Manslick Road church of Christ

Aquilla and Priscilla: Workers Everywhere

Modern American families are on the move. There was a time when it was common for people to stay in one locale all their lives. That is now the exception rather than the rule, especially for younger families. Ever-changing economic and work conditions translate into more frequent job changes and moves.

This moving about is at times spiritually counter-productive. Some are faithful in attendance at one church, but when they relocate they do not maintain the habit of consistent worship. Some are hard workers in one place but never do get as involved in another. Some who have associated with a sound church in one community compromise when they move: perhaps the nearest faithful congregation is a greater distance away, or is small, or for some other reason seems less appealing.

The New Testament tells of a family that was often on the move: Aquila and his wife, Priscilla (or Prisca). You have to be impressed that no matter where they were, they were working hard for the Lord.

Our introduction to this couple is in Acts 18. Paul came to Corinth and stayed with them because they were of the same trade: tent-makers. They had recently come from Italy. The Bible does not say whether they were already Christians at that time or Paul converted them then. It does say that when Paul left Corinth they went with him to Ephesus (vss. 18-19). They stayed there while Paul went to Antioch.

While at Ephesus, Aquila and Priscilla met Apollos, an eloquent preacher from Alexandria. He was mighty in the Scriptures but ignorant about baptism. They “took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately” (vs. 26). He went on to be an effective gospel preacher, first at Ephesus, then at Corinth.

Aquila and Priscilla evidently still lived at Ephesus when Paul returned there. He mentions them in 1 Corinthians 16:19 , noting that the church met in their house.

By the time Paul wrote Romans, this family was back to Rome. The Apostle wrote, “Greet Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, who for my life risked their own necks, to whom not only do I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles; also greet the church that is in their house” (Rom. 16:3-5 a).

The final mention of this couple is in 2 Timothy 4:19 . Now, Paul was in Rome and sent greetings to them back at Ephesus.

Aquila and Priscilla were models of faithfulness. Neither materialistic Ephesus nor ungodly Corinth influenced them away from the Lord. They worked with different sized churches. They worked in varying circumstances, at times dangerous ones. Yet Paul could always count on them. So could the Lord. Can He count on you?