Articles
The Spiritual Power Couple
The apostle Paul shares a candid insight into his frame of mind as he journeyed from Athens to Corinth. He had been belittled as a babbler by the pompous Athenian philosophers. Vine observes on “babbler” (Gk. spermologos): “Metaphorically it became used of a man who picks up scraps of information and retails them secondhand, a plagiarist, or of those who make a show in unscientific style, of knowledge obtained from misunderstanding lectures ... Prof. Ramsey finds in the word a piece of Athenian slang, applied to one who was outside any literary circle, an ignorant plagiarist.” Thus the NASB translation: “scavenger of tidbits.”
After this brief, mostly fruitless foray into the “cultured” Athens, Paul set his sights on Corinth with significant trepidation. He later writes to the Corinthians: “When I came to you,(I) did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling” (1 Cor 2:1-3). Paul does not give the details of his anxiety, but we note that he made this journey by himself, Timothy and Silas remaining in Macedonia to strengthen the fledgling churches there. Further, Corinth was a notoriously immoral port city, and the term “Corinthian” was descriptive of a hedonist. Did Paul assume the worst of this maritime metropolis, thinking that if the Athenian intellectuals didn’t see the value of the gospel, surely the Achaian riffraff wouldn’t appreciate it either?
Enter a couple whom Paul develops a close friendship with: “Paul departed from Athens and went to Corinth. And he found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla (because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to depart from Rome) …” (Ac 18:1-2).
Aquila and Priscilla in Rome. We know nothing about the personal history of this duo, only Luke’s observation that they had been expelled from Rome by Claudius’ purge of the Jews. Suetonius, a Roman historian, comments that Claudius (reign AD 41-54) banished the Jews over unrest involving one named “Crestus.” It is thus conjectured that Jews were persecuting Christians in Rome, and Claudius took the drastic measure of expelling them. Aquila and Priscilla were thus displaced by this edict.
Aquila and Priscilla in Corinth. Interestingly, Luke does not mention Paul converting them, which would be strange if, in fact, he had done so. It seems more reasonable that they had already been Christians, which explains the immediate connection leading to their business and residential arrangement (Ac 18:2b-3). We can only imagine what a comfort these two were to Paul as he began his apostolic endeavors among the teeming idolaters, prostitutes and sailors in this seaport city. This working relationship lasted about two years.
Aquila and Priscilla in Ephesus. As Paul wound down his second tour, he headed for Jerusalem via Ephesus (Ac 18:18-19). Without further elaboration, Luke merely says, “and Priscilla and Aquila were with him.” But even though Paul receives a positive hearing from Jews in the Ephesian synagogue, he departs for Jerusalem leaving Priscilla and Aquila behind to follow up on the work he had begun.
Luke records only one episode of the couple’s efforts: the grounding of Apollos in the gospel (Ac 18:24-26). This encounter is a testament to all involved. It is a masterpiece of diplomacy and persuasion by Priscilla and Aquila, and it showcases the honesty and humility of Apollos. This anecdote speaks volumes of this couple’s spiritual depth, love for others and effectiveness in kingdom work.
Paul’s final mention of Aquila and Priscilla’s residence in Ephesus is during his three-year stay in that city when he sends their greetings to the Corinthians: “The churches of Asia greet you. Aquila and Priscilla greet you heartily in the Lord, with the church that is in their house” (1 Cor 16:19). This would seem to indicate that between the time Paul had sailed from Ephesus to Palestine, visited the church in Jerusalem, returned to Antioch to report on his work, then traveled back to Ephesus, Priscilla and Aquila had stayed there working to build up the church. It appears that they opened their home as a meeting place, perhaps of a suburban work near Ephesus, or maybe even the main congregation in that city (if a residence could accommodate a church of such size). Nonetheless, their home was available for worship.
Aquila and Priscilla back in Rome. The last NT reference to this outstanding couple places them back in the city of Rome. When Paul closes out the Roman epistle and sends greetings, he includes his dear friends: “Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, who risked their own necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles. Likewise greet the church that is in their house” (Rom 16:3-5). We know nothing more about this risk they took for Paul’s sake; perhaps it was in reference to the Ephesian riot in Ac 19. (Note: Paul is writing to the Romans from Corinth, probably some months after he himself had departed from Ephesus and after he had written First Corinthians. He had traveled to Macedonia, written Second Corinthians, and gave the brethren there time to work out their remaining issues before making his way to Corinth. So, in between writing First Corinthians from Ephesus, and writing Romans from Corinth, Priscilla and Aquila had moved back to Rome. Most likely, Claudius was now deceased and his edict of Jewish displacement reversed.)
This inspiring couple challenges our own service for the kingdom:
1. Is your home open to fellow Christians, to those whose faith and work for the Lord can be encouraged in some way?
2. Do you and your spouse have enough knowledge to help a misguided believer clarify some doctrinal truths?
3. Are you willing to take risks to foster the kingdom, whether that involves relocation, emotional support or providing a safe haven?
4. Do you have a set of ideals and/or objectives that you are working toward that would make you a valuable fellow worker in the kingdom?
