Aquila & Priscilla: About Aquila & Priscilla: About ThemThem• First mentioned in Acts 18 in Corinth

– Paul on his 2nd missionary journey (Ac. 15:36-18:22; 1 Cor. 2:3)

• Aquila was a Jew born in Pontus (Ac. 18:2)

• Like Paul, they were tentmakers (Ac. 18:3)– Manual labor (1 Cor. 4:11-12)

• First mentioned in Acts 18 in Corinth– Paul on his 2nd missionary journey (Ac.

15:36-18:22; 1 Cor. 2:3)

• Aquila was a Jew born in Pontus (Ac. 18:2)

• Like Paul, they were tentmakers (Ac. 18:3)– Manual labor (1 Cor. 4:11-12)

Aquila & Priscilla: Moved Aquila & Priscilla: Moved AroundAround• Lived in Rome/Italy (18:2)

– Expelled with Jews at edict of the emperor Claudius (~early 50 A.D.) – not a senatorial edict

– Suetonius: “Because the Jews at Rome caused continuous disturbances at the instigation of Chrestus.”

• Went to Corinth (18:1-2)– There 6-12 months before Paul arrived in ~ mid-50 A.D.– Stayed in Corinth until Paul left (18:18 ~ 2 years)

• Paul left them in Ephesus (18:18-19)– About 52 A.D. – Perhaps to prepare soil for his return– Paul was in Ephesus ~3 years (19:8-10; 20:31)– In A.D. 55, A&P still in Ephesus (writing of 1 Cor. 16:19)

• Went back to Rome (cf. Rom. 16:3 ~ A.D. 56-57)• Eventually went back to Ephesus (2 Tim. 4:19)

• Lived in Rome/Italy (18:2)– Expelled with Jews at edict of the emperor Claudius

(~early 50 A.D.) – not a senatorial edict– Suetonius: “Because the Jews at Rome caused

continuous disturbances at the instigation of Chrestus.”• Went to Corinth (18:1-2)

– There 6-12 months before Paul arrived in ~ mid-50 A.D.– Stayed in Corinth until Paul left (18:18 ~ 2 years)

• Paul left them in Ephesus (18:18-19)– About 52 A.D. – Perhaps to prepare soil for his return– Paul was in Ephesus ~3 years (19:8-10; 20:31)– In A.D. 55, A&P still in Ephesus (writing of 1 Cor. 16:19)

• Went back to Rome (cf. Rom. 16:3 ~ A.D. 56-57)• Eventually went back to Ephesus (2 Tim. 4:19)

Aquila & Priscilla: Their Aquila & Priscilla: Their ConversionConversion• The exact details are unknown, but some theorize:

– Could have been among the Jews from Pontus in Jerusalem on Pentecost in Acts 2 (v. 9)

– Could have been taught in Rome by Jews who went to Jerusalem for Pentecost (2:10) & came back to Rome

• There is another possibility:– Aquila is introduced as “a certain Jew” (not a disciple)– Luke usually referred to believers as disciples when first

encountered (Acts 9:10, 36; 16:1; 19:1; 21:16).– Acts 18 says Paul stayed with them because of their craft

(not because Christians)– A&P could have been converted by Paul in Corinth

(18:4, 8) – they left Corinth with Paul (18:18)

• The exact details are unknown, but some theorize:– Could have been among the Jews from Pontus in

Jerusalem on Pentecost in Acts 2 (v. 9)– Could have been taught in Rome by Jews who went to

Jerusalem for Pentecost (2:10) & came back to Rome

• There is another possibility:– Aquila is introduced as “a certain Jew” (not a disciple)– Luke usually referred to believers as disciples when first

encountered (Acts 9:10, 36; 16:1; 19:1; 21:16).– Acts 18 says Paul stayed with them because of their craft

(not because Christians)– A&P could have been converted by Paul in Corinth

(18:4, 8) – they left Corinth with Paul (18:18)

Aquila & Priscilla: Aquila & Priscilla: Husband & Husband & Wife TeamWife Team• Always mentioned together

– Ac. 18:2, 18, 26; Rom. 16:3-5; 1 Cor. 16:19; 2 Tim. 4:19

• Together in their personal lives– From the time Paul found them (Acts 18:1-2)

• Together in their travels– From Rome to Corinth– From Corinth to Ephesus– From Ephesus to Rome– From Rome to Ephesus

• Together in their occupation– They were both tentmakers– Together they possessed a strong work ethic

• Always mentioned together – Ac. 18:2, 18, 26; Rom. 16:3-5; 1 Cor. 16:19; 2 Tim.

4:19

• Together in their personal lives– From the time Paul found them (Acts 18:1-2)

• Together in their travels– From Rome to Corinth– From Corinth to Ephesus– From Ephesus to Rome– From Rome to Ephesus

• Together in their occupation– They were both tentmakers– Together they possessed a strong work ethic

Aquila & Priscilla: Aquila & Priscilla: Husband & Husband & Wife TeamWife Team• Together in their hospitality

– They housed Paul in Corinth for at least 18 months– Perhaps their hospitality accounts for his lengthy stays

• Together in their devotion to Christ (1st place)– They worked side-by-side with one of His apostles, to

the extent of hazarding their lives for him (Rom. 16:3-4)

– Their support of Paul advanced the gospel of Christ– Over 18 mos. in Corinth, Paul gained confidence to

leave them in Ephesus as capable workers in the kingdom

• Together in their love for the church of Christ– They became members of it (perhaps together)– Opened their home for the church to meet (1 Cor.

16:19; Rom. 16:5)

• Together in their hospitality– They housed Paul in Corinth for at least 18 months– Perhaps their hospitality accounts for his lengthy stays

• Together in their devotion to Christ (1st place)– They worked side-by-side with one of His apostles, to

the extent of hazarding their lives for him (Rom. 16:3-4)

– Their support of Paul advanced the gospel of Christ– Over 18 mos. in Corinth, Paul gained confidence to

leave them in Ephesus as capable workers in the kingdom

• Together in their love for the church of Christ– They became members of it (perhaps together)– Opened their home for the church to meet (1 Cor.

16:19; Rom. 16:5)

Aquila & Priscilla: Aquila & Priscilla: Husband & Husband & Wife TeamWife Team• Together in learning, knowing & teaching the

Word– They grew together to be careful & knowledgeable

students of the Word– So much so, that they could explain “more accurately”

“the way of God” to Apollos, a man already “eloquent…mighty in the Scriptures…instructed in the way of the Lord” (18:24-26)

They “heard him” (18:26) They “took him aside” They “explained to him the way of God”

– Knew the importance of the truth about baptism being taught, defended and error corrected

– Priscilla participated in the teaching – not teaching “over the man” but taking part in teaching a man (1 Tm. 2:12)

• Together in learning, knowing & teaching the Word– They grew together to be careful & knowledgeable

students of the Word– So much so, that they could explain “more accurately”

“the way of God” to Apollos, a man already “eloquent…mighty in the Scriptures…instructed in the way of the Lord” (18:24-26)

They “heard him” (18:26) They “took him aside” They “explained to him the way of God”

– Knew the importance of the truth about baptism being taught, defended and error corrected

– Priscilla participated in the teaching – not teaching “over the man” but taking part in teaching a man (1 Tm. 2:12)

Aquila & Priscilla: Aquila & Priscilla: Husband & Husband & Wife TeamWife Team• Truly were a husband & wife team of

righteousness– Beautifully illustrate the design & institution of

marriage– She complemented, fulfilled & perfected him– They “became one” in every way– Knew “heirs together of the grace of life” (1 Pet.

3:7)– Shared not just common interests, but THE

common interest of Christ– Their efforts together greatly enriched the

preaching efforts of Paul & Apollos, whom God, in turn, used to preach the gospel, convert people to Christ and establish churches.

• Truly were a husband & wife team of righteousness– Beautifully illustrate the design & institution of

marriage– She complemented, fulfilled & perfected him– They “became one” in every way– Knew “heirs together of the grace of life” (1 Pet.

3:7)– Shared not just common interests, but THE

common interest of Christ– Their efforts together greatly enriched the

preaching efforts of Paul & Apollos, whom God, in turn, used to preach the gospel, convert people to Christ and establish churches.

Aquila & Priscilla: Aquila & Priscilla: Husband & Husband & Wife TeamWife Team• Always mentioned together

= they had shared objectives– One in marital bliss– One in secular occupation– One in the Lord– One in their friendship with Paul– One in their profound knowledge of Scripture– One in the service of the church

• No wonder Paul said, “…to whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles” (Rom. 16:4).

• Always mentioned together = they had shared objectives– One in marital bliss– One in secular occupation– One in the Lord– One in their friendship with Paul– One in their profound knowledge of Scripture– One in the service of the church

• No wonder Paul said, “…to whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles” (Rom. 16:4).