06.02.05 Priscilla and Aquila's Exemplary Purpose, Direction and Vision - A Biblical Revelation

Priscilla and Aquila's Exemplary Purpose, Direction and Vision – A Biblical Revelation ü

Priscilla and Aquila were a Jewish couple who initially lived in Rome. Aquila hailed from Pontus, a region in modern-day Turkey, and worked as a tentmaker or leather worker by trade. Priscilla, also known as Prisca by some people in Rome, was a Jewish Christian, with some writers suggesting that she may have been a Roman noblewoman who converted to Judaism before marrying Aquila. The environment turned hostile around 49 AD, when the Roman emperor Claudius issued a decree forcing all Jews to leave Rome. This development was associated with conflicts between traditional Jews and those who had converted to Christianity, resulting in public disruptions, friction and confusion. That was when the couple relocated to Corinth. As the adage goes, every cloud has a silver lining. Therefore, little did Priscilla and Aquila know that this seemingly hostile transition would create an opportunity for their shared purpose, direction and vision to rise to a whole new level.

First was their shared purpose. As Priscilla and Aquila settled in Corinth, it became clear that they were committed to advancing the gospel and serving the early church. The couple was given the opportunity to meet and work with Paul the Apostle, who was also a tentmaker. Through this association, they gained clarity on how to fulfil their mission. That encounter became a turning point in the couple’s journey, as they took it upon themselves to support Paul’s missionary efforts and align themselves with the spread of the gospel. Priscilla and Aquila went as far as opening their home to host gatherings of believers, while also actively participating in teaching and guiding others. One classic example was Apollos, whom they helped to understand the Way of God more accurately (Acts 18:26). Priscilla and Aquila’s willingness to risk their lives for Paul and for the sake of the church shows that purpose defined what mattered most to them and shaped how they lived.

Second was the direction or path that Priscilla and Aquila took to ensure the fulfilment of their God-given purpose. The couple structured their lives in a way that consistently supported the advancement of the gospel and the strengthening of the early church. For instance, they did not separate their livelihood from their calling, but integrated the two, using the proceeds from their tentmaking business to sustain and support their ministry activities. Their movements from Rome to Corinth, then to Ephesus, and eventually back to Rome after the ban was lifted following Claudius’s death in 54 AD, demonstrate their intentional and well-planned effort to contribute to the growth of the early church. Their work, location and daily engagements remained closely connected to what they were committed to, reflecting a deliberate and consistent pattern in how they lived.

Last but not least was Priscilla and Aquila’s vision, which was to build and strengthen a community of believers through teaching, hospitality and shared ministry. Wherever they went or relocated to, the couple hosted a church in their home (Romans 16:5), serving as leaders and teachers within the Christian community and welcoming both Jewish and Gentile believers. This created a consistent environment in which believers could gather, grow and be strengthened, while also providing a platform for the development of others through mentoring. The couple’s partnership in ministry remained evident, with both Priscilla and Aquila actively engaged in serving together and contributing to the growth of leaders within the Christian community.

In all this, Priscilla and Aquila’s lives present a consistent pattern in which purpose, direction and vision were expressed through the couple’s actions, decisions and relationships. Their account provides a clear example of two individuals whose lives were intentionally organised around what they were committed to, how they chose to live it out and the future they were working towards. It is no surprise that they are regarded as a remarkable example of a couple who demonstrated that when a husband and wife share purpose, direction and vision, they can achieve far more together than they would individually.