VICTOR LORENZO
Priscilla and Aquila: a couple missionary
Romans 16:3-4 “Give my greetings to Priscilla and Aquila, my co-workers in the ministry of Christ Jesus. In fact, they once risked their lives for me. I am thankful to them, and so are all the Gentile churches.”
Paul acknowledges Priscilla and Aquila as his co-workers in Christ’s ministry. Who are they, and what were their contributions to the early church?
Persecutions in Rome
Aquila and Priscilla, also known as Prisca, were a married couple who played a significant role in the early Christian church.
They left Rome when Emperor Claudius began expelling all Jews from Rome. They were also tent makers like Paul.
They met Paul in Corinth. Perhaps their common trade as tent makers connected them personally. Maybe it was God’s timing that the meeting happened because Paul must have felt low from his disappointment in evangelizing the Athenians.
The Athenians’ intellectual pride was a major obstacle to their acceptance of the Gospel. So Paul moved to Corinth, where he met the couple and found comfort in their support, as well as Titus Justus and Crispus.
Persecutions and sorrow led to joy. A community of believers and preachers was growing. God was building a missionary team in Corinth.
Opening their home
The couple was noted for opening their home for church meetings, which was particularly significant in building a community of believers.
We, too, can open our homes to missionary workers. We have personally experienced this when we opened our homes to various foreign and local missionaries. It was like welcoming God into our home.
Teaching at every opportunity
Priscilla and Aquila were great teachers. They were probably taught by Paul the basics of our faith.
In Ephesus, they encountered an eloquent speaker named Apollos, who was “mighty in the Scriptures” but only knew of John’s baptism.
Aquila and Priscilla took Apollos aside and explained “the way of God more accurately. As a result, Apollos became a more effective preacher of the Christian faith.
It is a lesson for us to take every opportunity to teach and spread the Gospel of Christ. Take every opportunity to speak the Truth of Jesus Christ and share your experience or story. Storytelling is a unique way of spreading the Gospel. Nobody can fault our personal experience.
Enduring Faith and Encouragement
Paul acknowledges the couple’s faithfulness in working for the Lord even on their own. It was in Paul’s letter to Timothy that Paul noted that the couple was still actively ministering in Ephesus.
Like Paul, let us acknowledge and encourage others to do the Lord’s work. Missionaries face many disappointments, so let us encourage them and turn their inner hearts into the joy that comes from the Lord.
The Holy Spirit will give us the words to say.
Aquila and Priscilla exemplify laypersons’ impact in building the church. Missionary work is not limited to apostles, clergy, and full-time workers. We are all called to participate in spreading the Gospel. Each has a role, and there is no big or small role. Each role complements others to build a stronger and bigger church, the People of God.
Their story is a testament to the power of hospitality, mentorship, and dedicated service in growing the Christian faith.
Let us pray and ask the Holy Spirit for His wisdom, courage, and strength to spread the Gospel of Truth and Love.