Master's Prayer Network

A — From Athens to Corinth

Comments: Verse 2 is the first mention in scripture of this couple by name, and there is no indication that Paul was their means of conversion to a saving faith in Jesus Christ. The text tells us that Paul had come to Corinth from Athens, which implies he would have traveled by land some fifty miles southwest. Aquila and Priscilla had recently come a much greater distance from Rome, probably traveling south and east on a sailing ship because a water route was practical for such a trip in those times. The text simply tells us that he stayed with them because they were of the same craft, and that Paul worked while he was with them.

We also learn that Aquila had been born in Pontus, which is in the northeast of Asia Minor, a long distance away from Corinth, and from Rome. When Peter’s preaching brought thousands of people into the church by faith on Pentecost, there were visitors from both Pontus and Rome who carried their new faith back to their homelands. Aquila and Priscilla were possibly already Christians when they opened their home to Paul in Corinth. Historical records for the edict of Claudius would place this time of Paul being in Corinth in circa 52 A.D. — approaching two decades after Peter’s Pentecost sermon of Acts chapter two.

Paul spoke boldly each Sabbath in the synagogue about Jesus, and apparently hit a peak of fervor after Silas and Timotheus arrived from Macedonia, where Paul had previously been with them. Because of the Jews’ attitude in the synagogue, Paul said he would take his message to the Gentiles.

B — Corinth to Ephesus

Comments: The relationship of Paul with Aquila and Priscilla was apparently a close one, because when he left Corinth, they went with him. This could imply that they had continued to share their craft and their dwelling for the duration of Paul’s time in Corinth. Cenchrea was the eastern port for Corinth, some nine miles east of the city, and the logical port for sailing to Ephesus. The voyage would have been easterly, taking about 8 to 10 days, depending on wind conditions. When Paul subsequently left Ephesus, Aquila and Priscilla remained there.

C — Apollos at Corinth

Comments: Apollos is a man well spoken of in the New Testament, though very sparingly. His birthplace of Alexandria was an international city in Egypt that was a center for learning, and apparently had a sizable population of Jews. We are told that he was “an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures.” The scripture goes on to say he was “instructed,” he was “fervent in the spirit,” he “taught diligently,” and he knew “only the baptism of John.” It seems that Aquila and Priscilla had attended synagogue in Ephesus, because scripture says “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.” This working class married couple made time for private discipleship, and in so doing they showed a concern for building up others in the faith, even one who had superior academic learning. We are not given detailed points of the conversation, but Aquila and Priscilla set forth in detail the “way of God” more thoroughly and completely. They must have been effective in their manner, for the text states that Apollos went from Ephesus to Achaia, the principal city of which was Corinth. There he was much help to the disciples who had believed through grace; for he publicly convinced the Jews through scriptures, that Jesus was Christ. So, it seems that Aquila and Priscilla had been instrumental in helping this educated and articulate man understand the crucial importance of salvation by grace through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, not through works of the law.

This next passage from a later time as recorded in Acts, gives an example of Paul expounding about Jesus, probably much the same as Aquila and Priscilla had done with Apollos. Acts 28:23 “And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him into his lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening.” It is very important to notice that whether it was the apostle Paul, or laity such as Aquila and Priscilla, the Old Testament was the authoritative source of verification that all that Jesus did and taught fulfilled the prophecies about God our Savior.

D — Paul’s Greeting to the Corinthians

Comments: By Paul’s testimony, as he writes to Christians in Corinth, Aquila and Priscilla have a church body in their home, most likely in Ephesus. Perhaps they attended synagogue, where they had encountered Apollos, only until the time came for them to be more established in distinct Christian worship. There were likely people still in Corinth who knew Aquila and Priscilla from when they had lived there, and it is possible they heard some good words about this couple through Apollos after he left Ephesus and went to Corinth.

E — Greeting to Prisca and Aquila

Comments: Timothy had become the church leader in Ephesus, as indicated in 1 Timothy; but Aquila and Priscilla were still there as Paul wrote a second letter to Timothy. Paul was specific in sending greeting to them in this second letter. There is no other new information given about them, unless we infer that they do not conduct a church in their own home, but now are part of the local church led by Timothy. They may have been preparing to return to Rome after the expiration of the earlier edict by Claudius. For whatever reason, our last reference finds them back in Rome.

F — Back to Rome

Comments: It seems from this reference that Aquila and Priscilla were in Rome when Paul sent this letter, perhaps returning to their preferred city after expiration of the decree by Claudius to expel all Jews. It is possible that they were even Roman citizens, born of Roman citizen parents, and given Latin names. Paul again states that they have a church in their house, indicating their continued leadership in part of the Christian community in Rome. Paul speaks of this Jewish Christian couple with high personal regard and appreciation that they had “laid down their own necks” for his life; and credits them with being important even to the development of the greater church body among Gentiles.

G — Some Closing Thoughts

The temple was rebuilt in Jerusalem according to the word of the Lord, after most Jews had been widely scattered outside the boundaries of Israel for more than a century. Jerusalem and the temple were once again the focal point for worship of the true God, through centuries more of foreign domination, until the appearance of Messiah. The Jews had been absorbed into various cultures as they were widely dispersed to other lands, but they were not indistinguishable, and they continued to gain converts to Judaism. When Paul went to synagogues in various cities, there was often mention of his discourse with both Jews and Greeks (or Gentiles). The Jewish scriptures had been translated into Greek, which made those inspired texts cross-cultural literature. Those Jews who truly sought after God with their hearts were used of God to be an influence on the Gentile populace. Christ had come in fulfillment of the law and the prophets, and great leaders of the church such as Peter and Paul would not have had as much fertile soil for the further spread of the word if not for the long-term Jewish influence on such a composite group of people. The Holy Spirit was truly doing the work ahead of the efforts of the men who were given such privilege of leadership in the body of Christ; and since the closing of the canon of scripture, the Holy Spirit is still the active force. Christ is the true builder of the assembly of those called out by grace through faith, and all glory and honor is due to him alone. Jesus said, “I will build my church.”