Priscilla & Aquila (Acts 18:1–5; Acts 18:18–19; Acts 18:24–26; Romans 16:3–5; 1 Corinthians 16:19; 2 Timothy 4:19)

Tentmakers who worked with Paul

A husband and wife, Aquila a Jew of Pontus and his wife Priscilla (called Prisca in Paul's letters), who were tentmakers like Paul, lived and worked with him at Corinth, went with him to Ephesus, expounded the way of God to Apollos, and had a church in their house.

Acts introduces them at Corinth: “a certain Jew named Aquila, a man of Pontus by race, lately come from Italy, with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to depart from Rome” (Acts 18:2). Paul came to them, and “because he was of the same trade, he abode with them, and they wrought; for by their trade they were tentmakers” (Acts 18:3).

When Paul sailed for Syria, “with him Priscilla and Aquila” (Acts 18:18); they came to Ephesus and he left them there (Acts 18:19). There they heard Apollos speaking boldly in the synagogue: “they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more accurately” (Acts 18:26).

Paul's letters call the wife Prisca. He names them “my fellow-workers in Christ Jesus, who for my life laid down their own necks” (Romans 16:3-4) and sends greetings from “Aquila and Prisca… with the church that is in their house” (1 Corinthians 16:19). They are named once more in 2 Timothy 4:19.

Strengths

• Shared work and trade
• Hospitality
• Careful instruction
• Risk for Paul's life
• Working alongside Paul in the gospel

Themes

• Working together
• Hospitality
• Teaching a teacher
• A church in the house
• Fellow-workers

Paul lodges and works with them at Corinth (Acts 18:1–5)

Paul finds Aquila and Priscilla, recently come from Italy, and abides and works with them, because they share his trade of tentmaking.

Paul lodges and works with them at Corinth

“And he found a certain Jew named Aquila, a man of Pontus by race, lately come from Italy, with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to depart from Rome: and he came unto them” (Acts 18:2).

“And because he was of the same trade, he abode with them, and they wrought; for by their trade they were tentmakers” (Acts 18:3).

Sail with Paul to Ephesus (Acts 18:18–19)

Paul sails for Syria with Priscilla and Aquila; at Ephesus he leaves them there and goes into the synagogue.

They expound the way of God to Apollos (Acts 18:24–26)

Hearing Apollos speak boldly in the synagogue at Ephesus, Priscilla and Aquila take him to themselves and expound the way of God more accurately.

They expound the way of God to Apollos

Apollos was “an eloquent man” (Acts 18:24) and “mighty in the scriptures” (Acts 18:24); he “began to speak boldly in the synagogue” (Acts 18:26), “knowing only the baptism of John” (Acts 18:25).

“But when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more accurately” (Acts 18:26).

The church in their house (1 Corinthians 16:19)

Paul's letter sends greetings from Aquila and Prisca, with the church that is in their house.

Laid down their own necks (Romans 16:3–5)

Writing to Rome, Paul salutes Prisca and Aquila as his fellow-workers, who laid down their own necks for his life, thanked by all the churches of the Gentiles.

Laid down their own necks

“Salute Prisca and Aquila my fellow-workers in Christ Jesus, who for my life laid down their own necks; unto whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles: and salute the church that is in their house” (Romans 16:3-5).

The text does not say on what occasion this was done.

Greeted in a letter to Timothy (2 Timothy 4:19)

The letter closes with a greeting to Prisca and Aquila and the house of Onesiphorus.

Paul (Acts 18:1–3; Acts 18:18–19; Romans 16:3–4)

Shared his trade at Corinth, sailed with him to Ephesus; he calls them fellow-workers who for his life laid down their own necks.

Apollos (Acts 18:24–26)

They heard him at Ephesus, took him unto them and expounded the way of God more accurately.

The church in their house (Romans 16:3–5; 1 Corinthians 16:19)

Greeted in Paul's letters with the church that is in their house.

Major sections

• Acts 18:1–4
• Acts 18:18–28
• Romans 16:3–5

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