This husband wife duo is a fascinating insight into the early church, and a controversial one.  Let’s look at what we know.

• They were Jewish
• They came from Italy as exiles when Claudius kicked Jews out of Rome
• They also were also tentmakers, like Paul, by trade
• Paul stayed with them
• They sailed with Paul from Corinth to Syria
• The went to Ephesus together
• They wanted Paul to stay with them in Ephesus but he left
• Together they instructed Apollos who was very learned, yet had some gaps in his knowledge
• Paul called them fellow-workers
• They also were known by Timothy
• A church met in their house
• With 1 exception, Priscilla is mentioned first, then Aquila

This couple was a power couple.  And more than that, it seems like Priscilla was the more influential, although they worked as a team.

They also were very mature and knowledgeable as Christians.  Consider the man that they instructed.

“Now a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was an eloquent man, competent in the Scriptures.  He had been instructed in the way of the Lord. And being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus, though he knew only the baptism of John. He began to speak boldly in the synagogue, but when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately” (Acts 18:24-26).

Here’s the rub:  It wasn’t just Aquila who instructed him, it was also Priscilla.  In fact, Priscilla is often seen as the more authoritative as the one mentioned first.  Because Priscilla is a woman, this is a problem for some.

There are those who try to rewrite the text and say she was serving her husband.  But the context is clear that she was in some form of teaching ministry with her husband to the man Apollos.

Third is she was called a fellow worker in Christ.  It didn’t just call her a servant or a patron.  She is a fellow worker.

In every she seems to be a key member of the work of God.  Not just making lemonade, but actively engaged in the gospel and work of ministry, even to man.  While this may disturb many, the facts are there.

This flies in the face of those who believe that a woman’s place is only in the kitchen or with the children.  Even Paul saw women with a greater calling than this.  We can’t leave this out when we go Scripture in 1 Tim 2.  There’s a bigger picture here.

“After this Paul left Athens and went to Corinth.  And he found a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to leave Rome. And he went to see them,  and because he was of the same trade he stayed with them and worked, for they were tentmakers by trade” (Acts 18:1-3).

“After this, Paul stayed many days longer and then took leave of the brothers and set sail for Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila. At Cenchreae he had cut his hair, for he was under a vow.  And they came to Ephesus, and he left them there, but he himself went into the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews.  When they asked him to stay for a longer period, he declined.  But on taking leave of them he said, “I will return to you if God wills,” and he set sail from Ephesus” (18:18-21). 

“Now a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was an eloquent man, competent in the Scriptures.  He had been instructed in the way of the Lord. And being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus, though he knew only the baptism of John. He began to speak boldly in the synagogue, but when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately.  And when he wished to cross to Achaia, the brothers encouraged him and wrote to the disciples to welcome him. When he arrived, he greatly helped those who through grace had believed, for he powerfully refuted the Jews in public, showing by the Scriptures that the Christ was Jesus” (18:24-28). 

• Romans 16:3-5

  Greet Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, ³ Greet Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, ⁴ who risked their necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks but all the churches of the Gentiles give thanks as well. ⁵ Greet also the church in their house.
• 1 Corinthians 16:19

  The churches of Asia send you greetings. Aquila and Prisca, together with the church in their house, send you hearty greetings in the Lord.
• 2 Timothy 4:19
  Greet Prisca and Aquila, and the household of Onesiphorus.