Priscilla And Aquila—The Couple Who Worked Together In The Lord’s Kingdom
By Chris Reeves | Tennessee, USA
In some ways, marriage is like a team sport—it is best played when everyone works together. When you open your Bible looking for married couples who were teammates, Priscilla and Aquila fit that description perfectly, and they are an outstanding model for all marriages today.
Introduction
You may have heard someone say when they are looking for a person to marry that they are looking for their “soulmate.” We know what that means. It means that someone is looking for a person to marry with whom they have a deep and close connection. They want to marry one who will be their close friend. While closeness in marriage is indeed important, I would suggest another quality to look for in a marriage partner. You should marry someone who will be your spiritual teammate.
Each time Priscilla and Aquila are mentioned in the New Testament, they are mentioned together, never apart, and they are described as working together to advance the Lord’s kingdom. They are mentioned six times in the New Testament and you can read about them in Acts 18:2; 18:18; 18:26; Romans 16:19; 1 Corinthians 16:19; and, 2 Timothy 4:19 [Note #1]. When you survey the inspired record of their marriage, you find that they were tentmakers, travelers, teachers, and teammates [Note #2]. This married couple really “had their act together” [Note #3].
They Were Tentmakers Together
Luke introduces us to Priscilla and Aquila in Acts 18:1-3. Here, we learn that Priscilla and Aquila had been expelled from Rome (c. AD 49/50) by Emperor Claudius because they were Jews [Note #4]. They came to Corinth, where they labored together as tentmakers. Think about what it would have taken for them to work together as a couple all day long. For one thing, it would have required patience and maturity. Then, when Paul came to Corinth, they allowed him to make tents with them as well.
You may be thinking at this point, “There’s no way I could work with my spouse all day long. He (or she) would drive me nuts!” However, it can be done. Whether or not a couple actually has the same job is not the point. Priscilla and Aquila complimented each other and supported each other in their work together. Husbands and wives can and should do the same whether they are working inside the home (like more people are doing today) or outside of it.
They Were Travelers Together
When it came time for Paul to leave Corinth and go to Ephesus, he took Priscilla and Aquila with him. Luke records this in Acts 18:18-19. They both were willing to move and make the sacrifices necessary to travel together with Paul to do the Lord’s work. They were not travelling to do sight-seeing or vacationing. They left their home in Corinth, just like they had left Rome, and all for the cause of Christ [Note #5].
This is a great example for married couples today. Can we do things together with our spouse for the cause of Christ? Can we travel together to a gospel meeting? Can we go together to visit the sick, the shut-ins, or to encourage someone who needs our help? Can we make time in our busy lives to stop and do the Lord’s work together?
They Were Teachers Together
After a short time in Ephesus, Paul returned to Antioch and left Priscilla and Aquila in Ephesus to work with the newly formed church. We read in Acts 18:24-28 that Priscilla and Aquila were not only tent-makers, but were also teachers. They took the time and initiative to teach a fellow-Jew and preacher named Apollos. This man needed some correction and more accurate information concerning the way of God, so Priscilla and Aquila built a relationship with him.
Luke records that Priscilla and Aquila “expounded unto him the way of God more accurately” [Note #6]. The English word “expound” comes from the Greek verb ektithemi and it means “to expose or explain.” They brought out or set out (Greek: ex) the meaning of the truth so that Apollos could understand it better [Note #7]. This couple cared enough for Apollos to hear him and then work with him to bring him to a fuller knowledge of the truth. What sacrifice and love for others and the truth. No doubt they were patient, understanding, gentle, and tactful with Apollos. As a result, he was able to take his newfound knowledge of the truth and go to Achaia, where he would help the brethren and debate with the Jews using the Scriptures.
Today, married couples can do the same with the word of God. They can invite others into their home for a Bible study, or they can teach a Bible class of young people together. They can read their Bible together, discuss it together, and work on their class lessons together. They can talk to engaged couples about the importance of marriage or do marriage counselling with couples who are struggling. They can work together and with their children to make sure the husband/father is qualified to be an elder or deacon. The wife of the preacher can support him on his preaching travels and trips. One way a married couple can increase their usefulness and influence among brethren, and in the world, is to help another person be better like Priscilla and Aquila did with Apollos.
They Were Teammates Together
There are three other places in the New Testament where Priscilla (Prisca) and Aquila are mentioned [Note #8]. When Paul wrote his letter to the Corinthians from Ephesus (c. AD 56), he included greetings from Aquila and Prisca “with the church that is in their house” (1 Cor. 16:19). They were warm and welcoming—opening their home so that the church at Ephesus could meet there. What commitment, sacrifice, and hospitality.
Later, Paul wrote to the saints in Rome (c. AD 57) and wanted to send his greetings to Prisca and Aquila who were among the Christians there. First, Paul described them as “my fellow-workers in Christ Jesus.” Second, he noted their dedication in saying that they “laid down their own necks” for him. Third, he thanked them along with “all the churches of the Gentiles.” Finally, he greeted “the church that is in their house” (Rom. 16:3-5). They allowed the church to meet in their home just like they had done in Ephesus. Not only did this couple work well together, but they also worked well with Paul and other brethren. At the close of his life, Paul mentioned his dear friends in one last greeting (2 Tim. 4:19). Clearly, they were active, Christian workers and teammates for the Lord.
Today, couples can, and should, work together to advance the Lord’s cause. They can serve others together and they can take risks together for the Lord’s work. They can be couples for whom many would say, “I’m so thankful that Bro. and Sis. So-and-So were a part of my life.” As for opening up one’s home to the brethren, I have personally witnessed this recently in Ghana, Africa, where Francis and Gladys Brown open their home each week to the Sun City church which has an attendance of about 100 in the community of Buduburam outside of Accra.
Conclusion
Unfortunately, some married couples are more like roommates than teammates. However, this should not be—togetherness is the key. Priscilla and Aquila did many things together. This is what marriage is all about. I would encourage all married couples to be teammates. Join your hands and your hearts together in serving the Lord. Don’t allow the things of this life like work, hobbies, troubles, illnesses, friends, financial problems, old age, etc., to pull you apart. Solomon had it right: “Two are better than one. . .” (Eccl. 4:9) [Note #9].
Married couples, God is looking for you to be on the same team, not to be in competition with each other. So why not talk more together, do more things together, work together, serve the Lord together, help others together, make sacrifices together, open your home together, read and study your Bible together, pray together, and attend the worship services together? Remember, God made you “one” (Mal. 2:15) and joined you “together” (Matt. 19:6), and you are “joint-heirs of the grace of life” (1 Pet. 3:7). Now, go out and live that life for the Lord—standing side by side and remaining together all the way to the end!
Applications for Today
For Newlyweds
For those of you who have been married just a short time, it is easy right now for you to function as a team. Keep it up, but know that your teamwork will be tested eventually down the road.
For Mid-Lifers
The challenges of life mount for those who have been married several years. Life has a way of tearing marriages apart, but you have to keep working together as a team and not let anyone, or anything, break it up.
For Golden-Agers
Elderly married couples often have special health challenges and they will eventually need to let others into their life to help them with those issues. Be willing to let others join your lifelong team so they can give you the care you need as you face the sunset of life.
Notes
[Note #1] Many commentators make the point that Priscilla is mentioned first in four of the six references, so there must be something to this. They suggest that Priscilla was mentioned first because she was more prominent due to her education, social status, character, faithfulness, talent, etc. However, we simply do not know this to be the case. What we do know is that she and her husband were important enough to be mentioned in sacred history and every time they are mentioned, they are mentioned together and in a positive way.
[Note #2] The main headings of this article follow that of Leslie B. Flynn in his book, The Other Twelve, (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1988), pages 119-131.
[Note #3] Other Bible couples who worked well together as teammates were Noah and his wife, Moses and Zipporah, Zechariah and Elizabeth, along with Joseph and Mary.
[Note #4] Confirmation of this historical event can be found in the writings of the Roman historian, Seutonius, in his Lives of the Twelve Caesars (Divus Claudius, 25).
[Note #5] The life and travels of Priscilla and Aquila can be traced over a period of about seventeen years, from AD 50 to 67. They left Rome (c. AD 50) and went to Corinth for about two years. After that, they went to Ephesus (c. AD 52) where they stayed about three years. They left Ephesus and went to Rome for some time, and then they returned to Ephesus (c. AD 67) by the time of Paul’s second imprisonment.
[Note #6] All Scripture quotations are taken from the American Standard Version, 1901.
[Note #7] See also Acts 11:4 and Acts 28:23, where this word is found.
[Note #8] “Prisca” was her formal name and “Priscilla” was her familiar name. This is similar to “Silvanus” and “Silas,” and “Sosipater” and “Sopater.”
[Note #9] The power of two can also be seen in Jesus’s wisdom to send the twelve apostles out “two by two” (Mark. 6:7).
(Originally Published in Truth Magazine, March 2024)
