Aquila & Priscilla with Paul in Corinth
Aquila and Priscilla with Paul in Corinth
Today we get insight into how the Church in Corinth was started and established. We read the epistles of Paul in 1st and 2nd Corinthians and take for granted the sacrifice it took to start the Church in that city. We meet a husband and wife team who were instrumental in Paul’s success in establishing the church in Corinth. Sometimes we see our living situations change for no fault of our making for example this world-wide economic melt down. We wonder why we are going through what we are going through. This was the case for Aquila and Priscilla (husband and wife) who were kicked out from Rome because of a decree. Unknown to Aquila and Priscilla, God had a mission for them. You may right now be at a place where you are wondering what is going on and asking, “Why am I here in this situation”? Let’s look out for God’s assignment wherever we may be. God used the ordinary to plant and grow the early Church. He is still doing the same today.
Acts 18:1-17; 24-26
1After this, Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. 2There 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 the Jews to leave Rome. Paul went to see them, 3and because he was a tentmaker as they were, he stayed and worked with them. 4Every Sabbath he reasoned in the synagogue, trying to persuade Jews and Greeks.
5When Silas and Timothy came from Macedonia, Paul devoted himself exclusively to preaching, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ.[a] 6But when the Jews opposed Paul and became abusive, he shook out his clothes in protest and said to them, "Your blood be on your own heads! I am clear of my responsibility. From now on I will go to the Gentiles." 7Then Paul left the synagogue and went next door to the house of Titius Justus, a worshiper of God. 8Crispus, the synagogue ruler, and his entire household believed in the Lord; and many of the Corinthians who heard him believed and were baptized.
9One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: "Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. 10For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city." 11So Paul stayed for a year and a half, teaching them the word of God.
12While Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews made a united attack on Paul and brought him into court. 13"This man," they charged, "is persuading the people to worship God in ways contrary to the law." 14Just as Paul was about to speak, Gallio said to the Jews, "If you Jews were making a complaint about some misdemeanor or serious crime, it would be reasonable for me to listen to you. 15But since it involves questions about words and names and your own law—settle the matter yourselves. I will not be a judge of such things." 16So he had them ejected from the court. 17Then they all turned on Sosthenes the synagogue ruler and beat him in front of the court. But Gallio showed no concern whatever.
24Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was a learned man, with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures. 25He had been instructed in the way of the Lord, and he spoke with great fervor[b] and taught about Jesus accurately, though he knew only the baptism of John. 26He 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.
Here are my observations in addition to the ones you may have:
1. We do not have any indication of the conversion of Aquila and Priscilla before Paul met them. They may have been converted while living in Rome and before their return to Corinth. It is also possible that what drew Paul to Aquila and Priscilla may have been their common profession of tent-making. The couple may have been converted while Paul lived with them and discipled them. I am more inclined to this thinking that Paul first preached to them and discipled them.
2. Apparently, Apostle Paul needed a place to stay upon arriving in this new city of Corinth. Paul also needed to make a living. Paul had been a tent-maker and now resorted to using his skill. It is good to have a skill and use it for the purpose of the Gospel. It is my belief that whatever our profession/occupation may be, we are all in ministry for Jesus. There will be of course those who may be called to “full-time” ministry where by the church supports them for living. Paul preferred working with his own hands and that is my preference too.
3. Notice that the preaching mission of Paul happened in the ordinary course of daily living. “Because he (Paul) was a tentmaker as they were, he stayed and worked with them. 4Every Sabbath he reasoned in the synagogue, trying to persuade Jews and Greeks” v.3-4. Do you see your self as a minister of God in your profession? You may be a software engineer or school teacher. God has given us all abilities to work for him. Let’s use our skills for him while we disciple people along the way.
4. Paul continued to preach to his people, the Jews but will soon run into problems again as in the past. The Jews “opposed Paul and became abusive” to him. Paul makes a very important statement. “From now on I will go to the Gentiles." V.6.This was another turning point for Paul. He stayed in Corinth for over one and half years with results. “Many of the Corinthians who heard him believed and were baptized” vs.8.
5. Aquila and Priscilla have now joined Paul in the mission. They have been discipled and now watch them disciple another - Apollos. “Priscilla and Aquila heard him (Apollos), they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately”. We must bear fruit from what we have received. I also like the unity in purpose in their marriage to open their home for God’s use. We can do this. Aquila and Priscilla’s home became a house church. See 1 Cor.16:19.
6. Later, Paul wrote from Rome saying, “Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus. They risked their lives for me. Not only I but all the churches of the Gentiles are grateful to them” (Roman 16:3). What a commendation!
7. God spoke and said to Paul, "Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. 10For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city." Are you afraid? I am some times; however, God is still with us.
8. Paul’s trial was interesting. Before he could open his mouth, Gallio, the proconsul speaks for him (see vs. 14-16). Check out Sosthenes who was beaten up and Paul mentions him in his letter (1Cor. 1).
Lord, help us to be open to your leading even when we do not understand it all. Help us to bear fruit that will remain in the lives of people around us. Help us not to be afraid for you are with us. Amen.
Today we get insight into how the Church in Corinth was started and established. We read the epistles of Paul in 1st and 2nd Corinthians and take for granted the sacrifice it took to start the Church in that city. We meet a husband and wife team who were instrumental in Paul’s success in establishing the church in Corinth. Sometimes we see our living situations change for no fault of our making for example this world-wide economic melt down. We wonder why we are going through what we are going through. This was the case for Aquila and Priscilla (husband and wife) who were kicked out from Rome because of a decree. Unknown to Aquila and Priscilla, God had a mission for them. You may right now be at a place where you are wondering what is going on and asking, “Why am I here in this situation”? Let’s look out for God’s assignment wherever we may be. God used the ordinary to plant and grow the early Church. He is still doing the same today.
Acts 18:1-17; 24-26
1After this, Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. 2There 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 the Jews to leave Rome. Paul went to see them, 3and because he was a tentmaker as they were, he stayed and worked with them. 4Every Sabbath he reasoned in the synagogue, trying to persuade Jews and Greeks.
5When Silas and Timothy came from Macedonia, Paul devoted himself exclusively to preaching, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ.[a] 6But when the Jews opposed Paul and became abusive, he shook out his clothes in protest and said to them, "Your blood be on your own heads! I am clear of my responsibility. From now on I will go to the Gentiles." 7Then Paul left the synagogue and went next door to the house of Titius Justus, a worshiper of God. 8Crispus, the synagogue ruler, and his entire household believed in the Lord; and many of the Corinthians who heard him believed and were baptized.
9One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: "Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. 10For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city." 11So Paul stayed for a year and a half, teaching them the word of God.
12While Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews made a united attack on Paul and brought him into court. 13"This man," they charged, "is persuading the people to worship God in ways contrary to the law." 14Just as Paul was about to speak, Gallio said to the Jews, "If you Jews were making a complaint about some misdemeanor or serious crime, it would be reasonable for me to listen to you. 15But since it involves questions about words and names and your own law—settle the matter yourselves. I will not be a judge of such things." 16So he had them ejected from the court. 17Then they all turned on Sosthenes the synagogue ruler and beat him in front of the court. But Gallio showed no concern whatever.
24Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was a learned man, with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures. 25He had been instructed in the way of the Lord, and he spoke with great fervor[b] and taught about Jesus accurately, though he knew only the baptism of John. 26He 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.
Here are my observations in addition to the ones you may have:
1. We do not have any indication of the conversion of Aquila and Priscilla before Paul met them. They may have been converted while living in Rome and before their return to Corinth. It is also possible that what drew Paul to Aquila and Priscilla may have been their common profession of tent-making. The couple may have been converted while Paul lived with them and discipled them. I am more inclined to this thinking that Paul first preached to them and discipled them.
2. Apparently, Apostle Paul needed a place to stay upon arriving in this new city of Corinth. Paul also needed to make a living. Paul had been a tent-maker and now resorted to using his skill. It is good to have a skill and use it for the purpose of the Gospel. It is my belief that whatever our profession/occupation may be, we are all in ministry for Jesus. There will be of course those who may be called to “full-time” ministry where by the church supports them for living. Paul preferred working with his own hands and that is my preference too.
3. Notice that the preaching mission of Paul happened in the ordinary course of daily living. “Because he (Paul) was a tentmaker as they were, he stayed and worked with them. 4Every Sabbath he reasoned in the synagogue, trying to persuade Jews and Greeks” v.3-4. Do you see your self as a minister of God in your profession? You may be a software engineer or school teacher. God has given us all abilities to work for him. Let’s use our skills for him while we disciple people along the way.
4. Paul continued to preach to his people, the Jews but will soon run into problems again as in the past. The Jews “opposed Paul and became abusive” to him. Paul makes a very important statement. “From now on I will go to the Gentiles." V.6.This was another turning point for Paul. He stayed in Corinth for over one and half years with results. “Many of the Corinthians who heard him believed and were baptized” vs.8.
5. Aquila and Priscilla have now joined Paul in the mission. They have been discipled and now watch them disciple another - Apollos. “Priscilla and Aquila heard him (Apollos), they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately”. We must bear fruit from what we have received. I also like the unity in purpose in their marriage to open their home for God’s use. We can do this. Aquila and Priscilla’s home became a house church. See 1 Cor.16:19.
6. Later, Paul wrote from Rome saying, “Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus. They risked their lives for me. Not only I but all the churches of the Gentiles are grateful to them” (Roman 16:3). What a commendation!
7. God spoke and said to Paul, "Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. 10For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city." Are you afraid? I am some times; however, God is still with us.
8. Paul’s trial was interesting. Before he could open his mouth, Gallio, the proconsul speaks for him (see vs. 14-16). Check out Sosthenes who was beaten up and Paul mentions him in his letter (1Cor. 1).
Lord, help us to be open to your leading even when we do not understand it all. Help us to bear fruit that will remain in the lives of people around us. Help us not to be afraid for you are with us. Amen.
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