Aquila was a native of Pontus. This was an area bordering the south side of the Black Sea. We are not told of Priscilla’s background, but the couple was, apparently, living in Rome (circled at upper left on map).

Imagine, if you will, that the government decided there were too many of your nationality in the country. As a solution, they decided to deport them all. Where would you go? What possessions would you be able to take with you? How would you be able to get market value for your home (since everyone knew you had no choice but to leave it in a very short time)?

Such a horrible fate came to Aquila and Priscilla. Acts_18:1-2 is telling us about Paul and his first meeting with them. “After these things he left Athens and went to Corinth. And he found a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus (circled at upper right on map), having recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to leave Rome.” History tells us that the Roman Emperor Claudius Caesar had forced all Jews to leave the city of Rome. This is borne out by Suetonius – a man who served under the Emperor Hadrian – in a document he wrote entitled “The Life of Claudius.” From the website www.history.net here is a translation of what he said was the reason for that expulsion. 

Some scholars believe that Crestus may be another spelling of the word Christus – commonly referred by the Gentiles to mean Christ

Priscilla and Aquila relocated in Corinth, a Greek costal city, where they continued their occupation of making tents. This is where Paul meets them in Acts 18. Since he was of the same profession, he lived with them while preaching and teaching in that area. They worked together there, both in tent-making and in teaching the gospel, between 18 months and two years.

When Paul let to go to Ephesus, they accompanied him. Once there; however, Paul continued on to Caesarea, but they stayed behind. One reason they might have stayed behind is to give the Ephesian Christians additional training in the Word of Christ. This is seen in Acts 18:24-26, when they meet Apollos. 

This man had recently come to Ephesus from Alexandria, a city at the very north side if Egypt. He was preaching to the people, but all he knew was the doctrine that John the baptizer had taught. He was not aware that the church had been established, and that now believers must be baptized into Christ. Along with her husband, Priscilla helped teach him the same truths Peter had preached on the first Pentecost after the resurrection of Jesus. We are told that “they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately” (Acts_18:26).

The way they corrected Apollos is to be commended. They didn’t embarrass him in front of a lot of people, but took him “aside.” They also didn’t begin by telling him how wrong he was. It seems they affirmed what he was teaching was correct – for a time – but went on from there and added to what he already knew – thus making his knowledge “more accurate.” Many, many times the reason someone doesn’t respond to our teaching is because of our attitude and choice of words. Remember the old saying, “Honey catches more flies than vinegar.” We are taught to love lost souls (Jude_1:22-23), and we learn in 1Corinthians_13:4-5 that true love “suffers long – is kind – and does not behave rudely.”

In Acts 18:27-28 we are told that, once he was taught, Apollos traveled to Achaia and “He greatly helped those who had believed through grace; for he vigorously refuted the Jews publicly, showing from the Scriptures that Jesus is the Christ.”

I think that some women read the passage that they are not to “teach or to have authority over a man, but to be in silence.” and conclude that they cannot teach at all. That passage (1Tim._2:12) does not teach that a woman cannot evangelize sinners. It is talking about taking the lead in the assembly of Christians. The woman’s role in the church does not allow that. She can; however, do as Priscilla did and teach her friends, acquaintances, etc. in a private way. Publicly, she may teach children and other women. In fact, God is not pleased with any woman who will not share the gospel with others when she comes upon the opportunity to do so.

We see them again in Romans 16 when Paul is commending several people who had been a help either to him personally, other people, or various congregations. It seems the edict against the Jews in Rome had been lifted, and they returned. In verses 3-5 we read: “Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, who risked their own necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles. Likewise greet the church that is in their house. Greet my beloved Epaenetus, who is the first-fruits of Achaia to Christ. Notice two things in this passage

1.      Like so many early Christians, going against rulers in order to serve God was done with the realization harm could come to them. Obviously, they had put themselves in danger in order to protect Paul. They knew how very important he was to the Lord, and the mission he gave him to accomplish among the Gentiles.

2.      Since there were no church buildings like we have today, the church met in various locations. In this city that location was in the home of Aquila and Priscilla. Can you imagine the extra effort it had to have taken this godly woman to prepare a place each week for the saints to gather? No wonder Paul praised them.

Later, when Paul writes to the Corinthian church, Aquila and Priscilla were with him and sent their own message. 1 Corinthians 16:19 reads: “Aquila and Priscilla greet you heartily in the Lord, with the church that is in their house.” They were still doing all they could to further the cause of the Gospel.

Lastly, while Paul was a prisoner in Rome, he had this loving couple on his mind.  He wrote, “Greet Prisca (alternate spelling of Priscilla) and Aquila, and the household of Onesiphorus.” (2Timothy_4:19).

© Jeanetta Watkins