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Home , Priscilla and Aquila

WORD&WAY FORMATIONS COMMENTARY Priscilla and Aquila May 19, 2019 Scripture: :1-4, 18-21, 24-28

As we study some of those who missionaries who establish themselves (Paul), then from Paul to Priscilla and joined the Apostle Paul in his in a community through secular Aquila, then from Priscilla and Aquila remarkable missionary work. In our world, when religious to , and fi nally through Apollos journeys we fi nd an organizations and titles can present a to the region of Achaia. God works interesting variety of barrier to those outside the church, we through all kinds of people in diff erent people with a single should learn from biblical accounts that situations and places to share his . devotion to . communicating God’s love happens We are not all destined for full-time Uniformity is found in when we live our faith outside the ministry, but we are called to be mentors their faith but not in church structure and denominational and encouragers, loving people into the K. their social standing or walls. Organization is good but it family of God. I look back at my early Olmsted religious credentials. cannot change a human heart. days of ministry, when farmers, their It is also noteworthy that in a male- Note that Paul, for all his gift s, wives, deacons, Sunday School teachers dominated culture women could be partnered with others who then grew and older pastors took me under their involved in signifi cant ministry. For into their own ministry. He lived out wings, loving and encouraging me in instance Aquila is mentioned before his his philosophy that the church as ministry. My faith and ministry involves wife when Paul fi rst meets the couple the body of Christ in this world has a lot of Priscillas and Aquilas. in Corinth, but when Paul, Aquila and many members, each one diff erent but Apollos sensed a calling to Achaia Priscilla arrived in , Priscilla necessary to a healthy spiritual life (1 where he “greatly helped” those who is not only named before her husband, Cor.12:1-20). When Paul left Ephesus, through grace had become believers” (v. she is also the one who teaches the Priscilla and Aquila remained there 27). He also “powerfully refuted the promising young preacher Apollos. Th e and Priscilla taught Apollos, a Jew in public, showing by the scriptures that couple ended up in Rome several years from Alexandria in Egypt, described the Messiah is ” (v. 28). later; when Paul wrote his letter to the as “eloquent and well-versed in the Although much has changed from church at Rome he sent greetings to scriptures” (v. 24). Apollos had been the earliest days of the church, the Priscilla and Aquila who “risked their “instructed in the way of the Lord; and barriers to the good news of God’s necks for my life” (:4). Paul he spoke with burning enthusiasm and love remain the same. Personal faith also sent greetings for this couple to the taught accurately the things concerning in Christ is the one foundation of church at Corinth (:19) Jesus, though he knew only the baptism true spiritual hope and life. We are and he later asked Timothy to greet of John” (v. 25). all “ministers,” that is, people who Priscilla and Aquila (:19). Th is encounter reminds us that the experience God’s love and share that Aquila was from in northern message of Christ had only begun love by our values, behavior and words. Asia Minor, where there was a strong to spread across the empire and that Th e church community of our day Jewish community. We don’t know oft en people were hearing only bits is lamenting the growth of those we Priscilla’s (Prisca’s) homeland, but we and pieces of the . Apollos knew call “nones” in American society, those suspect she came from a family of high the teachings of John the baptizer, but who have walked away from organized social standing. You may have noticed did not know the complete message of religion, who are disillusioned by that Paul’s converts across the empire Christ. Priscilla became the primary denominational bureaucracies, power included not only Jews but Greeks and teacher of the gospel message to Apollos. politics and outdated church programs. important women. Many Gentiles left A woman teaching a man was unusual Success, size and selfi shness too oft en the empty pagan religions for the hope in secular society and impossible shape the modern church. and moral grounding of Judaism and within Judaism at that time. Th e New saw in Christ the true spiritual promise Testament is full of stories that reveal We can learn from the challenging no other religion off ered. the power of the gospel breaking down and uncharted early days of the church all kinds of social barriers. Even today that our relationship with God and Saul, the Jewish Pharisee, who was with one another must be at the core of also Paul the Roman citizen, could some churches struggle with gender limitations. Our English translation of faith in Christ. We must be the modern cross the barrier between those two , Paul, , Priscilla, Aquila, worlds. Aquila and Priscilla could Acts ends correctly with: “preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching the Apollos. We must be the encouragers do the same. Th e three also shared and teachers in everything we do. With the profession of “tent maker,” which Lord Jesus Christ with all openness, unhindered” (:31). Th ere are still the beginning of each day we can ask provided an income for Paul as well God to help us see opportunities for as acceptance into the working world churches that build barriers instead of working beyond them. ministering, to give us compassion for for that team of three to share Christ. others and to bless others through our You may have heard the term “tent It is fascinating to follow the work of words and actions. makers” in modern times to describe the Holy Spirit through Barnabas to Saul Retired aft er almost 50 years in pastoral ministry, Michael K. Olmsted enjoys family, supply preaching and interim work, literature, history, the arts and antiques. Formations is a curriculum series from Smyth & Helwys Publishing, Inc. through NextSunday Resources.