We are finishing our series here in the first service entitled “Dynamic Duos.” We have been looking at influential couples in the Bible. We have looked at:
- • Adam and Eve
- • Abraham and Sarah
- • Amram and Jochebed
- • Ahab and Jezebel
- • Hosea and Gomer
Today we are finishing our series by focusing on our final couple of our series, Aquila and Priscilla. We have talked about couples who were influential in their own context. Today, we are going to look at how the influence of Aquila and Priscilla impacted the people around them. In fact, we will see that Aquila and Priscilla were arguably the most influential couple of the early church that are mentioned in the Bible. Let’s talk about this amazing couple found in the NT.
Who were Aquila and Priscilla?
Acts 18:1-3 ESV
“After this Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. And he found a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to leave Rome. And he went to see them, and because he was of the same trade he stayed with them and worked, for they were tentmakers by trade.”
- • Aquila was a Jew from Pontus; Priscilla was from Italy
- • Together they were a married couple in the NT church
- • Originally from Italy, they traveled to Corinth as part of the Expulsion Edict of Claudius
- • All Jews were ordered to leave Rome, Italy was a part of Rome
- • They were also Christians who worked alongside the Apostle Paul in profession and ministry
- • They were tentmakers by trade, which is most likely how they met Paul
What were they known for?
• They were known for their partnership in the gospel with Paul in ministry
• They were heavily involved in their local church
Lessons we learn from Aquila and Priscilla:
- 1. They were faithful wherever they were
- • Aquilla & Priscilla were influential because they were faithful to God no matter where they were
- • They traveled from Italy to Corinth after being expelled
- • They moved from Corinth to Ephesus to help plant a church in Ephesus
- • They moved from Ephesus back to Rome once it was safe to do so
- • No matter where they were, they were faithful in serving God
- • They did not leave their faith behind when they moved, but were missionaries in their everyday life, wherever God called them
- • Paul was able to count on them when it mattered no matter what
- - We too can make a difference by being faithful to God where we are
- - The best place to be in life is where God has you right now
- - Can God count on you to do what He needs done?
- - Be faithful where you are in church, at work, with loved ones, in public, etc.
- 2. They used their profession to advance the gospel
- • Aquila and Priscilla did not quit their jobs in order to do the work of God
- • They used their work as a launching pad to advance the kingdom of God
- • As tentmakers, they were able to work on the road and travel wherever they needed to go
- • Their profession allowed them to interact with all kinds of people from all walks of life
- • They set aside a part of their income to help fund the work of God
- • Their skill and handiwork would have generated respect from consumers and other trades
- - God is willing and wanting to use our profession and learned trades to advance the gospel
- - We don’t need to quit our jobs in order to do the work of God
- - Instead, we can use our work as a launching pad to accomplish the will of God
- 3. They willingly poured into others
- • Acts 18:24-26 NKJV - “Now a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man and mighty in the Scriptures, came to Ephesus. This man had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things of the Lord, though he knew only the baptism of John. So he began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Aquila and Priscilla heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately.”
- • Apollos was a very “eloquent man” and was well versed in the scriptures
- • When he arrived in Ephesus he preached with passion, but lacked proper understanding of the scriptures concerning Christ
- • Aquila and Priscilla invited Apollos to their home and taught him “the way of God more accurately”
- • They cared enough to pour the truth into other believers and mentor them along the way
- • They also opened up their home to host a church in order to help shepherd God’s people
- • They may have not been apostles, but they still allowed God to use them in raising up faithful disciples who follow Him
- - We too have been called to raise up faithful followers of Christ
- - We do this by pouring the truth into others believers around us
- - You may not know as much as others, but knowing the most is not the qualification needed to disciple other people
- - The truth you do know (live), you have that to be able to share with others
- - Be willing to pour into other believers and teach them how to faithfully follow the Lord
- 4. They were a team for Christ• Aquila and Priscilla are always mentioned together in the Bible
- • Everything they did, they did together (tent making, discipling, teaching, leading, etc)
- • They used their gifts together to become a dynamic duo for Christ
- • They were in sync with God and with one another
- • They supported each other through times of transition (Acts 18:2)
- • Ultimately, the two of them together were a team for Jesus to accomplish His plans
- - Together, we can choose to be a team for Christ with our spouse
- - While there are things you and you spouse will do separate, you can many things together
- - Get together and communicate with one another in how you both can be effective for Jesus
- - While it is important to be in sync with God, it is just as important to be in sync with your spouse as well
- - We are a team when we support our spouse through difficulty and transitions in life
Takeaways:
- 1. Be faithful where God has you right now
- 2. Allow God to use your work/profession
- 3. Be willing to pour into others
- 4. Team up with God in your marriage
