Priscilla… Woman, Wife, Preacher of the Gospel

 Priscilla was a co-worker of Paul and preacher of the gospel. Yep, that’s what I said!  Priscilla was a woman and accepted by Paul as a preacher of the Gospel.

  After this, he (Paul) left Athens and went to Corinth, where he found a Jewish man 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 came to them, and being of the same occupation, stayed with them and worked, for they were tentmakers by trade. He reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath and tried to persuade both Jews and Greeks. (Acts 18:1-4)

 So Paul, having stayed on for many days, said good-bye to the brothers and sailed away to Syria. Priscilla and Aquila were with him. He shaved his head at Cenchreae because he had taken a vow. When they reached Ephesus he left them there, but he himself entered the synagogue and engaged in discussion with the Jews. And though they asked him to stay for a longer time, he declined. (Acts 18:18-20)

 A Jew named Apollos, a native Alexandrian, an eloquent man who was powerful in the use of the Scriptures, arrived in Ephesus. This man had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spoke and taught the things about Jesus accurately, although he knew only John’s baptism. He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. After Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him home and explained the way of God to him more accurately. When he wanted to cross over to Achaia, the brothers wrote to the disciples urging them to welcome him. After he arrived, he greatly helped those who had believed through grace. For he vigorously refuted the Jews in public, demonstrating through the Scriptures that Jesus is the Messiah. (Acts 18:24-26)

 Give my greetings to Prisca (Paul’s nickname for Priscilla) and Aquila, my coworkers in Christ Jesus, who risked their own necks for my life. Not only do I thank them, but so do all the Gentile churches. Greet also the church that meets in their home. Greet my dear friend Epaenetus, who is the first convert to Christ from Asia. (Romans 16:3-5)

 Priscilla. The fact that her name has been written about in history is proof that she was a remarkable and distinguished woman. The appearance of her name before her husband’s is even more proof of this. Priscilla must of played a prominent role in the life of the early church and in the ministry that she shared with her husband because it was most unusual for a wife’s name to be mentioned before her husband’s name in the Greco-Roman world. Both Luke ( the author of Acts) and Paul mentioned Priscilla’s name before Aquila. There are three reasons commentators give for Priscilla’s name being mentioned first: (1) Some speculate that she was converted before Aquila (2) Some say she was from an aristocratic prominent family in Rome (Her name seems to indicate this). (3) Her contributions to the early church were equal to or greater than Aquila. Whatever the reasons were, it is significant, noteworthy and most unusual for a woman’s name to be mentioned before her husbands at this period in history.

  It has seemed like their lives had hit a dead end and was over in 50 AD when the emperor Claudius expelled all Jews from the city. But God had other plans for this God fearing couple and when God opens a door not even the emperor can close it. A fascinating new life of service was waiting for them.

 Like Abraham, they had left much behind….their possessions, family and friends but they were a harmonious couple and their marriage was solid and still intact. They had no need of the warning which Paul made to the loose living Corinthians when he wrote, “Do not be bound together with unbelievers. For what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness?” Priscilla and Aquila are mentioned six times in the New Testament (Acts 18:2, 18,26; Romans 16:3; I Corinthians 16:19; II Timothy 4:19). The two are always mentioned together. This indicates to me that couples in ministry ought to work so closely together that you can hardly mention one without mentioning the other, almost as one name. This couple had really become one in a very special way, as they walked together in their faith. Their lives could be a blueprint for all married couples sharing the same dream, calling and walking the same path.

 Although Priscilla was well known as a co-worker with Paul and a preacher of the Gospel she did not give in to the temptation to become the dominating figure in her marriage. She honored the relationship that God desires to see between Himself and the marriage partners. She knew and honored the ‘chain of command’ that God had laid in place from the beginning of time. God-Christ-Church-Husband-Wife

 Priscilla, was afforded an opportunity, I believe, to function with great freedom in ministry because she had a husband who believed in her and her calling and was supported of her as she was supportive and submissive to him.

 Priscilla and Aquila enjoyed and experienced a healthy marriage and successful ministry because of their commitment to each other, cross-gender equality and mutual submission. Couples in ministry today would do well to model their marriages and ministry after Priscilla and Aquila.

 Ages after her death, her life reveals to women today the secrets of a fruitful life and of a marriage that is useful in proclaiming the Gospel.

 Woman of God, if you have a husband and God has called you into the ministry as a preacher of the Gospel, He has not called you alone. When you married and made your covenant before God you became one flesh in the eyes of God and He no longer sees you separate but as one. Priscilla was a remarkable woman and a perfect example of a wife. She never put her ‘calling’ above her place as a woman and most importantly a wife.

 But back to my story….they had arrived in Corinth just before Paul. He had confidence in this couple and was willing to invest his life in them in order that the Gospel could be spread further.

 Life had requested much from Priscilla. She had to have great courage and strength to adapt again and again to new situations. (To whom is given much, much is required.) She made long and tiring trips. She risked her life to further the Gospel. She was exceptional for that period of time because she worked side by side with men as an equal, yet won their love and respect.

 She did not hold back because she was a woman but spoke with such love and tact that the young, learned and gifted preacher Apollos easily accepted her word and teaching. That was the beautiful thing about Priscilla, she kept her strong personality in rein and offered her love as well as the love of Jesus.

 Priscilla’s life also indicates possibilities which have been long neglected……opening one’s home for both evangelism and building of the church. Even today Priscilla should inspire many to open their homes for the expansion of the Kingdom of God. Much more important than Priscilla’s name in history is the fact that through the ages she has encouraged people to follow Christ….in more than one way. Wherever Priscilla and Aquila went lives were changed and renewed as people came to believe in Jesus as the Christ.

 They lived their lives for Christ, presented the Gospel and bloomed wherever God planted them. There’s a lesson there…..bloom wherever you’re planted. You may not exactly like where He has placed you but bloom and shine anyway. You never know whose life you may touch and lead to Christ just by being where you’re at. Just like with Esther…you may be there for such a time as this.

 Priscilla and Aquila not only lived for Christ together but died for Him together, history records they died martyrs……beheaded!

In His love,
Elizabeth