Session 5: Aquila and Priscilla
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A Model Ministry Couple
Unique in Scripture
Always mentioned together (6 times total)
Always in a shared ministry context
Always portrayed positively
Commended by Paul in multiple epistles
Ministry Characteristics
Hospitable: opened their homes for church gatherings
Doctrinally sound: corrected Apollos and upheld Paul’s gospel
Mobile and adaptable: moved strategically with the gospel
Enduring: faithfully served from AD 50 to at least AD 67
Purpose of Study
Trace their journey through Scripture
Understand their role in the early church
Draw lessons on partnership, doctrine, and spiritual endurance
Acts 18:1–3 – Meeting Paul in Corinth
Context of the Meeting
Paul arrives in Corinth after Athens (AD 50)
Meets Aquila, a Jew from Pontus, and his wife Priscilla
They had recently been expelled from Rome by order of Claudius
Historical Background
Claudius’s reign (AD 41–54)
Transition from Republic to Empire (under Augustus in 27 BC)
Notable public works: aqueducts (Aqua Claudia), roads, Port of Ostia
Attempted to drain Lake Fucine (a project completed in the 1800s)
Expelled Jews from Rome (c. AD 49) due to unrest “instigated by Chrestus” (likely a reference to Christ-related disputes)
Tentmaking Trade
Paul stayed with them and worked alongside them
Skēnopoioi – makers of tents, awnings, curtains from leather or goat-hair cloth
Paul’s education under Gamaliel (Acts 22:3) included the practice of a trade
Tentmaking allowed Paul to support himself without burdening others
Acts 18:18–19 – Journey to Ephesus
Travel and Transition
Paul departs Corinth for Syria, bringing Aquila and Priscilla
They arrive in Ephesus; Paul leaves them there while he visits the synagogue
Strategic Ministry Move
Ephesus: a major cultural, religious, and commercial hub
Aquila and Priscilla stay to minister while Paul continues traveling
Theological Significance
Paul is still ministering with a “Jew first” emphasis (Romans 1:16)
Aquila and Priscilla, as Jewish believers, adopt Paul’s newly revealed gospel of grace
Their ministry reflects the transitional nature of the early church—bridging kingdom promises and the revelation of the Body of Christ
Ephesus as a Ministry Base
Paul later returns and stays 3 years (Acts 19:1; Acts 20:31)
Aquila and Priscilla continue ministering there during this time
Acts 18:24–26 – Teaching Apollos
Introduction to Apollos
Jew from Alexandria; eloquent and mighty in the Scriptures
Taught accurately but only knew the baptism of John
Private Correction
Aquila and Priscilla take him aside to explain “the way of God more perfectly”
Reflects their doctrinal clarity, gentleness, and discernment
Method and Maturity
Done privately and respectfully—likely in their home
Avoided public embarrassment (cf. Galatians 6:1)
Apollos receives instruction humbly and later becomes a key teacher in Corinth
Doctrinal Implications
Apollos is brought from a partial kingdom understanding into fuller gospel truth
Aquila and Priscilla’s ability to teach a learned man shows theological depth
Romans 16:3–5 – Greetings from Paul
Back in Rome
Around AD 57, Paul writes Romans from Corinth
Aquila and Priscilla had returned to Rome after Claudius’s death (AD 54)
Paul’s Commendation
“My helpers in Christ Jesus” – fellow laborers, not just companions
“Laid down their own necks” – risked their lives for Paul’s safety
All the churches of the Gentiles were grateful for them
Hosting a House Church
Their home in Rome was a gathering place for believers
Reflects maturity, hospitality, and spiritual responsibility
Use of “Prisca”
Formal Latin form used in Roman epistolary context
Indicates her respectability and standing in the Roman church
Priscilla and Aquila – or Vice Versa?
Name Order in Scripture
Priscilla listed first in 4 of 6 passages
Possible reasons:
Greater theological fluency or public presence
Higher social standing in Roman culture
Simply a fixed phrase (a “binomial pair” like “salt and pepper”)
Interpretive Caution
No indication of reversed headship
Their ministry is a model of unity, not role confusion
Partnership does not imply hierarchy was ignored
1 Corinthians 16:19 – Greetings from Ephesus
Continued Ministry in Ephesus
By the time of this letter (AD 55–56), they are again in Ephesus
Still hosting a church in their home
Paul notes their affectionate greeting to Corinthian believers
Mobility and Mission
Locations mentioned: Corinth, Ephesus, Rome, and back again
Likely moved due to tentmaking business, persecution, or ministry needs
Spiritual and Material Readiness
Financial independence allowed for frequent relocation and hospitality
Doctrinal faithfulness never wavered despite changing environments
2 Timothy 4:19 – Final Mention
Paul’s Final Letter (c. AD 66–67)
Written during second Roman imprisonment
“Salute Prisca and Aquila” – brief but weighty recognition
Names stand alone as symbols of trusted, proven faithfulness
Still Serving
Likely still in Ephesus, where Timothy was ministering (1 Timothy 1:3)
Supporting leadership and the local assembly even in advanced years
Fifteen Years of Faithfulness
From AD 50 to 67, across regions and seasons, they remained steady
A contrast to others (like Demas, 2 Timothy 4:10) who fell away
Summary of Their Ministry Trajectory
Corinth (AD 50) – Met Paul, partnered in tentmaking, hosted him
Ephesus (AD 52) – Instructed Apollos, hosted a church
Rome (AD 57) – Returned post-Claudius, risked lives, hosted a church
Ephesus again (AD 66–67) – Last mention, supporting Timothy
Key Themes:
Gospel-centered mobility
Lay leadership and doctrinal discernment
Hospitality and endurance
Faithfulness through transition
Enduring Legacy and Lessons for Today
Consistent Faithfulness
Not known for one dramatic act but for steady, long-term service
Ordinary Yet Essential
Tradespeople, not apostles, yet vital to the early church
Quiet Strength
Served without fanfare but were commended in multiple epistles
Role Models for Today
Married couples in ministry
Lay leaders who guard truth
Servants who offer homes, hands, and hearts for the gospel
Their Example Remains
Doctrinally grounded, humble in service, unshaken by change
A model of what it means to finish well
