Reading… and Thinking

After these things 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); and he came to them. So, because he was of the same trade, he stayed with them and worked; for by occupation they were tentmakers.

– Acts 18:1-3 (NKJV)

Several places we’re told that Paul generally worked for his own living while doing his preaching work. It’s only here that we learn exactly how he supported himself: he was a tentmaker. This may seem strange, since we know that he was primarily a scholar in Jerusalem. But we know from sources outside the New Testament about the Pharisaic school of Hillel, which was led by Gamaliel at this time, and which Paul (then called Saul) attended. One of the requirements was that every scholar must have a trade, preferably one that involved working with the hands. Hillel thought this would help avoid the “ivory tower” problem, of scholars being out of touch with the real world. So this little detail in this passage rings true.

But the more interesting story here is the remarkable couple that Paul stayed with. Claudius threw the Jews out of Rome because the anti-Christian Jews were instigating riots against the Jews who had turned to Christ. (The gospel got to Rome very quickly, incidentally without involvement from the apostles.) Not too long afterwards, Jews were allowed to come back. Providentially, Aquila and Priscilla showed up in Corinth just about when Paul did. This wonderful couple was to play a key part in the foundation of three important congregations.

We learn about the first two right in this chapter. Their part in the early days of the Corinth church is not given much attention. We can only suppose from the fact that they went on to become vigorous preachers, that they started their work right there. By the time Paul headed home a year and a half later, they went with him as far as Ephesus (v 18). When the response there was very favorable, they stayed behind – and Paul obviously felt that the important work in this city was being left in capable hands.

Paul's trust was well-founded. Priscilla and Aquila hosted the young Ephesus church in their own home (1 Corinthians 16:19), and soon after Paul left they brought Apollos in, who proved to be another powerful force in the early church. The foundation in Ephesus was so well laid that when Paul came back, the congregation had already grown strong, and with him there it became the leading church in the entire region – a situation that continued for centuries.

But this isn't the end of Priscilla and Aquila's work. (By the way, after their first introduction, Priscilla is often named first. Those who foolishly assert that Paul was anti-female haven't paid attention to the high regard he had for this remarkable woman.) Later on, when Paul writes to the congregation in Rome, he says, “Greet Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, who risked their necks for my life, to whom not only I but also all the churches of the Gentiles give thanks; greet also the church in their house.” (Romans 16:3)

To say that “all the churches of the Gentiles” gave thanks to these two people is a tribute that is unparalleled as far as I'm aware. And it's obvious that they had returned home to Rome, and started right in again with their preaching, once again hosting the church in their home. We don't know how it was that they risked their lives for Paul – something not even hinted at in Acts. Doesn't it make you wonder what other things they did?

In every way, Priscilla and Aquila are wonderful examples for us. They immediately responded to the word of truth. When they came to the Lord, they gave the rest of their lives to his service. They were vigorous preachers. They used their material blessings in the Lord's work. They built up and nurtured the brothers and sisters. And they clearly had a great marriage partnership. They are outstanding models for believers in every generation!