PRISCILLA AND AQUILA:
PARTNERS IN THE GOSPEL
Bible Background • ACTS 18:1-4, 24-26; ROMANS 16:3-4; 1 CORINTHIANS 16:19; 2 TIMOTHY 4:19
Printed Text • ACTS 18:1-4, 24-26; ROMANS 16:3-4; 1 CORINTHIANS 16:19; 2 TIMOTHY 4:19
Devotional Reading:
EPHESIANS 4:1-13
LESSON AIM
After studying today's lesson, students should be able to relate the story of Paul's meeting and ongoing relationship with Aquila and Priscilla; understand how working together in ministry or a profession can contribute to marital relationships; and determine to find an area of ministry, work, or recreation they can share with their spouse.
KEEP IN MIND
"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).
FOCAL VERSES
Acts 18:1 After these things Paul departed from Athens, and came to Corinth:
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.
3 And because he was of the same craft, he abode with them, and wrought: for by their occupation they were tentmakers.
4 And he reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks.
18:24 And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures, came to Ephesus.
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.
26 And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly.
Romans 16:3 Greet Priscilla and Aquila my helpers in Christ Jesus:
4 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.
1 Corinthians 16:19 The churches of Asia salute you. Aquila and Priscilla salute you much in the Lord, with the church that is in their house.
2 Timothy 4:19 Salute Priscilla and Aquila, and the household of Onesiphorus.
IN FOCUS
A young man noticed an elderly couple sit down to lunch at a restaurant. He saw that they only ordered one meal and an extra drinking cup. As he watched, the elderly gentleman carefully divided the hamburger in half, then counted out the fries, one for him, one for her, until each had half of them.
Then he poured half of the soft drink into the extra cup and set that in front of his wife. Then the old man began to eat, and his wife sat watching, with her hands folded in her lap. The young man decided to ask if they would allow him to purchase another meal for them so that they didn't have to split theirs. The old gentleman said, "Oh, no. We've been married 50 years, and everything has always been and will always be shared, 50/50."
The young man then asked the wife if she was going to eat, and she replied, "Not yet. It's his turn with the teeth."
This cute little story illustrates the commitment that goes into making a marriage partnership successful. In today's lesson, we will look at the marriage partnership of Aquila and Priscilla, a godly couple who dedicated themselves to the ministry of the Gospel.
THE PEOPLE, PLACES, AND TIMES
Claudius. The fourth Roman emperor, who assumed power after Gaius Caligula's assassination (41 A.D.). His weak constitution and ill health contributed to the emergence of rich and powerful freedmen. Though generally conciliatory toward the Jews, he expelled some from Rome because of rioting (see Acts 18:2).
Corinth. As a major city of antiquity, located on the isthmus between mainland Greece and the Peloponnesus, it was founded by Greeks in the tenth century B.C. However, in 44 B.C. Julius Caesar undertook refining the city, naming it Colonia Laus Julia Corinthiensis and populating it with Italian freedmen. Latin seems to dominate the public inscriptions of the city well into the second century A.D., although most of the people probably spoke Greek by the time Paul arrived around 50 A.D.
In 27 A.D., Corinth was named capital of the senatorial province of Achaia and seat of the ruling proconsul. Corinth was an important commercial center, and Jewish communities were well established in the city. The Apostle Paul arrived in the city on his first visit, met Aquila and Priscilla, and preached in the synagogue despite a suit brought against him by some Jews before Gallio, the proconsul. Apollos also visited Corinth (Acts 18:27-19:1; 1 Corinthians 1:12; 3:3-9; 4:6), which may have contributed to the factionalism and difficulties that Paul addressed in his letters to Corinth. Also, Paul may have written his letter to the Romans while living in Corinth. (Harper's Bible Dictionary, 1985, pp. 173, 182-3.)
BACKGROUND
Luke, the author of the Acts of the Apostles, portrays the husband and wife team of Aquila and Priscilla as an ideal model of Christianity. They are friendly, hospitable, and generous. Aquila was a tentmaker who traveled extensively throughout the New Testament world with his wife Priscilla (see Acts 18:2-28: 1 Corinthians 16:19). It is also suggested that Priscilla may have been a woman who had inherited wealth and held tremendous influence in her community. This may be one reason why she is often mentioned before her husband in Scripture.
The Bible does not say how Paul met this couple, but
it is clear that the apostle formed a friendship with Aquila and Priscilla.
Through their influence and friendship, Paul was able to continue his missionary
journey while leaving a faithful ministry team in Ephesus to preach the
Gospel on his—and Jesus'—behalf.
AT-A-GLANCE
|
AT-A-GLANCE |
| 1. Paul Meets Aquila and Priscilla (Acts 18:1-4) |
| 2. Apollos Meets Aquila and Priscilla (vv. 24-26) |
| 3. Paul Salutes Aquila and Priscilla (Romans 16:3-4; 1 Corinthians 16:19; 2 Timothy 4:19) |
1. Paul Meets Aquila and Priscilla (Acts 18:1-4)
Paul ministered in Athens, sharing the Good News with the people. Some believed, while others were still unsure of the power of the Gospel. But Paul didn't let that deter him from his missionary journey. His next stop was Corinth, approximately 50 miles west of Athens. While there, Paul met a Jewish-Christian couple named Aquila and Priscilla.
Along with his wife Priscilla, Aquila had lived in Italy for a while. Aquila was born in Pontus, a province of Asia Minor that stretches along the southern shore of the Black Sea from Bithynia to Armenia. Many Jews lived throughout Pontus, and by 100 A.D., Christianity had caused so much unrest in the province that the Jews became a permanent minority in the area.
Aquila and Priscilla were Hebrew Christians who had to leave the Roman province because Claudius, the fourth Roman emperor, wrote an edict that commanded that all Jews be expelled. It is not clear how Paul met this couple, but we know that God had a divine purpose for their paths crossing.
Although Paul was a scholar, like every Jewish male child he was taught the trade of tentmaking to earn a living. The Scriptures affirm that Aquila and Priscilla were also tentmakers, so it is quite probable that Paul felt a kindred spirit with this couple. The three of them worked at their tentmaking trade during the week, while Paul engaged in ministry on the Sabbath, preaching to both Jews and Gentiles in the synagogue.
Tents were portable shelters made of cloth or animal skins. They were often used by soldiers as living quarters. Some tents were made by weaving goat hairs together, while others were made of piecemeal materials like leather.
Most would agree that Paul was a great apostle and evangelist, but dedicated friends helped Paul achieve many of his accomplishments. Christian friends, like Aquila and Priscilla, are vitally important to ministry and evangelism. It was through people like this godly couple that Paul learned firsthand what it means to "bear ye one another's burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ" (Galatians 6:2). God's church is not made of brick and mortar; it is made of people who are co-dependent on one another and Christ. It is possible that God will place people of "like precious faith" (2 Peter 1:1) together to do a specific work in a particular region at a particular time. Our responsibility is to make ourselves available to God's call and God's people.
2. Apollos Meets Aquila and Priscilla (vv. 24-26)
Paul remained in Corinth more than 18 months, teaching the Word of God and making tents to support himself. Paul made quite a few friends and enemies in the city, and he and Aquila and Priscilla became very close.
However, Paul was on a divine timetable, and there were other cities that needed his ministry. So Paul left Corinth and traveled southeast to Syria along with Priscilla and Aquila. Before leaving for Syria, Paul shaved his head because he had taken the Nazarite vow at Cenchrea, a harbor city approximately seven miles east of Corinth.
The word "Nazarite" means one who is separated unto the Lord. By the terms of the vow, a person would voluntarily separate himself for a specific period of time. Once the days of the separation were fulfilled, the Nazarite would offer a sacrifice unto the Lord and shave his head as a sign of his purification and sacrifice (see Numbers 6:13-21). Paul may have felt the need to take the vow since he was going further into Gentile territory to win many people to Christ.
When Paul, Aquila, and Priscilla arrived in Ephesus, they parted company. Paul went immediately into the synagogue to preach to the Jews before continuing his missionary journey. Aquila and Priscilla remained in the city to do ministry.
The Bible doesn't give specific information, but it is possible that Aquila and Priscilla had a hand in the development of the church in Ephesus, nurturing and overseeing the people. Sometime later, Apollos, a Jew who was born in Alexandria, came to Ephesus. Apollos must have been a man excited about the Word of God and the Lord Jesus Christ, because Luke describes him as "an eloquent man, [and] mighty in the Scriptures" (v. 24).
Apollos possessed great biblical skills, having the ability to teach the Word diligently, even though he only knew about the baptism of John. However, Apollos' ministry caught the attention of Aquila and Priscilla. They were impressed with his teaching and his boldness as he spoke in the synagogue, but they realized that Apollos lacked a fuller understanding of Jesus.
Aquila and Priscilla took to Apollos and became his mentor in the things of the Spirit. We all need spiritual "mentors" who can help us expound the Word of God in a more complete way. We should not be afraid to ask others who may be more spiritually mature to help us get a better understanding of the Scriptures.
3. Paul Salutes Aquila and Priscilla (Romans 16:3-4; 1 Corinthians 16:19; 2 Timothy 4:19)
At the close of his letter to the Romans, the Apostle Paul greets 26 people by name. At the top of this list is the ministry team of Priscilla and Aquila. He refers to the couple as "my helpers in Christ Jesus." The word "helper" is probably better translated as "companion in labor" or "fellow worker." The couple did much more than assist Paul with his ministry. They were actively involved in their own ministry. In describing them as "my helpers," Paul is probably looking back to their love and aid to him when he arrived in Corinth. When Paul left Corinth for Ephesus, this godly couple packed up their belongings and their tentmaking business and moved with him. Then they helped him to establish a new church, and eventually they stayed behind to care for the Ephesian church when Paul returned to Antioch. In Paul's first letter to the Corinthian church, he again mentions a church in their home and sends the couple's greetings to the church there.
The apostle says that the couple "laid down their own necks," or risked their lives in his behalf. Scripture does not record the incident where this took place, but at some point the couple was willing to sacrifice their own lives for the Gospel. At the time of the writings the couple was back in Rome conducting church services in their home. It was common for early churches to meet in the homes of believers. The fact that Aquila and Priscilla opened the door of their home to the Roman congregation is another indication of a willingness to give their all to the Lord.
In Paul's last letter to Timothy before his death, the apostle writes, "Salute Priscilla and Aquila" (2 Timothy 4:19). Timothy was the leader at the church in Ephesus, and Aquila and Priscilla had stayed on to help him. The couple were dedicated to God's ministry, not God's ministers. They worked just as hard under the leadership of Timothy as they had under the leadership of Paul.
It is the faithfulness of people like Aquila and Priscilla that makes ministry a joy for others. The effectiveness of their ministry says a lot about their personal relationship with each other and with God. Their hospitality became the doorway of salvation for many.
Christian homes and solid Christian marriages remain two of the best tools for spreading the Gospel. Husband-and-wife teams can be tremendous blessings for the body of Christ.
SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES
1. Why had Aquilla and Priscilla left their home in Rome and relocated to Corinth? (Acts 18:2)
2. Paul and Aquila were both trained craftsmen. What craft did they practice to earn their living? (v. 3)
3. Who is the young man that Aquila and Priscilla took under their wing to mentor after hearing him preach in the synagogue at Ephesus? (vv. 24-26)
4. What phrase did Paul use to describe Aquila and Priscilla's ministry with him? (Romans 16:3)
5. Where did members of the church in Ephesus conduct their services? (1 Corinthians 16:9)
DISCUSS THE MEANING
1. Many people believe that working with one's spouse professionally or in ministry can cause problems in the home because work problems or ministry disagreements follow the couple home and cause friction. Do you believe this? If so, why? If not, why not?
2. What are some of the reasons that people do not take on the responsibility of mentoring younger people? How should these issues be resolved?
LESSON IN OUR SOCIETY
More than half the marriages in the United States end in divorce. List some of the positive features and negative hindrances that can affect husband-and-wife businesses/partnerships (and marriages). Report on your list next week.
MAKE IT HAPPEN
In today's lesson, Aquila and Priscilla took young Apollos under their wing and mentored him in the Gospel. Examine your life to see who you are influencing in the body of Christ. If you can't think of anyone, ask God to help you make a specific contribution in someone's life this week. Perhaps making a phone call or writing a letter to lift someone's spirit is a good place to start. Before the class is over today, make a commitment to find someone this week.
FOLLOW THE SPIRIT
What God wants me to do:
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REMEMBER YOUR THOUGHTS
Special insights you have learned:
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