“Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my co-workers in Christ Jesus. They risked their lives for me. Not only I but all the churches of the Gentiles are grateful to them. Greet also the church that meets at their house.” — Romans 16:3-5 (NIV)
In the story of the early Church, few partnerships shine as brightly as Priscilla and Aquila. This married couple—tentmakers by trade, disciples by calling—opened their home, risked their lives, taught biblical scholars, traveled across the Roman Empire, and planted churches wherever they went.
What makes their story remarkable isn’t just what they did, but how they did it: as equal partners in marriage and ministry, always mentioned together, never seeking the spotlight, yet leaving an indelible mark on Christianity that echoes 2,000 years later.
Priscilla (also called Prisca) and Aquila weren’t apostles. They weren’t wealthy patrons. They were ordinary believers—refugees, small business owners, tentmakers—who made themselves extraordinarily available to God. They:
- Mentored Paul through their friendship and partnership
- Taught Apollos, one of the early Church’s most influential leaders
- Hosted house churches in multiple cities
- Risked their lives to protect Paul from danger
- Modeled Christian marriage as a partnership of mutual service
Their story challenges modern assumptions about gender roles, marriage, ministry, and what it means to serve God faithfully. If you’ve ever wondered whether your ordinary life can make an eternal difference, or whether marriage can be a platform for ministry rather than a distraction from it, Priscilla and Aquila’s story is for you.
This is the account of the power couple who changed the world—not through fame or platform, but through faithfulness, hospitality, and humble partnership.
Who Were Priscilla and Aquila?
Jewish Tentmakers in Corinth (Acts 18:1-3)
We first meet this remarkable couple in Corinth, one of the most important commercial cities of the Roman Empire:
“After this, Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. There he met a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had ordered all Jews to leave Rome. Paul went to see them, and because he was a tentmaker as they were, he stayed and worked with them.” — Acts 18:1-3 (NIV)
Key details:
- Aquila was from Pontus – A region in northern Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey), along the Black Sea coast
- They were tentmakers – A skilled trade involving leatherwork, making tents, awnings, and leather goods
- They were Jewish – Likely Jewish Christians, though the text doesn’t explicitly say when they converted
- They were married – Always mentioned together as a team
- They had recently come from Rome – Forced to leave due to Emperor Claudius’ edict
Refugees from Rome’s Jewish Expulsion
Around AD 49, Roman Emperor Claudius issued an edict expelling all Jews from Rome. The Roman historian Suetonius wrote:
“Since the Jews constantly made disturbances at the instigation of Chrestus, he [Claudius] expelled them from Rome.”
“Chrestus” is likely a reference to Christ—suggesting tensions between Jewish Christians and non-Christian Jews in Rome had reached a boiling point. Rather than resolve the conflict, Claudius simply expelled all Jews.
Priscilla and Aquila were among those forced to flee. They lost:
- Their home in Rome
- Their business connections
- Their community and church
Yet they didn’t become bitter refugees—they became missionary tentmakers. They took their disruption as an opportunity for ministry.
Lesson: Sometimes God uses displacement to position you for His purposes. What looks like loss may be divine redirection.
Why Priscilla’s Name Often Comes First
Here’s something remarkable: In four out of six times Priscilla and Aquila are mentioned in the New Testament, Priscilla’s name comes first:
- Acts 18:18 – “Priscilla and Aquila”
- Acts 18:26 – “Priscilla and Aquila”
- Romans 16:3 – “Priscilla and Aquila” (Paul’s greeting)
- 2 Timothy 4:19 – “Priscilla and Aquila” (Paul’s final letter)
Only twice does Aquila’s name come first:
- Acts 18:2 (their introduction)
- 1 Corinthians 16:19 (sending greetings)
Why is this significant?
In ancient culture, the husband’s name typically came first—always. The fact that Priscilla is mentioned first in most references suggests:
- She was the more prominent of the two in ministry (perhaps more gifted in teaching or leadership)
- She was of higher social standing (possibly from a more aristocratic Roman family)
- The early Church valued her contribution equally (or even more)
- Luke and Paul intentionally honored her role as a woman in ministry
This is revolutionary for the first century. Priscilla wasn’t hidden behind her husband—she was recognized as an equal partner in Gospel work.
Lesson: God gifts and calls both men and women to ministry. Priscilla’s prominence reminds us that gender doesn’t limit God’s purposes.
Meeting Paul: A Divine Partnership Begins
The Tentmaking Connection (Acts 18:2-3)
When Paul arrived in Corinth (around AD 50), he needed work to support his ministry. Paul, like Priscilla and Aquila, was a tentmaker (Greek: skēnopoios—literally “tent maker,” but more broadly a leatherworker).
This wasn’t coincidence—it was divine providence. God brought together:
- A refugee couple displaced from Rome
- An apostle on a mission to plant churches
- A shared trade that allowed them to work side by side
They didn’t just share workspace—they shared life, mission, and purpose.
Working Together: Ministry and Craft
In the ancient world, craftsmen often worked in open-air shops along busy streets, conversing with customers and passersby. Imagine the scene:
- Paul, Priscilla, and Aquila sitting together, stitching leather, making tents
- Customers stopping by to purchase goods or place orders
- Conversations naturally turning to spiritual matters
- The Gospel being shared organically in the marketplace
This is bivocational ministry—using your job as a platform for the Gospel. Paul, Priscilla, and Aquila demonstrated that “full-time ministry” doesn’t always mean abandoning secular work. Sometimes your work is your mission field.
Learning from Paul in Corinth
Paul stayed in Corinth for 18 months (Acts 18:11), his longest recorded stay in one city during his missionary journeys. During this time, Priscilla and Aquila:
- Learned theology from Paul’s teaching
- Witnessed his evangelistic boldness (Acts 18:4-8)
- Supported his ministry financially through their shared business
- Became his close friends and ministry partners
When Paul left Corinth, they went with him (Acts 18:18). This wasn’t casual—they left their business to travel with Paul to Ephesus.
Why? Because their calling had become bigger than their career. They saw the Gospel spreading and said: “We’re in.”
Opening Their Home: The Church That Met in Their House
House Churches in the New Testament
The early Church didn’t have church buildings. Christianity was illegal or suspect, and constructing public worship spaces was impossible. Instead, believers met in private homes.
House churches were the backbone of early Christianity:
- Romans 16:5 – Church in Priscilla and Aquila’s house (Rome)
- 1 Corinthians 16:19 – Church in their house (Ephesus)
- Colossians 4:15 – Church in Nympha’s house
- Philemon 1:2 – Church in Philemon’s house
Priscilla and Aquila hosted churches in at least two cities (Ephesus and Rome), possibly three (some scholars suggest Corinth as well).
Hospitality as Ministry (Romans 16:3-5)
Paul’s greeting to the Roman church includes this tribute:
“Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my co-workers in Christ Jesus. They risked their lives for me. Not only I but all the churches of the Gentiles are grateful to them. Greet also the church that meets at their house.” — Romans 16:3-5 (NIV)
Notice several things:
- “Co-workers in Christ Jesus” – Paul saw them as equal partners in ministry, not subordinates
- “They risked their lives for me” – More on this below, but they literally put themselves in danger for Paul
- “All the churches of the Gentiles are grateful” – Their impact was widespread, not localized
- “The church that meets at their house” – They didn’t just attend church; they hosted it
Creating Sacred Space in Ordinary Places
What did it mean to host a house church?
- Providing space for 20-40 believers to gather (the typical size of a Roman home’s largest room)
- Preparing meals for communal fellowship (Acts 2:46)
- Opening your home to strangers, travelers, and seekers
- Taking legal risk—hosting an illegal or suspect religious gathering
- Investing time, money, and resources in hospitality
Priscilla and Aquila’s home became a hub of discipleship, worship, teaching, and community. They understood that ministry isn’t confined to sacred buildings—it happens around dinner tables, in living rooms, through open doors.
Lesson: Your home is one of your greatest ministry tools. Who could you invite in? What community could you create?
Teaching Apollos: When Wisdom Meets Humility (Acts 18:24-26)
One of the most significant moments in Priscilla and Aquila’s ministry is when they mentored Apollos, one of the early Church’s most gifted leaders.
Apollos: Eloquent but Incomplete
Apollos arrived in Ephesus after Priscilla and Aquila had established a church there. Luke describes him:
“Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was a learned man, with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures. He had been instructed in the way of the Lord, and he spoke with great fervor and taught about Jesus accurately, though he knew only the baptism of John.” — Acts 18:24-25 (NIV)
Apollos was impressive:
- Learned (Greek: logios—eloquent, cultured, educated)
- Thorough knowledge of Scripture (likely trained in Alexandria’s famous schools)
- Great fervor (enthusiastic, passionate)
- Taught about Jesus accurately
But he had a gap in his knowledge: he knew only John’s baptism, not the full Gospel (including Jesus’ death, resurrection, and the gift of the Holy Spirit).
Priscilla and Aquila’s Gentle Correction
Here’s where the story gets beautiful:
“He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately.” — Acts 18:26 (NIV)
Notice what they didn’t do:
- They didn’t publicly correct him in the synagogue
- They didn’t shame him for his incomplete knowledge
- They didn’t dismiss him as a false teacher
Instead, they:
- Invited him to their home (hospitality as discipleship)
- Explained (Greek: ektithēmi—to set forth, expound) the way of God “more adequately”
- Did this together—Priscilla and Aquila, as a team
And here’s the remarkable part: Apollos received their teaching. A highly educated, eloquent, passionate teacher was humble enough to learn from a tentmaking couple. And they were wise enough to correct him privately, gently, and thoroughly.
The result? Apollos became one of the most effective evangelists in the early Church:
“When Apollos wanted to go to Achaia, the brothers and sisters encouraged him and wrote to the disciples there to welcome him. When he arrived, he was a great help to those who by grace had believed. For he vigorously refuted his Jewish opponents in public debate, proving from the Scriptures that Jesus was the Messiah.” — Acts 18:27-28 (NIV)
Later, Apollos would minister in Corinth (1 Corinthians 1:12; 3:4-6), where some believers even preferred his teaching style to Paul’s! All because Priscilla and Aquila took the time to mentor him.
The Art of Discipleship
This story teaches us:
- Correction doesn’t have to be confrontational – They invited Apollos to their home, creating a safe space for learning
- Humility receives truth – Apollos was secure enough to learn from laypeople
- Women can teach men – Priscilla (alongside her husband) taught one of the Church’s most gifted leaders
- Private discipleship multiplies public impact – One dinner conversation changed Apollos’ entire ministry
Lesson: Sometimes the most important ministry happens one-on-one, over a meal, in your home. Who might you mentor?
Traveling for the Gospel: Following God’s Call
Priscilla and Aquila were remarkably mobile for their era. Travel in the ancient world was dangerous, expensive, and difficult—yet they followed God’s call across the empire.
From Corinth to Ephesus (Acts 18:18-19)
After 18 months in Corinth, Paul decided to return to Antioch (his sending church). Priscilla and Aquila went with him:
“Paul stayed on in Corinth for some time. Then he left the brothers and sisters and sailed for Syria, accompanied by Priscilla and Aquila.” — Acts 18:18 (NIV)
They sailed together to Ephesus (a major port city in Asia Minor), where Paul left them to continue the journey to Jerusalem and Antioch. But Priscilla and Aquila stayed in Ephesus to plant a church:
“They arrived at Ephesus, where Paul left Priscilla and Aquila.” — Acts 18:19 (NIV)
This was strategic: Paul knew Ephesus needed a strong church plant, and he trusted Priscilla and Aquila to lay the foundation. Within months, they had established a house church (1 Corinthians 16:19) and were mentoring leaders like Apollos.
Back to Rome (Romans 16:3-5)
By the time Paul wrote Romans (around AD 57), Priscilla and Aquila were back in Rome:
“Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my co-workers in Christ Jesus… Greet also the church that meets at their house.” — Romans 16:3, 5 (NIV)
Why did they return to Rome?
- Claudius had died (AD 54), and his edict expelling Jews was no longer enforced
- They likely returned to re-establish their business and rebuild the Roman church
Once again, they hosted a house church—this time in the capital of the empire.
Return to Ephesus (2 Timothy 4:19)
In Paul’s final letter before his execution (around AD 67), he sends greetings to Priscilla and Aquila—now back in Ephesus:
“Greet Priscilla and Aquila and the household of Onesiphorus.” — 2 Timothy 4:19 (NIV)
Their journey:
- Rome → expelled → Corinth → traveled with Paul to Ephesus → returned to Rome → back to Ephesus
They went wherever the Gospel needed them, never settling, always serving.
Risking Their Lives for Paul (Romans 16:4)
Perhaps the most dramatic detail about Priscilla and Aquila is this:
“They risked their lives for me.” — Romans 16:4 (NIV)
The Greek phrase is even more vivid: “who for my life laid down their own necks” (Greek: hyper tēs psychēs mou ton heautōn trachēlon hypethēkan). This is neck-on-the-chopping-block language.
What did they do? Scripture doesn’t say, but scholars suggest possible scenarios:
- During the riot in Ephesus (Acts 19:23-41) – When a mob threatened Paul, they may have physically shielded him or helped him escape
- During one of Paul’s imprisonments – They may have intervened with authorities or provided refuge
- Protecting him from Jewish opponents – They may have hidden him from those seeking his life
Whatever the specifics, Paul remembered their courage with deep gratitude. They didn’t just serve with Paul—they were willing to die for him.
Lesson: True friendship in ministry means bearing one another’s burdens—even at great personal cost.
A Model of Equal Partnership in Marriage and Ministry
Priscilla and Aquila’s marriage is one of the most compelling models of Christian partnership in Scripture.
Always Mentioned Together
In every single reference to Priscilla and Aquila (six times total), they are mentioned together:
- Acts 18:2
- Acts 18:18
- Acts 18:26
- Romans 16:3
- 1 Corinthians 16:19
- 2 Timothy 4:19
Never is one mentioned without the other. They were a team—in business, in ministry, in life.
Priscilla’s Prominent Role in Teaching
As noted earlier, Priscilla’s name often comes first, and she was clearly involved in teaching—even teaching a male leader like Apollos (Acts 18:26).
This challenges certain interpretations of 1 Timothy 2:12 (“I do not permit a woman to teach… a man”) by showing that:
- Paul himself commended Priscilla as a “co-worker” (Romans 16:3)
- She taught Apollos alongside her husband, apparently with apostolic approval
- The early Church honored her contribution by mentioning her name first in most references
Possible understandings:
- Paul’s restrictions in 1 Timothy may have been situational (addressing a specific problem in Ephesus)
- Teaching within marriage partnership (alongside one’s husband) may be a distinct category
- Priscilla’s teaching was in a home setting, not a public assembly (though she also hosted the church)
What’s clear: Priscilla was recognized as a teacher, and the biblical authors celebrated this, not condemned it.
Mutual Submission and Shared Leadership
Priscilla and Aquila model Ephesians 5:21:
“Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.” — Ephesians 5:21 (NIV)
Mutual submission means:
- Both serve the other’s calling
- Both contribute their unique gifts
- Both are honored for their contributions
- Neither dominates; both defer in love
This is radically different from:
- Patriarchal domination (husband rules, wife obeys)
- Role reversal (wife leads, husband follows)
- Independence (each does their own thing)
Instead, it’s partnership: two individuals united in purpose, each bringing their strengths, serving side by side.
What This Means for Marriages Today
For husbands:
- Honor your wife’s calling and gifts (even if they’re more prominent than yours)
- Serve her dreams as much as she serves yours
- Lead through humble partnership, not authoritarian control
For wives:
- Use your gifts boldly (don’t hide behind false humility)
- Support your husband’s calling while also stewarding your own
- Expect to be honored, not diminished
For all marriages:
- Work together as a team in whatever God calls you to
- Don’t let cultural expectations limit how God might use you
- Your marriage can be a ministry platform, not a distraction from ministry
The Legacy of Priscilla and Aquila
Their Impact on Early Christianity
Though they were never apostles, Priscilla and Aquila’s impact was immeasurable:
- They hosted churches in Rome, Ephesus, and possibly Corinth
- They mentored leaders (Apollos being the most famous example)
- They supported Paul’s ministry financially, logistically, and emotionally
- They risked their lives for the Gospel
- All the Gentile churches were grateful to them (Romans 16:4)
Their ripple effect:
- Apollos went on to strengthen churches across Achaia and become a pillar of the early Church
- The Ephesian church became one of the most influential in early Christianity (Revelation 2:1-7)
- The Roman church was strengthened by their return and leadership
- Paul’s ministry was sustained through their partnership
Churches They Planted and Leaders They Mentored
We know of at least two house churches they hosted:
- Ephesus (1 Corinthians 16:19)
- Rome (Romans 16:5)
We know of at least one major leader they mentored:
- Apollos (Acts 18:26)
But there were likely many more—unnamed believers who gathered in their home, were discipled at their table, and went on to spread the Gospel throughout the empire.
Church Tradition About Their Later Lives
Early Church tradition (from sources like John Chrysostom, the Martyrology of Usuard, and others) suggests:
- They remained in Ephesus during Paul’s final imprisonment
- They may have been martyred during persecutions, though accounts vary
- They were buried in Rome—their feast day is celebrated on July 8 in the Catholic and Orthodox churches
- A church in Rome, Santa Prisca, is traditionally believed to be built on the site of their home
Whether or not every detail is accurate, the tradition honors their faithfulness.
5 Powerful Lessons from Priscilla and Aquila
1. Your Home Can Be Your Mission Field
Priscilla and Aquila didn’t wait for a church building or a ministry position. They opened their home and said, “This is where we’ll serve.”
Application: Who could you invite for dinner? What small group could you host? How could your home become a place of discipleship?
2. Marriage Partnership Multiplies Ministry Effectiveness
Two are better than one (Ecclesiastes 4:9). Priscilla and Aquila’s combined gifts made them more effective than either would have been alone.
Application: If you’re married, are you working together toward kingdom purposes? Or are you on separate tracks? How might you unite your strengths?
3. Your “Secular” Job Can Serve the Gospel
Tentmaking wasn’t a distraction from ministry—it funded ministry, created relational connections, and provided a platform for Gospel conversations.
Application: How can you use your job, skills, and workplace as a mission field? Your career isn’t separate from your calling—it can be your calling.
4. Humble Correction Preserves Unity
Priscilla and Aquila could have publicly rebuked Apollos. Instead, they invited him to dinner and taught him privately. The result? A strengthened leader, not a wounded one.
Application: When you need to correct someone, do it with humility, privacy, and love. The goal is restoration, not humiliation.
5. Hospitality Opens Doors for Discipleship
Priscilla and Aquila didn’t just teach—they hosted. They created space for people to belong, learn, and grow.
Application: Discipleship rarely happens in formal settings. It happens over meals, in homes, through open doors. Who are you creating space for?
Conclusion: Partners in Grace, Partners in Mission
Priscilla and Aquila were ordinary people who did extraordinary things by being faithfully available to God.
They were:
- Refugees who became missionaries
- Tentmakers who planted churches
- A married couple who became a ministry team
- Laypeople who mentored leaders
- Hosts who created sacred space in their living room
Their story challenges us to ask:
What would happen if we used our homes for ministry?
What would happen if we saw our marriages as mission partnerships?
What would happen if we stopped waiting for a title and started serving now?
Priscilla and Aquila never wrote a Gospel. They never preached to thousands. They never founded a denomination.
But they hosted churches. They mentored leaders. They stood by Paul when others fled. They risked their lives for the Gospel.
And 2,000 years later, we’re still talking about them.
Because faithfulness is never forgotten.
Maybe you feel like your life is too ordinary for God to use. Maybe your home feels too small, your job too secular, your marriage too imperfect.
Priscilla and Aquila would tell you: Start where you are. Use what you have. Open your door. Invite people in. Teach what you know. Serve with your spouse. Risk for the Gospel.
Your ordinary faithfulness might just change the world.
From Rome to Corinth to Ephesus and back again—two tentmakers who became partners in grace and partners in mission, showing us that the most powerful ministry often happens not on a stage, but around a table.
🙏 Amen. May we, like Priscilla and Aquila, open our homes, partner in love, and faithfully serve wherever God calls us.
FAQs About Priscilla and Aquila
Q: Why is Priscilla mentioned before Aquila in most passages?
A: In four out of six New Testament references, Priscilla’s name comes first (Acts 18:18, 26; Romans 16:3; 2 Timothy 4:19)—unusual for ancient culture where the husband’s name typically came first. This likely indicates that Priscilla was more prominent in ministry, possibly from a higher social class, or simply reflects the early Church’s recognition of her equal (or greater) contribution to Gospel work.
Q: What does it mean that they “risked their necks” for Paul?
A: Romans 16:4 says they “risked their lives” (literally, “laid down their necks”) for Paul. While Scripture doesn’t specify the incident, they likely physically protected Paul during persecution—possibly during the riot in Ephesus (Acts 19) or another life-threatening situation. Paul remembered their courage with profound gratitude.
Q: Did Priscilla really teach in the early church?
A: Yes. Acts 18:26 explicitly states that “Priscilla and Aquila… explained to him [Apollos] the way of God more adequately.” Priscilla taught one of the early Church’s most influential leaders, apparently with apostolic approval, since Paul later commended both of them as his “co-workers” (Romans 16:3).
Q: What is a “house church”?
A: A house church is a congregation that meets in someone’s home rather than a dedicated church building. In the first few centuries of Christianity, believers gathered in private homes for worship, teaching, fellowship, and the Lord’s Supper. Priscilla and Aquila hosted house churches in both Ephesus (1 Corinthians 16:19) and Rome (Romans 16:5).
Q: What happened to Priscilla and Aquila after the New Testament?
A: Scripture’s last mention is in 2 Timothy 4:19 (around AD 67), where they were in Ephesus. Early Church tradition suggests they remained faithful leaders, possibly were martyred during persecutions, and were buried in Rome. The Catholic and Orthodox churches celebrate their feast day on July 8, and a church in Rome (Santa Prisca) is traditionally believed to be built on the site of their home.
Scripture References:
- Acts 18:1-3 (Meeting Paul in Corinth)
- Acts 18:18-19 (Traveling to Ephesus)
- Acts 18:24-26 (Teaching Apollos)
- Romans 16:3-5 (Paul’s tribute to them)
- 1 Corinthians 16:19 (Church in their house in Ephesus)
- 2 Timothy 4:19 (Paul’s final greeting)
Is your home a mission field? How could you use hospitality to create space for discipleship? Share your thoughts or experiences in the comments—we’d love to hear how God is using ordinary homes for extraordinary kingdom purposes!
Share this article if Priscilla and Aquila’s partnership inspired you! Let’s encourage more married couples to see their union as a platform for ministry, and let’s honor the often-overlooked contributions of women in the early Church.
🙏 Amen. Partners in grace. Partners in mission. Together for the Gospel.