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Priscilla and Aquila Paul’S Firm Friends and Model Tentmakers by Mans Ramstad

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Priscilla and Aquila Paul’S Firm Friends and Model Tentmakers by Mans Ramstad Mans Ramstad 29 Priscilla and Aquila Paul’s Firm Friends and Model Tentmakers by Mans Ramstad n Acts and the Pauline letters around 95 individuals are recorded to have been associated with Paul during his ministry. They are participants Iin his preaching, teaching and writing. The presence of these people in Paul’s life shows the extent to which his ministry was one of teamwork and camaraderie, and was not a “one-man show”. Further analysis shows that of these 95 individuals, 36 of them were intimate coworkers of Paul (Hawthorne, Martin et al. 1993). Among the ranks of coworkers was the couple from Rome, Priscilla and Aquila. Paul referred to them as his syner- goi (coworkers), and they ministered together for a period of over ten years. During this time, Priscilla and Aquila1 ministered relatively independently of Paul, as he was often traveling or living in other locations, but their commitment to common ministry is sure. Although Paul is often considered the primary example of tentmaking ministry in the New Testament, and although the information we have on his ministry is the richest and most complete, we find among Paul’s friends other examples of good tentmaking ministry from which we can learn. I find Priscilla and Aquila to be excellent examples of how to be successful tentmak- ers and church planters in cross-cultural contexts. In this paper I would like to tell their life story as an example of successful tentmaking ministry. Background Aquila was a Jew born and raised in Pontus on the Black Sea coast of Asia Minor (Acts 18:1). He was a convert to Christ, possibly having heard the gospel from Pontian Christians who had been present at Pentecost in Jerusalem (Acts 2:9). For reasons unknown, he immigrated to far away Rome. Aquila was a businessman who made and traded leather (please see Table for chronology and references). In Rome, Aquila met and married a high Roman girl by the name of Priscilla Mans Ramstad and his family have (sometimes called by the affectionate name, Prisca). Together, Priscilla and been involved in tentmaking ministry Aquila became stalwart members of the church in Rome. They lived in Rome in an Asian country for ten years. for approximately nine years. International Journal of Frontier Missions 19:1 Spring 2002•28 19:1 Spring 2002 Mans Ramstad 29 In 49 AD, Emperor Claudius issued Priscilla and Aquila worked and minis- the synagogue. Apollos was a Jewish an edict expelling all the Jews from tered in Corinth for around three years. traveler from Alexandria, Egypt (Acts Rome, so that Priscilla and Aquila 18:26). Apollos was a learned man moved to the port city of Corinth. Move to Ephesus with a thorough knowledge of the Once in Corinth, they continued In 52 AD Priscilla and Aquila moved Scriptures. Although he preached of their trade in leather. It is impor- with Paul to Ephesus. They may Jesus, and was able to refute people tant to note that in Corinth they are have even had branch offices for their with the Scriptures, his doctrine foreigners, so their ministry bears leather business in Rome, Corinth was in error, for he only knew the this similarity to that of we modern and now Ephesus. Eventually Paul baptism of John (Acts 19:4). Aquila tentmakers. left for Syria, leaving Priscilla and and Priscilla recognized this, so they Aquila in charge of the ministry invited Apollos to their home where Encounter with Paul in Ephesus. In Ephesus they wor- they taught him correct doctrine. At this time, the Apostle Paul was shipped regularly in the synagogue, in Corinth, working in the leather so they ministered both to the busi- This good example of Priscilla and business and preaching the gospel. Aquila shows the role of the home in He preached in the synagogue every ministry. In many of the countries we Sabbath trying to persuade Jews live in, we are not allowed to evan- and Greeks (Acts 18:3). One day gelize and preach publicly, but we Priscilla and Aquila happened to have tremendous freedom in what we meet Paul, because they were of the do with individuals or small groups same trade. They invited Paul to This good example of of people in our homes. They seized their home, and showed hospitality Priscilla and Aquila on this opportunity and were able to him. This was the beginning of to successfully correct Apollos. This their ministry teamwork. It all began, shows the role of the home also shows the importance of being not because they belonged to the in ministry. able, and willing, to teach sound same mission board, but because they doctrine and correct errors (II Tim 3: were in the same public work. They 16). It must have been intimidating didn’t become ministry partners as for Priscilla and Aquila to challenge a result of long-range planning, but Apollos, but they were willing to do became ministry partners because so. Although they may have seemed first they were professional colleagues. ness community and to the religious unspectacular in ministry, primar- Their professional skill was crucial community. Paul showed a great deal ily opening their home to ministry, to having a legitimate existence in of trust in Priscilla and Aquila, leav- they were obviously steeped in sound Corinth, where they were foreign- ing them in charge of the ministry. doctrine and able to teach accurately. ers, and as the best channel to make This brings up an important lesson This is a skill we need as well. Many friends. People were able to identify for us today. If our long-term goal is people who have a limited amount of with them. Many traditional mis- a strong indigenous ministry, led by Biblical and theological training hope sionaries find their most difficult task local people, we need to trust people to go into missions. It is a mistake to be making friendships that have with responsibility, and allow them to cut corners on the training one ministry potential. Tentmakers don’t to move ahead in leadership accord- receives. have this problem, because their work ing to their gifts and their vision. It is difficult to predict who will turn naturally puts them in contact with It is easy to be overly controlling, out to be key ministers of the gospel. many people. As we go into new con- and then later wonder why the local In Apollos, Priscilla and Aquila had texts, we need to have eyes and ears people don’t want to assume respon- identified a key person. Eventually that are open to seeing the ministry sibility. For one thing, by being left they encouraged him to visit Corinth potential of the people around us. We out of leadership, they haven’t been (cf I Cor 1:12; 3:4-6, 22; 4:6; 16:12). must avoid being too insular in this able to develop the skills necessary to In Achaia, Apollos became a tremen- regard. lead. Second, you may have unwit- dous help to the brothers and evange- tingly established a leadership style By being able to work with their lized Jews there. We should give our which so resembles yourself that best to everyone the Lord entrusts to own hands (II Cor 11:9, I Thess 2: nobody feels able, or wants to assume 9, 4:11; II Thess 3:10-13), tentmak- us in ministry. One never knows if a leadership for it. We can learn much disciple the Lord has entrusted to you ers also have the advantage of not from Paul’s example of empower- being a burden on local people, or of might become an Apollos. If we have ing and trusting local people to lead, the chance of raising up one Apollos confusing the local people about the right from the beginning. Eventually source of their support. They can see in our lifetime, it would be a life well Priscilla and Aquila were able to start spent. that you are being paid (including a church in their home in Ephesus (I being supported by churches back in Cor. 16:19). In late 52, Paul returned to Ephesus one’s home country) to do a task with and probably lived with Priscilla and which they can identify. One day Priscilla and Aquila heard Aquila during that fruitful three years a man named Apollos preaching in of ministry (Acts 20:31). In Romans International Journal of Frontier Missions 19:1 Spring 2002•28 19:1 Spring 2002 30 Priscilla and Aquila Mans Ramstad 31 16:4 we read of Priscilla and Aquila goi). He praises them for their fruitful tentmaking ministry. Lessons we having risked their lives for the sake of Christian lives, and points out that modern-day Tentmakers can learn Paul. We don’t know what the incident they are known to “all the churches from the example of Priscilla and was, but it is possible that it was of the Gentiles”. They obviously have Aquila include: during the incident in the theater in 1. Priscilla and Aquila Ephesus that they protected him. This spent most of their shows their love and support of each The peripatetic time ministering across other, risking even their very lives. cultural lines. Most of the Priscilla and Aquila are known for Apostle Paul is unrivalled information we have about their unswerving support for leaders as a missionary and a their lives is away from their in ministry—including both Paul “hometowns”. and Timothy. From the example of tentmaker. However, not 2. Work with your hands and if Priscilla and Aquila, we learn of the everyone has the same possible, support yourself.
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