suggestions as readily as they offered them. There he met a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had ordered all Jews to leave Rome. There is no proof any of these ideas are really true. Priscilla and Aquila were well-known in Ephesus, Corinth, and Rome. And they themselves became missionaries. Although Paul left them in Ephesus and went on his way at some point, he always sent greetings to them in his letters to the congregations that met in various homes. And as a result of this encounter with Aquila and Priscilla, he became an effective servant of God whom some of the Corinthians later placed on a level with Peter and Paul (1 Cor. The three would prove to become steadfast friends, traveling companions, and ministry coworkers. The Bible is Gods Word, and all Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness (2 Timothy 3:16). . How did it make Apollos more effective? When Christianity was new, there was no such thing as a church building. This man had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit, he was speaking and teaching accurately the things concerning Jesus, being acquainted only with the baptism of John; and he began to speak out boldly in the synagogue (Acts 18:24-26). Who is that person who could use your knowledge and advice and nurturing to set them on the path that God has ordained for them to take? The names Aquila and Priscilla are Latin, but the man and woman who bear them were of Hebrew origin. 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. Some of us will never be powerful preachers, but we can be faithful students of the Word, and our homes can be open to people whose hearts are hungry to hear the Word. Lewis and Clark. He was pastor of Emmanuel Faith Community Church in Escondido, CA from 1972 to 1993 when the Lord called him home. Greet Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, who risked their necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks but all the churches of the Gentiles give thanks as well. They never met or listened to Jesus in person. Apollo was thought to have given the science of medicine to mankind, but Apollo was also the . When shes not on campus, shes living one of her life-long dreams: sitting in her cozy living room, reading through colorful stacks of books for her doctorate in Divinity and Religious Studies (coffee, anyone?). Read the only passages that feature Priscilla: According to church tradition, Aquila did not dwell long in Rome: the Apostle Paul is said to have made him a bishop in Asia Minor. Her joy: To spread the gospel and nurture the church. Priscilla was what some would consider a laywoman today. He could be mightily used in the service of Jesus Christ, but his message was deficient. 4:19). Their lives can take a completely different direction because of your willingness to pour into them like God is asking you to. After that year and a half, Paul decided to go to Ephesus. Aquila and Priscilla were living in Rome at the time of an outbreak of anti-Jewish feeling when the Emperor expelled all Jews from the city. When Paul met the couple in Corinth, they were already believers; and . Priscilla took the lead on this. A lthough Priscilla had a household to manage, she still found time to be a thorough student of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. All rabbis were supposed to have a job and make their own money. The wonderful thing is that as women, God has equipped us with what we need to do what He has called and commissioned us to get done. Together, they are credited with instructing Apollos, a major evangelist of the first century, and "[explaining] to him the way of God more accurately" (Acts 18:26). So Paul made tents for a living and did missionary work as well. From Priscillas life, I am taking lessons for faith, marriage, ministry, and business. Tradition reports that Aquila and Priscilla were martyred together. Terms of Use: The contents of this blog post are restricted to your personal use only. That was when a Jew named Aquila, who had migrated to Rome from the province of Pontus on the Black Sea, packed his belongings, bid farewell to his friends, and embarked for the city of Corinth.