8/2/13

8/2/13
Priscilla and Aquila

Give my greetings to Priscilla and Aquila, my co-workers in the ministry of Christ Jesus. In fact, they once risked their lives for me. I am thankful to them, and so are all the Gentile churches. Also give my greetings to the church that meets in their home. (Romans 16:3-5 NLT)

Today we read the conclusion to Paul's letter to the Roman church. In it we read about Priscilla and Aquila. Not much there, but it was enough to spark my interest. I seem to remember several times where they were mentioned in the New Testament. So, from these verses, we know that they are in Rome, and that they once risked their lives for Paul... Here is where it all began:

Then Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. There he became acquainted with a Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, who had recently arrived from Italy with his wife, Priscilla. They had left Italy when Claudius Caesar deported all Jews from Rome. Paul lived and worked with them, for they were tentmakers just as he was. (Acts 18:1-3 NLT)

So...Priscilla and Aquila hit it off with Paul because of what they had in common (ie, they were tent makers, and they were Jewish) They met each other in Corinth, but God had another plan for them...in Ephesus.

Then he set sail for Syria, taking Priscilla and Aquila with him. They stopped first at the port of Ephesus, where Paul left the others behind. While he was there, he went to the synagogue to reason with the Jews. (Acts 18:18, 19 NLT)

So, Paul took Priscilla and Aquila with him to Ephesus, and he left them there. Paul moved on, and then they made the most of their opportunities.

Meanwhile, a Jew named Apollos...he taught others about Jesus with an enthusiastic spirit and with accuracy. However, he knew only about John's baptism. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him preaching boldly in the synagogue, they took him aside and explained the way of God even more accurately. (Acts 18:24-26 NLT)

It was part of God's plan for Priscilla and Aquila to guide Apollos to a clear understanding of who Jesus was. God was using them in a mighty way.

So, Priscilla and Aquila lived in Italy, were forced to move away to Corinth, worked with Paul, helped Apollos, and moved back to Rome. What I find so fascinating is that, while Paul was sent out on a mission trip, Priscilla and Aquila were forced on one of their own, and their trips intersected, and they played a decent size part in changing the world for Christ! And several places in Paul's letters, he recognizes them for it. They became friends, and shared in ministry together.

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