Then Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. There he became acquainted with a Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, who had recently arrived from Italy with his wife, Priscilla. They had left Italy when Claudius Caesar deported all Jews from Rome. Paul lived and worked with them, for they were tentmakers just as he was. Each Sabbath found Paul at the synagogue, trying to convince the Jews and Greeks alike.
Acts 18:1-4
There he became acquainted with a Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, who had recently arrived from Italy with his wife, Priscilla. They had left Italy when Claudius Caesar deported all Jews from Rome.
Acts 18:2
Paul stayed in Corinth for some time after that, then said good-bye to the brothers and sisters and went to nearby Cenchrea. There he shaved his head according to Jewish custom, marking the end of a vow. Then he set sail for Syria, taking Priscilla and Aquila with him.
Acts 18:18
When Priscilla and Aquila heard him preaching boldly in the synagogue, they took him aside and explained the way of God even more accurately.
Acts 18:26
Give my greetings to Priscilla and Aquila, my co-workers in the ministry of Christ Jesus.
Romans 16:3
The churches here in the province of Asia send greetings in the Lord, as do Aquila and Priscilla and all the others who gather in their home for church meetings.
1 Corinthians 16:19
Give my greetings to Priscilla and Aquila and those living in the household of Onesiphorus.
2 Timothy 4:19
- Who are these two people Aquila and his wife Priscilla and what is it with the order of their names?
- Should it be Aquila and Priscilla or should it be Priscilla and Aquila?
From E-Sword: International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
Aquila
ak´wi-la (Ἀκύλας, Akúlas), “an eagle”): Aquila and his wife Priscilla, the diminutive form of Prisca, are introduced into the narrative of the Acts by their relation to Paul. He meets them first in Corinth (Act 18:2). Aquila was a native of Pontus, doubtless one of the colony of Jews mentioned in Act 2:9; 1Pe 1:1. They were refugees from the cruel and unjust edict of Claudius which expelled all Jews from Rome in 52 ad. The decree, it is said by Suetonius, was issued on account of tumults raised by the Jews, and he especially mentions one Chrestus (Suetonius Claud. 25). Since the word Christus could easily be confounded by him to refer to some individual whose name was Chrestus and who was an agitator, resulting in these disorders, it has been concluded that the fanatical Jews were then persecuting their Christian brethren and disturbances resulted. The cause of the trouble did not concern Claudius, and so without making inquiry, all Jews were expelled. The conjecture that Aquila was a freedman and that his master had been Aquila Pontius, the Roman senator, and that from him he received his name is without foundation. He doubtless had a Hebrew name, but it is not known. It was a common custom for Jews outside of Palestine to take Roman names, and it is just that this man does, and it is by that name we know him. Driven from Rome, Aquila sought refuge in Corinth, where Paul, on his second missionary journey, meets him because they have the same trade: that of making tents of Cilician cloth (Act 18:3). The account given of him does not justify the conclusion that he and his wife were already Christians when Paul met them. Had that been the case Lk would almost certainly have said so, especially if it was true that Paul sought them out on that account. Judging from their well-known activity in Christian work they would have gathered a little band of inquirers or possibly converts, even though they had been there for but a short time. It is more in harmony with the account to conclude that Paul met them as fellow-tradespeople, and that he took the opportunity of preaching Christ to them as they toiled. There can be no doubt that Paul would use these days to lead them into the kingdom and instruct them therein, so that afterward they would be capable of being teachers themselves (Act 18:26). Not only did they become Christians, but they also became fast and devoted friends of Paul, and he fully reciprocated their affection for him (Rom 16:3, Rom 16:4). They accompanied him when he left Corinth to go to Ephesus and remained there while he went on his journey into Syria. When he ,wrote the first letter to the church at Corinth they were still at Ephesus, and their house there was used as a Christian assembly-place (1Co 16:19). The decree of Claudius excluded the Jews from Rome only temporarily, and so afterward Paul is found there, and his need of friends and their affection for him doubtless led them also to go to that city (Rom 16:3). At the time of the writing of Paul’s second letter to Tim they have again removed to Ephesus, possibly sent there by Paul to give aid to, and further the work in that city (2Ti 4:19). While nothing more is known of them there can be no doubt that they remained the devoted friends of Paul to the end.
The fact that Priscilla’s name is mentioned several times before that of her husband has called forth a number of conjectures. The best explanation seems to be that she was the stronger character.
Prisca; Priscilla – pris´ka, pri-sil´a. See AQUILA.
Dictionaries:
Easton
Aquila – Eagle, a native of Pontus, by occupation a tent-maker, whom Paul met on his first visit to Corinth (Act 18:2). Along with his wife Priscilla he had fled from Rome in consequence of a decree (A.D. 50) by Claudius commanding all Jews to leave the city. Paul sojourned with him at Corinth, and they wrought together at their common trade, making Cilician hair-cloth for tents. On Paul’s departure from Corinth after eighteen months, Aquila and his wife accompanied him to Ephesus, where they remained, while he proceeded to Syria (Act 18:18, Act 18:26). When they became Christians we are not informed, but in Ephesus they were (1Co 16:19) Paul’s “helpers in Christ Jesus.” We find them afterwards at Rome (Rom 16:3), interesting themselves still in the cause of Christ. They are referred to some years after this as being at Ephesus (2Ti 4:19). This is the last notice we have of them.
Smith
Aq’uila. (an eagle). A Jew whom St. Paul found at Corinth on his arrival from Athens. Act 18:2. (A.D. 52). He was a native of Pontus, but had fled with his wife Priscilla, from Rome, in consequence of an order of Claudius commanding all Jews to leave the city. He became acquainted with St. Paul, and they abode together, and wrought at their common trade of making the Cilician tent or hair-cloth. On the departure of the apostle from Corinth, a year and eight months after, Priscilla and Aquila accompanied him to Ephesus. There they remained and there they taught Apollos. At what time they became Christians is uncertain.
Commentaries
Barnes
And found a certain Jew – Aquila is mentioned elsewhere as the friend of Paul, Rom 16:3; 2Ti 4:19; 1Co 16:19. Though a Jew by birth, yet it is evident that he became a convert to the Christian faith. Born in Pontus – See the notes on Act 2:9. Lately come from Italy – Though the command of Claudius extended only to Rome, yet it was probably deemed not safe to remain, or it might have been difficult to procure occupation in any part of Italy. Because that Claudius – Claudius was the Roman emperor. He commenced his reign 41 a.d., and was poisoned 54 a.d. At what time in his reign this command was issued is not certainly known.
Clarke
A certain Jew named Aquila – Some have supposed that this Aquila was the same with the Onkelos, mentioned by the Jews. See the article in Wolfius, Bibl. Hebr. vol. ii. p. 1147. We have no evidence that this Jew and his wife were at this time converted to the Christian religion. Their conversion was most likely the fruit of St. Paul’s lodging with them – Pontus. See the note on Act 2:9.
Gill
And found a certain Jew named Aquila,…. This seems to have been his Roman name, which he had took, or was given him, while he was at Rome; very likely his Jewish name was נשד, “Nesher”, which signifies an eagle, as “Aquila” does: unless it should rather be thought to be a Greek name; and as “Olympas” is from “Olympios”, and “Nymphas” from Nymphios”; so “Akilas”, as it in the Greek text, from Akylios”, and this from ακυλος, “Akylos”, which signifies an acorn. There was a Jewish proselyte of this name, who translated the Bible into Greek, who is called by the Jewish writers עקילס, “Akilas” (a); and Eusebius (b) calls him ακυλας ο ποντικος, or “Akylas” or “Aquila” of Pontus, as here, but cannot be the same; for one was a Jew, the other a Gentile, then a Christian, and afterwards a Jewish proselyte, and lived after the destruction of Jerusalem many years, even in the times of Adrian: nor is it the same name with Onkelos, the famous Chaldee paraphrast, as some have thought, and much less the same person; for though their age better agrees, yet neither their name, nor their nation; for Onkelos was only a proselyte, not a Jew, as this man was; and the agreement the names of these proselytes may be thought to have with this, does but confirm it to be a Roman name; and in a decree of Claudius the Roman emperor, mention is made of Akylas, or Aquila, a Roman governor of Alexandria (c): and in the reign of Caius Caligula, there was a consul of Rome whose name was M. Aquila Julianus. This is said to be afterwards bishop of Heraclea; but that is not to be depended upon: born in Pontus; a country in Asia; See Gill on Act 2:9where many Jews lived; though he was born in an Heathen country, his parents were Jews: lately come from Italy; a famous and well known country in Europe: See Gill on Heb 13:24.
with his wife Priscilla; she and her husband are both highly spoken of in Rom 16:3; see Gill on Rom 16:4,
Jamieson, Fausset, Brown
a Jew … Aquila … with his wife Priscilla — From these Latin names one would conclude that they had resided so long in Rome as to lose their Jewish family names. Born in Pontus — the most easterly province of Asia Minor, stretching along the southern shore of the Black Sea. From this province there were Jews at Jerusalem on the great Pentecost (Act 2:9), and the Christians of it are included among “the strangers of the dispersion,” to whom Peter addressed his first Epistle (1Pe 1:1). Whether this couple were converted before Paul made their acquaintance, commentators are much divided. They may have brought their Christianity with them from Rome [Olshausen], or Paul may have been drawn to them merely by like occupation, and, lodging with them, have been the instrument of their conversion [Meyer]. They appear to have been in good circumstances, and after travelling much, to have eventually settled at Ephesus. The Christian friendship now first formed continued warm and unbroken, and the highest testimony is once and again borne to them by the apostle.
Popular
And found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, lately come from Italy, with his wife Priscilla. It seems, on the whole, probable that Aquila and Priscilla—two great names in early Christian story—were Christians before they met with Paul. There is no mention in the ‘Acts’ of their conversion; and, as it has been well argued, Paul’s ‘finding these Jews out and consorting with them, affords a strong presumption in favour of their Christianity: only among Christians could the apostle feel himself at home.’ The friendship between Paul and the two tentmakers, Aquila, and Priscilla his wife, appears to have been very intimate and enduring. We read of them several times in his epistles. They were with him during his long residence at Ephesus; they were at Rome when he wrote the great letter to the Christians of that city; once (Rom 16:3-4), he tells us, these devoted friends laid down their necks for his (Paul’s) life. If, as we suppose (see note on the next sentence), these two Jews had embraced the faith of Jesus before the meeting with Paul, then Aquila and Priscilla are the two most ancient-known members of the primitive Church of Rome.
Know your worth because if you don’t no-one else will.
Ian Vail
When you learn how much you are worth you will stop giving people discounts.
Ian Vail
Know what you bring to the table. When you do you will not be afraid to eat alone.
Ian Vail
She walks the mile, makes you smile, all the while being true. . . you will lose if you choose to refuse to put her first.
Alicia Keys
Aquila and Priscilla: a Bible example of undervaluing women or something far more?
Ian Vail