Read: Acts 18:1-3 (TPT) When Paul left Athens he traveled to Corinth, where he met a Jewish man named Aquila, who was originally from northeastern Turkey. He and his wife, Priscilla, had recently emigrated from Italy to Corinth because Emperor Claudius had expelled all the Jews from Rome. Since Paul and Aquila were both tentmakers by trade, Paul moved in with them and they became business partners.
Read: Romans 16:3-5a (NIV) Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my co-workers in Christ Jesus. They risked their lives for me. Not only I but all the churches of the Gentiles are grateful to them. Greet also the church that meets at their house.
Support – Paul, Priscilla, and Aquila
As an Apostle and servant of Christ, Paul traveled throughout Asia Minor (modern day Turkey) and Greece, with visits to Judea and ultimately on to Rome. He worked very diligently to teach people about Jesus, convince them to believe, and as a result established many of the local churches in those areas he visited. We have received the majority of the New Testament from Paul’s writings and therefore we are beneficiaries of the same blessings he shared with those churches. But Paul did not do any of it alone.
As we read about Paul’s activities in the Book of Acts, or in his letters written to those early believers, we learn about many people who supported, accompanied, or befriended Paul. One friendship which uniquely stands out is that of Priscilla and Aquila. A married Christ-following power couple who made quite a difference in Paul’s life, as well as in their service to the Lord. They were a couple filled with hospitality welcoming Paul into their home in Corinth, supporting him through a partnership in their mutual tentmaking business. We learn Priscilla and Aquila accompanied Paul when he left Corinth to sail for Ephesus where they remained to work with the church planted there.
These were friends who worked side by side with Paul, taught with him, built up the Church with him to the extent of being hosts for church gatherings and, according to Paul’s letter to the Romans, they were willing to give their lives to stand with Paul. They were friends who gave their all. What a powerful example to us of friendship, of what supporting our friends looks like in a practical way.
Through the sharing of our time, talents, abilities, ministries, and generosity, let us contemplate Paul, Priscilla, and Aquila. May we wholeheartedly strive to be there for our friends in the same spirit they were there for each other. All to the glory of God.
To learn more about the friendship of Paul, Priscilla, and Aquila, read Acts 18:1-3, Acts 18:18-19, Romans 16:3-5, 1 Corinthians 16:19, and 2 Timothy 4:19
