Aquila and Priscilla
Summary
A Jewish tentmaker and his wife who became devoted co-workers with Paul, hosting churches in their home and instructing Apollos in the faith.
☩Background and Meeting Paul
Aquila was a Jew born in Pontus who, with his wife Priscilla (also called Prisca), came to Corinth from Italy after Claudius expelled Jews from Rome around AD 49-50. Their shared trade as tentmakers brought them into contact with Paul during his first visit to Corinth. Under Paul's influence, they became not only earnest Christians but enthusiastic helpers of the apostle.
☩Ministry in Ephesus
When Paul traveled to Ephesus, Aquila and Priscilla accompanied him and remained there to do pioneer work while he visited Jerusalem. During this time, Apollos came to Ephesus with an imperfect understanding of Christianity. Recognizing his learning and earnestness, they took him aside and 'expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly.' A church met in their house at Ephesus.
☩Devotion to Paul
Paul's high regard for this couple is evident in his description of them as 'my fellow-workers in Christ Jesus, who for my life laid down their own necks; unto whom not only I give thanks but also all the churches of the Gentiles.' They later returned to Rome, where they again hosted a church in their house. Their frequent moves—from Rome to Corinth to Ephesus and back to Rome—reflect their commitment to Paul's missionary work and their usefulness as pioneering church planters.
Related Verses8 mentions
References
- 1.James Hastings (ed.), "Aquila and Priscilla," in Dictionary of the Apostolic Church, vol. I (T. & T. Clark, 1915–1918).
- 2.Charles G. Herbermann et al. (ed.), "Aquila and Priscilla," in The Catholic Encyclopedia, vol. I (Robert Appleton Company, 1907–1912).
- 3.Andrew Robert Fausset, "Aquila and Priscilla," in The Englishman's Critical and Expository Bible Cyclopædia (Hodder & Stoughton, 1878).