According to Acts 18:2f, before Paul meets them in Corinth, they were part of a group of Jews whom the Emperor Claudius ordered expelled from Rome; if this edict of the Emperor can be dated, then we would be able to infer when Paul arrived in Corinth. 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. He expelled the Jews. Jekyll and Hyde. He basically had two jobs going. It's said a generation spans roughly 25 years. After Paul left them in Ephesus, they heard Apollos speaking in the synagogue, but his knowledge of the truth was deficient. But we do know from Scripture that when they left Rome they went to Corinth. The careful description of Aquila as a Jew, a man of Pontus (Acts 18:2), rather implies that Priscilla his wife was not a Jewess; because her name is usually put first (4 out of 6 times), it is thought that she was of higher social standing than her husband. Theresa Doyle-Nelson Blogs July 8, 2017. They went to Corinth right at the time when Paul was there. This Jewish couple was saved under the Apostle Paul's ministry and served as his spiritual coworkers. Do you seek praise from others at his expense? All rabbis were supposed to have a job and make their own money. Anything can become a ministry. A passionate, young, brilliant scholar named Apollos delivered the sermon. 2 Timothy 4:19 suggests that the couple returned to Ephesus at a later date, possibly around 62-64 CE. But his training was to be blamed for that. Read the following verses from the ESV, NKJV, NASB: Romans 16:3, 1 Corinthians 16:19, 2 Timothy 4:19. They probably had a booming tent making business in Rome but when they were chased out, God made it work for their good. Aquila and Priscilla are mentioned one more time in the New Testament, in the last chapter of the last book the Apostle Paul wrote. And all things are from God" and his affirmation of Priscilla's instruction of the prominent evangelist Apollos as evidence that Paul was acceding to the law and customs of his day. And for that we also can give thanks to God. 24 Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He wrote a history entitled the 'Life of Claudius' in which he stated the following: [ a] 2 There he became acquainted with a Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, who had recently arrived from Italy with his wife, Priscilla. She had a budding, thriving ministry. Violence was the norm against Christians. Yet, there is never a place in Scripture where one is mentioned and the other isnt. This is how Priscilla and Aquila came to leave Italy (Acts 18:2). Along with her husband, Priscilla worked alongside the Apostle Paul with whom they became very close friends. Paul brought the couple with him to Ephesus, an ancient Greek city, where they stayed, while Paul proceeded to Antioch in Turkey. On a personal level, Priscilla and Aquila " risked their own necks " for Paul's life (Romans 16:4). Maybe there are young men and women in the community who need a big brother or big sister or mother or mentor to help them get through life. 16:19). Ed, Issue 46, Winter 2023, Living in Love: Secrets from Bible Marriages. 5. When Paul left Ephesus for Greece, they evidently believed God was directing them back to Rome. They lovingly and patiently rehearsed the life and ministry of Jesus Christ on earth, His sacrificial and substitutionary death on Calvarys cross for the sins of the world, His victorious resurrection from the tomb and glorious ascension into heaven, the necessity for personal salvation from sin by faith in His finished work, the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, and the birth of the Body of Christ, and other great New Testament doctrines. When Priscilla and Aquila were driven out of Rome because of being Jewish, they met Paul. He continued travelling while they settled down and opened their home, not only to Apollos but to other believers. There are up to 12 types of intimacy in marriage. 8. We may have the joyous privilege of nurturing a young Apollos who someday will have a wide and powerful ministry for Jesus Christ. In the Catholic Church, the Roman Martyrology lists their feast as July 8. . God will just throw it back. Eighth, they risked their necks for Paul (Rom 16:3-4). Aquila and Priscilla were martyred with other Christians. They lived, worked, and traveled with the Apostle Paul, who described them as his "fellow workers in Christ Jesus" (Romans 16:3).[1]. For several years, Priscilla and Aquila were leaders in the Ephesian church. 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). If she is preparing a lesson, she may come to get my help in understanding a particular verse, and we find ourselves sharing the Word together. Priscilla and Aquila were also good friends of and ministry partners with Paul (Romans 16:3). His sermon was just incomplete. They had left Italy when Claudius Caesar deported all Jews from Rome. She is mentioned exactly six times in the New Testament. Why? The point I want to make is this: if you want to have a happy marriage and a successful life, seek intimacy with your spouse. We should also create an atmosphere that the enemy will not be able to tolerate. They met in homes. And God blessed his ministry. Furthermore, their ministry to Apollos reveals their devotion to Gods word. Enjoy these fun facts about her. Priscillas husband was named Aquila. 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. Every time Priscilla and Aquila are named in the Bible, they are together. How can you be a layperson to help your pastor or deacon or other church leaders. Apollos received their words, traveled to Achaia, and flourished in ministry there. Their partnership was in money-making, marriage and ministry. There is so much she can teach us. Their affinity for each other was instantaneous, and a deep and lasting friendship was born that day. They had each others back. Priscilla and Aquila were a first century Christian missionary couple described in the New Testament. They enjoyed being together and working together. Aquila and Priscilla returned to Rome by 57 CE where they became church leaders again. I will not go into why this might be so. It does not always happen that way. One thought is that Priscilla was more outspoken than Aquila so thats why she mostly mentioned first. Although they did quite a bit of traveling, wherever they called home was a place into which they would welcome believers for worship. From the day Aquila and Priscilla met the Savior, they grew in the Word together. At this time the church in Ephesus used the house of Aquila and Priscilla as a meeting place ( 1 Corinthians 16:19). Aquila and Priscilla were martyred with other Christians. He absorbed the truth they taught him and made it a part of his life and ministry. Paul lived with Priscilla and Aquila for approximately 18 months. And, although tantalizingly limited in detail, those six mentions tell the story of a woman who used her gifts and resources to influence the spread and nurturing of the early church. Priscilla and Aquila left a legacy of unwavering and fruitful trust in God; a wholesome and productive marriage; and a powerful and impactful ministry. devoting your time and energies to a local church. Terms of Use: The contents of this blog post are restricted to your personal use only. We know it from what we have already seen, but there is another facet of their Christian service that bears mention. Paul found in Priscilla and Aquila compatibility in purpose and a true, life-long friendship. Tenth, they may have had children. He was pastor of Emmanuel Faith Community Church in Escondido, CA from 1972 to 1993 when the Lord called him home. Priscilla in the Bible stands out as one of powerful women of faith. Does it always mean taking the gospel to a dangerous land and literally dying there? 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. Now that Vacation Bible School is Over . When Paul, a tentmaker himself, came to Corinth, he went to see them, no doubt having heard of their faith in Christ. Are you looking for opportunities to share Christ wherever you go, as Paul did? Acts. [20] The Lutheran Church commemorates them on the same day along with Apollos. Her sorrow: To experience opposition to the gospel from both Jews and Gentiles. So Priscilla and Aquila made their home available for church services. The reason they left Rome to come to Corinth was because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to leave Rome (18:2). She was a woman of strength and purpose. Paul founded the church in Corinth. That may be just the thing your marriage needs. Evangelical interpretation is that she was simply a companion to her husband, Aquila, but not necessarily a leader or contributor to the ministry of the church in any substantial way. So unhappy were they that they had regular uprisings in Rome. I can imagine no higher praise in that culture for ones work and leadership in the early Christian movement. Priscillas name appears before Aquilas. 3. Aquila and Priscilla were baptized by Paul and were cited in the scriptures as among the 70 disciples of Christ. The journey to the city, with friends Priscilla and Aquila, is considered part of what is called Paul's second evangelistic or missionary journey. put Priscilla's name first, as in Acts 18:18.The fact mentioned is interesting as showing (1) that Aquila and his wife continued to attend the services of the synagogue, and (2) that Apollos appeared there, as St. Paul had done, in the character of a Rabbi who had a message to deliver, and was therefore allowed, or, it . But you know what? Its a good thing to be mindful of the kind of spiritual energy we allow to influence the atmosphere of our home. Husbands and wives need to open the Word together. If they had not known Christ before this, they certainly met him now, for no one could spend time in Pauls presence and not be infected by his contagious and enthusiastic love for his Savior. St. Epiphanius (c. 315403) preserved in his writings the popular Christian tradition that . Paul went to see them, and because he was a tentmaker as they were, he stayed and worked with them. Wherever they lived, Christians met in their home for worship. How sweet and mature and godly of them to not embarrass Apollos in public. When Christianity was new, there was no such thing as a church building. True oneness can only be found in Christ. But now it looks as though God had blessed them materially, and they were using their resources in Ephesus for His glory. 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. They seem to have something to prove, competing with their husbands for the spotlight, grasping after authority and preeminence. Priscilla and Aquila stepped up to the plate. Share this with each other and discuss how it can be avoided. Priscilla and Aquila heard Apollos speaking in the local synagogue and invited him to their home. Corinth was smack-dab in the middle of some important trade routes, so it had a distinct economic and . [18][19] It is thought by some to be possible, in light of her apparent prominence, that Priscilla held the office of presbyter. Acts 18 . Priscilla and Aquila were tentmakers as was Paul. Ask the Lord to give you the kind of commitment to one another that is seen in their marriage. Tips on Being an Emotionally Intelligent Pastor (From a Christian Psychologist), 6 Key Questions to Ask of Your Sermon Before You Preach it. 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. It seems, from what the Roman historian Suetonius says, that they were persecuting their Christian neighbors and causing considerable disturbance in the city. After arriving in Corinth, they live with Paul for a year and a half. Their house had an open door. Priscilla was a businesswoman who, with her husband Aquila, likely owned leatherwork or tent-making shops in several urban centers of the ancient worldRome, Corinth and Ephesus. But is there anything to learn from them for our lives? The Jews were not happy about this new religion that was gaining ground. And he settled there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them (Acts 18:11). Why Isnt the Civil Rights Movement Considered a Revival Movement? Paul sailed with Aquila and Priscilla to Syria, which is a country. In Paul's list of greetings to members of the church at Rome, a list that includes 28 individuals, Priscilla is listed first (Rom. 16:3-5). Who were Priscilla and Aquila in the Bible? 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). He was a learned man, with a thorough knowledge of the . Who is that young man? "There he became acquainted with a Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, who had recently arrived from Italy with his wife, Priscilla. Think of it, eighteen months of intensive Bible study under the greatest Bible teacher in the early church. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. How Aquila and Priscilla must have grown! Learn how your comment data is processed. I love this story because there are so many similarities and parallels with my life with my wife, Marlene. This is why the Jews were wildly unhappy. Paul is the happy husband of Shauna Lee and the proud papa of 5 beautiful children, Madison, Max, Mikayla, Peyton and Noa. So she is named first because of her rank. Aquila, a Jewish Christian, and his wife, Priscilla, first met Paul in Corinth, became good friends of his, and shared in his work. Either way, life was sometimes hard for this couple. Blessings to you. Paul came to work with them in their shop, and even lived with them in their home during his stay in Corinth. He is thinking of his dear friends who were then back in Ephesus where Timothy was ministering, possibly having left Rome to escape Neros latest outburst of persecution against Christians. In 1 Corinthians 16:19, Paul passes on the greetings of Priscilla and Aquila to their friends in Corinth, indicating that the couple were in his company. Driven away from Thessalonica and Berea through persecution stirred up by the Jews, and from Athens by the rationalistic spirit which reigned in that cultured city, Paul departed to the . His death at the hands of the emperor Nero was imminent, and he was writing the last paragraph of his long and fruitful life. Opponents of female pastorship cite his reference to Adam and Eve to be indicating that the issue is a matter of universal gender propriety. If you and your mate were considering working together in a business, what problems would you foresee arising? But Priscilla and Aquila are also a brilliant example of the heroic self-devotion which is kindled by true Christian faith. Losing your life for Jesus involves , Copyright 2015 Steve Burchett. 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. This was the epitome of courageous faith. Coupled with her husband, she was a celebrated missionary, and a friend and co-worker of Paul. 4. [1Cor. Many years later Aquila and Priscilla were living back in Ephesus, no doubt helping Timothy in the difficult work Paul had given him to do there. His two friends were willing to give everything in the service of the Savior, even their lives. Third, they worked together. In Romans 16:34, thought to have been written in 56 or 57,[7] Paul sends his greetings to Priscilla and Aquila and proclaims that both of them "risked their necks" to save Paul's life. Aquila and Priscilla went to hear him and were deeply impressed by his sincerity, his love for God, his knowledge of the Old Testament Scriptures, and his brilliant oratorical ability. This account is recorded by Suetonius, a court official who served under the Emperor Hadrian. They all had been Jews early in life but became Christians as adults. In other words, they put themselves in a situation where they could have died for Paul. supporting those who proclaim the gospel and plant churches. Here is an interesting fact you probably didnt know. The fact that she is always mentioned with her husband, Aquila, disambiguates her from different women revered as saints in Catholicism, Orthodoxy and Lutheranism, such as (1)Priscilla of the Roman Glabrio family, the wife of Quintus Cornelius Pudens, who according to some traditions hosted St. Peter circa AD 42, and (2)a third-century virgin martyr named Priscilla and also called Prisca. 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. From Priscillas life, I am taking lessons for faith, marriage, ministry, and business. Its not always easy to find but God can provide godly friends who are similar to you in heart and purpose. Aquila, husband of Priscilla, was originally from Pontus[11] and also was a Jewish Christian. They chose a wise mentoring approach with Apollos. She was one of the most prolific female missionaries of the Scriptures. Maybe you can make clothes like Dorcas. Youve heard their names, they show up occasionally in your Bible reading, and you might even remember something about this married couple. AQUILA was a natural Jew and a . He attended Moody Bible Institute and is a graduate of York University (B.A.) Thats where they met Paul. The qualities of Priscilla in the Bible are not so easy to identify because although she is mentioned in multiple verses, not many details are revealed about her. Yet we observe that the husband and the wife are always mentioned together. Their destiny is waiting for you to approach them to offer your God-given wisdom to help them. 16:3-5). 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? In Ephesus Paul leaves them there and goes on to Caesarea. Prisca, or Priscilla (an alternative more modern form of Prisca), is an early Roman family name, which suggests that she may have a Roman ancestry. What spiritual contribution are you making to the lives of others? [8][9], Priscilla was a woman of Jewish heritage and one of the earliest known Christian converts who lived in Rome. We dont know when this occurred (perhaps during the riot in EphesusActs 19:23-41? . However, the contents of this blog post may not be modified, compiled, combined with other content, copied, recorded, synchronized, transmitted, translated, formatted, distributed, publicly displayed, publicly performed, reproduced, given away, used to create derivative works and otherwise used or exploited (including for-profit or commercial gain) without the creators expressed permission. Talk with your spouse about Priscilla and Aquilas remarkable marriage, and then pray together. Neither did Apollos. [10], While the view is not widely held among scholars, some scholars have suggested that Priscilla was the author of the Book of Hebrews. You need at least one friend like this. His Latin name, Aquila, means "eagle." Most likely he was a freedman living in Rome because most of the Jews living in Rome at this time were such. He was an eloquent speaker and had a good knowledge of the Old Testament. Instead, she saw an opportunity to pour into him. Nowadays, we have become very protective of spaces. They were even willing to invest the time necessary to take one young man under their spiritual care and pour into his life the things of Christ. One correction should be made of Groothuis' facts: Priscilla/Prisca and Aquila are mentioned only six times in the Greek text (Acts 18:19 simply has ).. 3 Too much could be made of this point however, for only . He has been in pastoral ministry since 1994, serving in both Fellowship and Canadian Baptist churches in Oakville, Mississauga and Orillia, Ontario Canada. When Paul left Corinth for Ephesus, they accompanied him, and he left them there when he embarked for his home church in Antioch (Acts 18:18-22). Priscilla was a businesswoman who, with her husband Aquila, likely owned leatherwork or tent-making shops in several urban centers of the ancient worldRome, Corinth and Ephesus. All of this is just guessing. Their door was open to anyone who wanted to enjoy good Christian fellowship and encouraging, uplifting worship.