Priscilla and Aquila: Tentmaking Ministers

KEY VERSE: “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

SELECTED SCRIPTURE: Acts 18:1-4,18-21; Romans 16:3-5

AQUILA was a natural Jew and a native of Pontus in northern Asia Minor. Priscilla, his wife and loyal companion, is always mentioned in connection with him. They were banished from Rome by a decree issued by Emperor Claudius, which was against the Jews. (Acts 18:2) They apparently moved from Rome to Corinth. When the Apostle Paul arrived, Aquila and Priscilla kindly received him into their home. They were tentmakers by trade, as was the Apostle Paul, and this was an added factor that cemented the relationship of these three faithful ministers of the Gospel. Since they all were tentmakers they apparently joined forces to make a living. The Apostle Paul made it a practice to support himself whenever this was possible, so as not to impose added expense on the friends. (II Thess. 3:8; I Cor. 9:11-15) However, as usual on the Sabbath he “reasoned” with the Jews at Corinth in the synagogue concerning the kingdom and the salvation now available to them through Christ. Also one of his chief points of argument was that Jesus was the long-promised Messiah.

When Silas and Timothy came to Corinth from Macedonia, “Paul was pressed in the Spirit” (Acts 18:5), and was apparently moved to be more aggressive in his witness with respect to the fact that Jesus was the Christ. When the Jews opposed his teaching, and even blasphemed the name of Jesus, he shook his raiment as a sign of renouncing all fellowship with them, stating, “Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean: from henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles.” (vs. 6) It is probable that the apostle continued to reside and work with Aquila and Priscilla, though he did not continue to preach in the synagogue. He did, however, preach, using the house of a Gentile, who was apparently converted to Christianity, to hold meetings. This gave the Jews who might still be interested an opportunity to listen to his message.

Apparently several of the Jews did embrace the Gospel, including the chief ruler of the synagogue, with all his family, and many afterward were converted and were received into the church, both of Jews and Gentiles. (Acts 18:8-10) It was about this time that Paul seems to have become discouraged because of the continued harassment by the Jews and the lax conduct of the Gentiles. The Lord, however, appeared to him to allay his fears and to encourage him in his ministry, saying, “Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace, for I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee; for I have much people in this city.” (Acts 18:9,10) So Paul stayed for a year and six months, teaching the Word of God among them, and while there he founded a flourishing church. All of this time, but in the background, were Aquila and Priscilla assisting in the ministry and giving encouragement to Paul.

The Jews finally brought Paul before the judgment seat of Gallio who was the deputy of Achaia, and with much contempt charged the apostle with teaching men to worship God in a manner contrary to their Law. Gallio, however, drove the Jews from the judgment hall and the Greeks took the chief ruler of the synagogue and beat him before the judgment seat. The Lord thus fulfilled his promise of protective power over Paul. After this experience he apparently still remained a good while living in Aquila and Priscilla’s house, but he eventually took leave of the brethren and sailed into Syria and took with him Aquila and Priscilla. When he came to Ephesus, he left his two faithful partners in the Gospel, then continued on to keep the feast in Jerusalem.

At their house in Ephesus, Aquila and Priscilla continued their active ministry as noted by Paul in I 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.” It was while they were at Ephesus that they were privileged by the Lord to assist Apollos to a clearer and deeper understanding of the truth. (Acts 18:26) The last New Testament reference to this devoted pair is in II Timothy 4:19, where it is evident that their fellowship with Timothy would also be an encouragement to him.

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