Priscilla and Aquila. Daily Devotional by Randy Petersen and Robin Shreeves
Acts 18; romans 16:3; 1 corinthians 16:19; 2 timothy 4:19
Moving through the new testament, you can’t get far without meeting Priscilla and her husband, aquila. they’re mentioned in acts 18 and in three different epistles. even more amazing, we find them in three different cities.
They meet Paul in corinth. in Ephesus, they counsel the great preacher apollos. and when Paul writes his letter to the Romans, they’re already there, hosting a church in their home.
It all proves tantalizing for a biblical detective, putting together the clues to assemble a dossier on this power couple. First, we note that they are always men? tioned in tandem.
Whatever they did, they did together. then we consider their names. Priscilla (“ancient”) is a noble roman family name, and Aquila (“eagle”) has ties to the roman army.
We could surmise that they had some family money, and that would explain how they had a house in rome large enough for a church, it might also suggest that they owned the tent?making business that temporarily employed Paul. But that’s all guesswork.
We know they were forced to leave rome when emperor claudius expelled the Jews in aD 49. they re settled in corinth, and that’s probably where they became christians.
They went with Paul to ephesus, but then it seems they went back to rome for a time travel was rather easy in the first?century roman empire.
Roads built by the roman army were often paved, and seas were patrolled by the roman navy, dis? couraging pirates. and remember that Priscilla and aquila made tents, something bought by travelers.
It would make sense for them to travel wherever the market was good. But they seemed to be guided by a different economy: Where could they do the most good for God’s Kingdom? sometimes they needed to be at Paul’s side, supporting his ministry, and sometimes they needed to nurture believers in other locations.
how many times in your life have you moved? the logistics of relocating can be stressful, but this biblical couple reminds us that God can use us wherever we go.
You might think that a job or a school or a family commitment has brought you to your current home, but there’s a higher purpose here. God has work for you to do.
Work for the peace and prosperity of the city where I sent you.
Jeremiah 29:7
