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. 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. 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. I mean they enjoyed each others company so much that they never went anywhere without each other. At the mouth of the valley of the shadow of death he remembered the old days in Corinth, and the, to us, unknown instance of devotion which these two had shown, when, for his life, they laid down their own necks. All he knew beyond the Old Testament was the message of John the Baptist, which merely looked forward to the coming Messiah. In the year 52 A.D. the Roman emperor Claudius issued an edict expelling all Jews from the city of Rome. They ended up in Corinth. Thats what they did for money before they had to leave Rome. I found myself in her shoes and its not always an easy pair to wear, you can change the size just dont get rid of what God blessed you with. (1958 More, The Net Pastors Journal, Eng. Aquila was originally from the Roman province of Pontus on the south shore of the Black Sea, called the Euxine Sea during the Roman period. What is the meaning of Priscilla in the Bible? 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. Tradition reports that Aquila and Priscilla were martyred together. They seem to have something to prove, competing with their husbands for the spotlight, grasping after authority and preeminence. And although they worked long and hard running their shop, making and repairing tents, maintaining a home and caring for their distinguished guest, they always found time for serious Bible study. The Church Is Born: 30 CE - 60 CE. He was pastor of Emmanuel Faith Community Church in Escondido, CA from 1972 to 1993 when the Lord called him home. Bert and Ernie. 4. They met in homes. . They remained in Ephesus to help Paul when he returned to the city for a three-year stay ( Acts 19:1; cf. Priscilla and her husband are identified among the power couples in Scripture. 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. Maybe you have space in your home to give someone food, shelter and a warm bed for a night like Lydia. So off they went! Let's begin by reading the end of Acts 18 and the beginning of Acts 19. In our world there is a need of model couples living beautifully in their marriage. [2] She also is thought by some to be the anonymous author of the Epistle to the Hebrews. Enjoy these fun facts about her. The journey to the city, with friends Priscilla and Aquila, is considered part of what is called Paul's second evangelistic or missionary journey. 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). That may be just the thing your marriage needs. 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. If you want to share this resource with others, please share the link to the blog post. For Adam was formed first, then Eve; and Adam was not deceived but the woman was deceived and became a transgressor." Lisa (Talbot 15) works on campus as Associate Dean of Spiritual Development a fancy title for someone who gets to meet with students, help lead chapels and go to lots of meetings. Theresa Doyle-Nelson Blogs July 8, 2017. 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. God uses the disappointments of our lives for His glory. supporting those who proclaim the gospel and plant churches. They liked each other a lot. Priscilla and Aquila have overcome hardships together. Priscilla, Aquila, and Apollos: Paul left for Syria with Priscilla and Aquila. Priscilla and Aquila seemed to be friends. She could have gotten killed but Priscilla kept going. At this time the church in Ephesus used the house of Aquila and Priscilla as a meeting place ( 1 Corinthians 16:19). During their stay in Ephesus, Aquila and Priscilla met up with another Jew from the Dispersion, known as Apollos. 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). They enjoyed being together and working together. Given the nature of their trade, Priscilla and Aquila could be flexible where and when they earned their income from making tents. Now that Vacation Bible School is Over . What happened to Priscilla and Aquila in the Bible? Who is Apollos in your life? If either one of you has never placed your faith in the sacrifice which Christ made for your sins, your marriage cannot be complete. 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 had a budding, thriving ministry. [11] The Greek Orthodox Church and the Antiochian Orthodox Church commemorate them together on February 13. What spiritual contribution are you making to the lives of others? We have already seen, in our notice of Lydia, how large a part women sometimes had in the origin of Churches formed by the Apostle Paul. 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. One thought is that Priscilla was more outspoken than Aquila so thats why she mostly mentioned first. Priscilla and Aquila were tentmakers. They served God anyway. Their tents were made of rough goats hair fabric which took great skill to cut and sew properly. 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). Apollos went on to become a prolific preacher. In other words, they put themselves in a situation where they could have died for Paul. Tips on Being an Emotionally Intelligent Pastor (From a Christian Psychologist), 6 Key Questions to Ask of Your Sermon Before You Preach it. It's said a generation spans roughly 25 years. All rabbis were supposed to have a job and make their own money. Although acclaimed for its artistry, originality, and literary excellence, it is the only book in the New Testament with author anonymity. How did Aquila and Priscilla die? This is how Priscilla and Aquila came to leave Italy (Acts 18:2). 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. Eighth, they risked their necks for Paul (Rom 16:3-4). Aquila and Priscilla are mentioned one more time in the New Testament, in the last chapter of the last book the Apostle Paul wrote. All of this is just guessing. Priscilla and Aquila were well-known in Ephesus, Corinth, and Rome. When they were just getting started in business in Corinth their home was probably not big enough to hold all the Christians, so the house of Titus Justus was used. Adam and Eve. 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). 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. 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. Paul wrote his epistle to the Romans from Greece on that third missionary journey, and he said, Greet Prisca and Aquila, my fellow-workers in Christ Jesus, who for my life risked their own necks, to whom not only do I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles; Also greet the church that is in their house (Rom. But what does it look like to lose your life for Christ? It had been sixteen years since Paul first met them at Corinth, and now he was in a Roman prison for the second time. They moved to Corinth in Achaia, the southern part of Greece, where they met Paul. But when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately. "There he became acquainted with a Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, who had recently arrived from Italy with his wife, Priscilla. (Romans 1:11, 12) And, as did Aquila and Priscilla, those . How can you improve this area of your life? 24 And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures, came to Ephesus. The possibilities for using our homes to serve the Lord are unlimited. Yet it appears that that never affected their love for one another, their understanding of each other, nor their ability to work together. 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. Priscilla and Aquila stepped up to the plate. 5. They were from Pontus, a Roman province in northeastern Asia Minor. Priscilla, Aquila and Paul spent 18 months in Corinth together. Do those who spend time with you become infected with your love for Christ? Copyright 2015 - 2023. How did Aquila and Priscilla die? Ask the Lord to give you the kind of commitment to one another that is seen in their marriage. She cares deeply about seeing women and men thrive in their God-given gifts. They did ministry together. 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. Paul sailed with Aquila and Priscilla to Syria, which is a country. 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. I am sure Aquila thanked God for her many times and accepted her wise counsel on many occasions. Start praying for God to orchestrate the pieces of your life so you can find your community of like-minded and like-hearted people. 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. An extensive research on husband-wife saints listed only 10 since the time of Christ. Because they all work in the same trade, Paul lived and worked with Aquila and Priscilla as tent-makers. They were forcibly displaced from their home by the edict of Claudius, which exiled Jewish people from Rome. We dont know when this occurred (perhaps during the riot in EphesusActs 19:23-41? Most references to husbands and wives in the Bible place the man first. In fact, her name is first in four out of the six biblical references to them. 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. They became close friends with Paul, helping him to bear the burden of ministry. A church met in their house in Ephesus (1st Cor 16:19, Pauls greeting from Ephesus), and a church also met in their home in Rome once they came back (Rom 16:5). Seventh, they learned the Scriptures together. Priscilla took the lead on this. This indicates Priscilla was a leading figure in the church in Rome. Even the chief ruler of the synagogue came to know Christ. Our knowledge of divine truth would be incomplete without the epistles which God inspired him to write. His death at the hands of the emperor Nero was imminent, and he was writing the last paragraph of his long and fruitful life. Aquila and Priscilla not only made their living together and grew in the Word together, they served the Lord together. being willing to die for fellow believers. 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. We do not know for certain whether she was Jewish or Roman, nor are we sure whether or not they were both Christians at the time. They all were tent makers. And he settled there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them (Acts 18:11). Jesus demonstrated that he valued women and men equally as being made in the image of God. Furthermore, believers are enjoined to teach and to learn from one another, without reference to gender.[14]. 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. She was the reason the Blessing was so thick around and for them both. Their house had an open door. 4:15] His including them in his greetings implies that Priscilla and Aquila were also involved in the founding of that church. [10], While the view is not widely held among scholars, some scholars have suggested that Priscilla was the author of the Book of Hebrews. Because they all did the same type of work for money, they became fast friends. Required fields are marked *. We pick up their story in Acts 18 when Paul meets them as refugees in Corinth. And that is unusual! The appearance of the two in the Acts of the Apostles helps to provide a chronological synchronism for the chronology of Paul's life. 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. 9. Aquila and Priscilla were baptized by Paul and were cited in the scriptures as among the 70 disciples of Christ. Priscilla and Aquila were a first century Christian missionary couple described in the New Testament. So Paul made tents for a living and did missionary work as well. And they were quite the traveling pair, always on the road to some missionary trip. Of those six references, Aquilas name is mentioned first only twice, Priscillas 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. 1:12). Although the wife may be more intelligent and resourceful than her husband, God still wants her to look to him as her leader. 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. Apollos received their words, traveled to Achaia, and flourished in ministry there. Of course, its always better when you have some true believers worship with you. 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). And that would not be the last time their home served that purpose. Paul could not do it alone. . The three of them bond over the trade they all do as a main job (Priscilla and Aquila) and a side hustle (Paul):. You might not be able to preach sermons or run a church service but thats not the only form of ministry. 16:3-5). 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. PRISCILLA. Not everyone received his testimony. 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, Aquila, and Timothy ministered together with Paul in Corinth, and Priscilla and Aquila worked alongside Timothy in Ephesus. However we make use of it, Gods Word is one necessary ingredient for enriching our relationship with each other. 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). Aquila and Priscilla exhibited such unity, they were one in their secular job of tentmaking, one in their love for each other, and one in their service for the Lord Jesus Christ. The Bible doesnt tell us explicitly at what point Priscilla and Aquila came to believe in Jesus. And God blessed his ministry. These three people fed each others energy as they fulfilled the purpose for which God had called 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. Sixth, they taught Apollos the way of God more accurately (18:26). But is there anything to learn from them for our lives? Rather than correcting him in public or openly challenging his teaching, they fostered a relationship with him in the context of loving fellowship. Apollos was, no doubt, inspired to go to Corinth by what Priscilla and Aquila told him of Paul's ministry there. Priscilla and Aquila were tentmakers as was Paul. He was an eloquent speaker and had a good knowledge of the Old Testament. So he withdrew from the synagogue and began teaching in the house of Titus Justus next door. Greet also the church in their house. When they met Paul, they adopted his lifestyle. They knew this because in his sermon Apollos talked about the coming Messiah that the Old Testament prophecies talked about. Making the decision to become Christian missionaries was a big deal. She is often thought to have been the first example of a female preacher or teacher in early church history. What else could you be doing to share Gods Word with others? Why the switch? [20] The Lutheran Church commemorates them on the same day along with Apollos. 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. 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. Violence was the norm against Christians. Learn how your comment data is processed. But now it looks as though God had blessed them materially, and they were using their resources in Ephesus for His glory. I suppose the emperor didnt want them to disrupt and destroy the place any longer so he expelled them. 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. The problem was, he was going in a direction that could have become problematic in the future. 1. Their affinity for each other was instantaneous, and a deep and lasting friendship was born that day. Yet we observe that the husband and the wife are always mentioned together. In fact, they were always together. He began to preach boldly in the synagogue. . And he found a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla. (See also Acts 18:18, 26; Rom 16:3; 1 Cor 16:19; and 2 Tim 4:19.). Romans 8:28 became a reality in the lives of Priscilla and Aquila. St. Epiphanius (c. 315403) preserved in his writings the popular Christian tradition that . In Acts 18:2428, Luke reports the couple explaining Jesus' baptism to Apollos, an important Jewish-Christian evangelist in Ephesus. Who is that young man? He expelled the Jews. The Master said, " Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends " (John 15:12). 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. So Priscilla and Aquila decided to fix it. Their relationship with Paul went far beyond a casual greeting at worship services. Husbands and wives need to open the Word together. 9 Both were makers of tents and had their own business. Who is that young woman? [3] Hoppin and others suggest that Priscilla was the author, but that her name was omitted either to suppress its female authorship, or to protect the letter itself from suppression.[3][4]. Since tents were such a prominent part of Hebrew life, Aquilas parents chose to have their son learn this practical means of earning his livelihood. When Christianity was new, there was no such thing as a church building. Priscilla and Aquila had that kind . So they left their home in Corinth and followed Paul to Ephesus. His two friends were willing to give everything in the service of the Savior, even their lives. Others become overbearing and belligerent in an attempt to establish their position of authority. Who were Priscilla and Aquila in the Bible? This is one of the best ways to be on one accord with each. This account is recorded by Suetonius, a court official who served under the Emperor Hadrian.
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