Priscilla and Aquila were a married couple who were prominent figures in the early Christian church. Here is an overview of what the Bible tells us about their lives and ministry:
Their Background
Priscilla and Aquila were Jewish Christians originally from Pontus, a province in Asia Minor (Acts 18:2). At some point they relocated to Rome, but were forced to leave when Emperor Claudius expelled the Jews from the city around AD 49 (Acts 18:2). This is likely what brought them to Corinth in Greece, where they met the apostle Paul.
Meeting Paul in Corinth
Acts 18 describes how Paul met Priscilla and Aquila during his missionary trip to Corinth around AD 50. Because they shared the same trade of tentmaking, Paul stayed and worked with them (Acts 18:3). During this time, the couple came to faith in Christ through Paul’s teaching.
When Paul left Corinth to continue his missionary journey, Priscilla and Aquila joined him. They accompanied Paul to Ephesus, a major city in Asia Minor (modern day Turkey) and known center for early Christianity (Acts 18:18-19). This shows their commitment to the gospel mission alongside Paul.
Ministry in Ephesus
In Ephesus, Priscilla and Aquila met a Jew named Apollos who was teaching about Jesus, but only knew of the baptism of John the Baptist (Acts 18:24-25). Recognizing hisincomplete knowledge, they took Apollos aside and explained the way of God to him more accurately (Acts 18:26). By doing this, they helped strengthen Apollos’ understanding and teaching of the gospel.
Priscilla and Aquila later returned to live in Rome (Romans 16:3-5). From there, they hosted a church in their house, which was a common practice then. Paul greets them warmly in Romans 16, calling them his “fellow workers in Christ Jesus” (Romans 16:3). He also expresses appreciation for them risking their necks for his life.
Key Qualities
While few details are given about Priscilla and Aquila, several positive qualities stand out:
- They were hospitable – opening their home to Paul and later hosting a church
- They were grounded in theology – correcting Apollos’ knowledge deficits
- They were dedicated ministers – willingly joining Paul’s work
- They were courageous – risking their lives for Paul
- They were well-respected – Paul’s greetings show his high regard for them
Priscilla’s Prominence
Interestingly, Priscilla’s name is listed first whenever she and Aquila are mentioned together (Acts 18:18, 18:26, Romans 16:3, 2 Timothy 4:19). This suggests Priscilla may have been the more prominent of the two. While uncommon, women could hold influential positions in the early church.
In summary, Priscilla and Aquila were a wife-husband ministry team who made a significant impact in the early Christian movement. Their evangelistic zeal, theological knowledge, and hospitable home made them invaluable partners in spreading the gospel.
Lessons from Priscilla and Aquila
This influential couple provides several inspirational examples for Christians today:
- Using your profession to serve God’s purposes – They leveraged their tentmaking skills to support ministry.
- Cultivating theological knowledge – They ensured they could teach truth accurately.
- Opening your home to others – They hosted both a traveling apostle and local church.
- Willingness to take risks for the faith – They endangered themselves for Paul’s sake.
- Husband-wife teamwork – They ministered effectively side-by-side.
While few personal details are known about them, Priscilla and Aquila’s legacy as committed ministry partners lives on through the New Testament accounts of their lives.
7 Interesting Facts about Priscilla and Aquila
- They were among the earliest known Christian missionary couples.
- Priscilla’s name is listed first when the couple is mentioned, suggesting she was the more prominent of the two.
- They had the distinction of meeting and traveling with both Paul and Apollos.
- The were laypeople, not church leaders or apostles.
- They were likely successful business owners due to their tentmaking trade.
- They risked their lives for Paul’s sake.
- They hosted house churches in both Corinth and Rome.
Priscilla, Aquila and Paul – A Mutually Beneficial Relationship
The relationship between Priscilla, Aquila and Paul illustrates the value of Christian fellowship and service:
- Paul helped them grow spiritually – He shared the gospel with them in Corinth, leading to their conversion.
- They supported Paul vocationally – Their tentmaking trade allowed Paul to stay and minister in Corinth.
- They assisted Paul’s ministry – They traveled with him from Corinth to Ephesus to continue the mission.
- Paul sent them encouragements – His greetings in Romans 16 show his fondness for them.
- They risked their lives for Paul – An act of devotion for their spiritual mentor.
Their relationship was characterized by mutuality – each giving and receiving support as needed. Priscilla and Aquila were not just disciples, but true partners in ministry with Paul.
Priscilla, Aquila, and Apollos – A Model of Discipleship
The relationship between this couple and Apollos also provides a pattern for discipleship:
- They approach him privately and respectfully when noticing his deficit.
- Rather than criticize him publicly, they come alongside him to fill the gaps.
- Their teaching helps Apollos gain a more thorough grasp of Christian doctrine.
- They build up his strengths in teaching and public speaking.
- The result is Apollos becomes an even more effective minister as their disciple.
Like Paul, Apollos also went on to become a prominent leader in the early church. Priscilla and Aquila chose to empower others with greater knowledge for the sake of the gospel mission.
Priscilla, Aquila, and the Early Church House Churches
This couple played a key role in the establishment of house churches:
- They hosted a church gathering in their home in Ephesus.
- Later they hosted another house church when they returned to live in Rome.
- Their residences provided a safe communal place for believers to meet, worship, and grow.
- House churches were the primary way church communities assembled in the first century.
- The mobility of tentmakers like Priscilla and Aquila allowed house churches to spread.
- Churches probably met in their home when they traveled to Corinth and Ephesus too.
In an era before dedicated church buildings, houses like Priscilla and Aquila’s were essential for the gospel to spread across the Roman Empire.
How Priscilla and Aquila Demonstrated Christian Hospitality
Priscilla and Aquila embodied the Biblical call for hospitality in several ways:
- They invited Paul, a relative stranger, to stay and work with them in Corinth.
- They opened their home as a gathering place for a church community.
- They showed cultural adaptability in relocating from Rome to Greece to Turkey.
- They risked their lives by welcoming and assisting a persecuted preacher, Paul.
- Their tentmaking trade enabled mobility and hospitality across the Empire.
- They built up other teachers like Apollos rather than competing with them.
- They treated Paul as a friend, not just a spiritual leader.
In a time of persecution and difficulty for the growing church, Priscilla and Aquila’s household became a place of safety, nourishment, and discipleship.
How Priscilla and Aquila Were Models of Lay Ministry
This couple exemplified faithful ministry as laypersons, not clergy or church professionals:
- They held regular jobs as tentmakers supporting themselves.
- Yet eagerly participated in evangelistic and discipleship work.
- They used their vocational skills to aid traveling apostles like Paul.
- Their tentshop probably also created natural opportunities to share their faith.
- They flexibly moved locations when needed for ministry opportunities.
- They corrected the theology of an educated but misguided teacher.
- Their house churches allowed other lay believers to use their gifts.
Priscilla and Aquila demonstrated that average believers can make a profound gospel impact without formal titles or positions.
How Priscilla and Aquila Strengthened the Early Church
This remarkable couple strengthened the young Christian movement in many ways:
- They provided fellowship and hospitality to church leaders like Paul.
- Their house churches nurtured new believers in the faith.
- They helped improve the theological education of other teachers.
- They corrected doctrinal misunderstandings, like that of Apollos.
- They accompanied apostles like Paul on missionary journeys.
- Their tentmaking skills financed their mobile ministry.
- They risked their safety to assist prominent preachers like Paul.
- Their example encouraged other lay couples in creative ministry service.
The New Testament recognizes Priscilla and Aquila among its most valued “fellow workers” (Romans 16:3). Their dedication was vital to spreading the gospel across the Roman Empire.
Priscilla and Aquila – Egalitarian Ministry Partners
Priscilla and Aquila’s joint ministry provides an example of egalitarian partnership between husband and wife:
- Priscilla’s name is listed first when the couple is mentioned together.
- She seems to take somewhat more initiative than Aquila.
- They worked side-by-side in travels with Paul and running house churches.
- Both were active in teaching and correcting Apollos, not just Aquila.
- Paul greets them together as a team, rather than just Aquila.
- No biblical texts restrict Priscilla’s ministry activities as a woman.
Though counter-cultural, the early church recognized spiritual gifting unrestricted by gender. Priscilla and Aquila exemplified partnership in marriage and ministry.
Ways Priscilla and Aquila Can Inspire the Church Today
This influential couple provides an inspirational model for Christians today:
- Creatively support ministries – Use professional skills to assist pastors and evangelists.
- Share your home – Host small groups, Bible studies, or meals to build community.
- Learn and defend theology – Don’t shy away from studying doctrine like they did.
- Make discipleship a priority – Help strengthen other believers’ gifts like they did for Apollos.
- Partner in marriage and ministry – Support each other’s passions and calling, as they did.
- Bloom where you’re planted – Build God’s kingdom in your current sphere like they did.
Though just laypeople, Priscilla and Aquila’s impact was felt across the early church. Their example remains inspirational for Christians today.