Is there a couple you admire? The balance of their talents, teamwork and togetherness. Today we would explore the journey of a power couple in the Bible. Their courage, bravery and consistency. We would be looking at their lives across a few scriptures Acts 18:1-11, Acts 18:18-28, Romans 16: 3-5, 1 corinth 16:19, and 2 Timothy 4

In this study, the tools we would use for this study are 

1. Who, What, When, Where, and How tool
2. What does it mean? 
3. How does it apply to me today?

So let’s dig in and turn the bible to Acts 18:1-11, Acts 18:18-28, Romans 16: 3-5, 1 corinth 16:19, 2 Timothy 4

Who, What, When, Where, and How tool

Priscilla & Aquila had just relocated their family from Italy to Corinth because of Claudius the empero’s persecution of Jews and he made an order that all Jewswere  to leave Rome. In this uncertain and perilous time Priscilla and her husband Aquila made their way to Corinth to start a new life. Priscilla was a tentmaker, she worked alongside her husband. They both  welcomed Paul Who had just left Athens to stay at their house. They( Priscilla, Aquila and Paul) all worked making tents.,

Prisiclla & Aquila sailed with Paul when he left Corinth for Syria. Paul left Priscilla and Aquila in Ephesus.

Priscilla and Aquila heard Apollos  speaking boldly in the synagogue and invited him to their home. Apollo’s knowledge of the gospel was up to the baptism of John but Priscilla and Aquila explained to him the way of God more adequately.

They encouraged Apollos when he wanted to go to Achaia to spread the good news.

Paul continually sends greetings to Priscilla and Aquila as co-workers in Christ Jesus. They risked  their lives for Paul and the churches planted in the gentile nations. Priscilla and Aquila always seem to have their home as a location for church meetings.

What does (this passage ) mean? 

From these passages about Priscilla and Aquila what did it mean to them?

Prisciall and her family just relocated to Corinth, so there must have been a lot of uncertainty and instability.  They are now in this new location Corinth because of persecution. They stay together as a couple to rebuild their livelihood. In those times when it was not common for women to do work that were not domestic, we see Prisical a tent maker in her own rights. As they would have to build their business afresh with new clientele and the credibility of their work. This couple whose names are mostly mentioned together meet Paul, a fellow Jew, a tentmaker and an apostle. And welcomed him to their home.

They did not see Paul as a competitor in the tent making business but rather these 3 people worked together making tents.

Priscilla & her family were quite accommodating as they accommodated Paul in their home for at least a year and a half. While Paul worked with them but on the sabbaths Paul preached the gospel to the Jews at the synagogue.

Priscilla and Aquila again had to re;locate, as they travelled with Paul on his way to Syria to preach the gospel. Priscilla and Aquila faith walk continued when they were in Ephesus, it did not fizzle out because Paul was elsewhere preaching. Wherever Priscilla and Aquila went, they went as a couple, opened their home to the church. Being new in Ephesus, building their business again did not hinder their hospitality to the church.

While in Ephesus, they had the opportunity to meet Apollo. While Apollos was great at speaking and addressing people, what he knew was up to the baptism of John and he wasn’t quite aware of other things about the gospel of Jesus Christ.  Priscilla and Aquila affirmed what Apollos was preaching but also guided him in making things more clearer to Apollo in order that he can preach the Gospel more effectively. This they didn’t do publicly but privately in their own home. They knew their role in the body of Christ, they were not in competition with either Paul or Apollos but would encourage all that belong to Christ Jesus. That the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ may be preached to the nations of the earth.

Many years may have passed since Paul first met Priscilla and her husband Acquiila, and though they were not always in the same location, Priscilla and Aquila have continued their journey of faith and service to the body of Christ in the capacity that God had called them to. They were not in the limelight like Paul but they have been faithful and consistent in serving the body of Christ. The contintency of their faith, we can see Paul always sending greetings to them.

How does it apply to me today?

We have met Prisicla and Aquila, a christian couple whose faith and walk with God is consistent. I will say they are a power couple who has encouraged many in their christian faith and walk. Prisical is one of the women in the new testament. I have wondered why her name was always written before her husband’s name. It was to shine a spotlight on her. A woman, in a partiatch world, she owned her faith, she was a skilled tentmaker and her hospitality, her encouragement of believers.  All these were done by the couple together. Priscilla showed an ownership of faith, decision and actions.

This power couple were courageous  and hospitable in uncertain, perilous times. They challenge us with courage and  hospitality, in our world as things are uncertain and hospitality is a rare word.

Our faith in God should not depend on the presence and absence of any human being. If we are chirstinas in the north of the country, and we had to relocate to the south of the country, would we still be christain? When all around is unfamiliar and it may seem we are all alone? Would we own and walk our faith wherever we may find ourselves. We see Prisicall and her Aquilla do this several times.

Prisical and Aquila, recognised the gift of Apollos. While they noticed Apollos needed some tutoring, they did not tutor Apollo right in the middle of his preaching in the sysnagore but rather brought him to their home and explained things to him. How do we correct others? Is it publicly or privately? And what is our motive to correct? Is it to show off all that we know or is it to build another person up? Correcting others should be done in a way that does not demean the person but rather privately so that they are able to use and benefit from the correction.

We  may have different callings to serve in the body of Christ, but all are equally important and recognised. Therefore we should be consistent in the calling of God in our lives. It may not look big or glamorous but what is required of us is to do what we have been called to. 

The interactions of Priscilla and Aquila with Paul, Apollos and the different churches that met in their homes reminds me of the parable of the talents in Matthew 25:20-23

20 “So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, ‘Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.’ 21 His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ 22 He also who had received two talents came and said, ‘Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them.’ 23 His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’

The servant who was given 2 talents was rewarded as well as the servant who was given 5 talents. They were both rewarded for doing what they have been called to. What has the Lord committed to your hands? What has the Lord committed to my hands? Are we serving to the best of our ability?

Throughout their ministry this couple exemplifies kindness, hospitality, and hard work, no matter where God planted them. Priscilla and Aquila fled Rome after the persecution of the Jewish people under the Emperor Claudius. They met Paul while carrying out their business of tentmaking. They opened their home to Paul and collaborated with Paul in the enterprise of tentmaking. This couple tutored the eloquent minister Apollos. They bravely stood by Paul and the early church at  the times of great persecution. Encourage others in their faith journey. Both of them own their faith, work and walk. There is a lot said about setting goals as a couple #couple’s goals. Priscilla and Aquila are a good example of a godly marriage.

And the questions from  this study are; will your faith be continents at different times? Will you do what you have been called to even if it was not glamorous? Are you faith courageous and hospitable? These are the things on my heart as I complete this study on Priscilla and her Aquila.