Priscilla & Aquila

Courtesy of Affirm Films

Introduction

Priscilla (Greek: Priskila) was born around AD 1 in the city of Rome. Her husband, Aquila (Greek: Akulas), was born about the same time in the Roman province of Bithynia and Pontus. Both were Jewish Christians and close companions of the apostle Paul during his missionary journeys. Priscilla's name, a diminutive of Prisca, means "Ancient" in Latin. Aquila's name in Latin means "Eagle," a common Roman name that fits well with his Pontic background near the Black Sea. After moving to Rome, Priscilla and Aquila worked as tentmakers.

Around AD 49, the emperor Claudius expelled many Jews from Rome following disturbances that Suetonius attributes to "Chrestus," a reference many scholars understand as disputes concerning Christ. At the time, Roman authorities generally regarded Christians as a movement within Judaism. Luke records this event in the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 18:2), and the Roman historian Suetonius also mentioned the expulsion (Claud. 25.4).

Courtesy of Affirm Films

Priscilla and Aquila in Ministry​

Priscilla and Aquila served as teachers in the first-century church. When they heard Apollos preaching about Jesus, they invited him into their home, where they explained "the way of God more accurately" (Acts 18:26). Although Apollos already knew Jesus was the Messiah, he knew only John's baptism (Acts 18:25), indicating that his understanding of the gospel and the significance of Christian baptism had not yet been fully developed. Elsewhere in the Acts of the Apostles, Luke clearly distinguishes John's baptism from Christian baptism. When Paul encountered disciples in Ephesus who had received only John's baptism, he explained that John had administered a baptism of repentance that pointed people to Jesus.

After hearing the gospel, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus and received the Holy Spirit (Acts 19:1–7). This later account helps explain why Apollos, despite his sincere faith and knowledge of the Scriptures, still required further instruction. Even though he was an eloquent speaker from Alexandria and well-versed in the Scriptures, he still benefited from the teaching Priscilla and Aquila provided. Their ministry extended well beyond this single episode. Paul described them as his "co-workers in Christ Jesus" who had "risked their lives" for him, adding that not only he but also "all the churches of the Gentiles" were grateful for their service. He also greeted "the church that meets at their house," showing that their home functioned as a center of Christian worship, fellowship, and instruction. Years later, in one of his final letters, Paul again sent greetings to "Prisca and Aquila," indicating that they remained active in Christian ministry until the end of his life (Rom. 16:3–5; cf. 1 Cor. 16:19; 2 Tim. 4:19).

Priscilla and Aquila led a house church in Ephesus. Luke uses the Greek verb proslambanō (G4355), which the New International Version translates as "invited him to their home" (Acts 18:26 NIV), while the English Standard Version renders it "took him aside" (Acts 18:26 ESV). The verb combines pros (G4314), a preposition that intensifies an action, with lambanō (G2983, "to take" or "to receive"). Together, the word describes a deliberate and personal act of receiving someone. Matthew uses proslambanō when Peter "took [Jesus] aside" to rebuke him (Matt. 16:22). In the Acts of the Apostles and in Paul's letters, it usually expresses Mediterranean hospitality and intentional, Christlike welcome. Paul writes, "Accept [proslambanō] the one whose faith is weak" (Rom. 14:1), and again, "Accept one another, just as Christ accepted you" (Rom. 15:7). Luke shows the same idea when he describes how the islanders of Malta "welcomed us all" (Acts 28:2) and when Paul urges Philemon to "welcome him as you would welcome me" (Philem. 1:17).

Luke's use of proslambanō (Acts 18:26) illustrates Priscilla and Aquila welcoming Apollos into their home for personal instruction rather than correcting him publicly. Their home functioned as a place of hospitality, teaching, and Christian fellowship, reflecting the important role Priscilla and Aquila played in the life of the early church.

---

Bibliography

Primary Sources

Suetonius. The Twelve Caesars. Translated by J. C. Rolfe. 2 vols. Loeb Classical Library. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1914.

Commentaries

Bruce, F. F. The Book of the Acts. New International Commentary on the New Testament. Revised ed. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1988.

Keener, Craig S. Acts: An Exegetical Commentary. 4 vols. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2012–2015.

Moo, Douglas J. The Epistle to the Romans. New International Commentary on the New Testament. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1996.

Schreiner, Thomas R. Romans. Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament. 2nd ed. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2018.

Witherington, Ben, III. The Acts of the Apostles: A Socio-Rhetorical Commentary. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1998.

Monographs

Witherington, Ben, III. Priscilla: The Life of an Early Christian. Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic, 2019.

Reference Works

Bauer, Walter. A Greek–English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature. 3rd ed. Revised and edited by Frederick William Danker. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2000.

Online Resources

Mowczko, Margaret. "At Home with Priscilla and Aquila."↗ Marg Mowczko (blog). November 11, 2015.