Romans 16, the last chapter of the book, is largely comprised of greetings to brethren (almost 30) at Rome with whom Paul was acquainted, as well as from brethren in Corinth who sent greetings to Roman brethren.
In vv. 3-5 Paul wrote, “Salute Prisca and Aquila, my fellow-workers in Christ Jesus who for my life laid down their own necks; unto whom not only I give thanks but also the churches of the Gentiles, and salute the church that is in their house.” These two “fellow laborers” of Paul had a close connection with him through harried and trying times in the apostle’s life.
Paul had first met these two in Corinth on his second journey. He had been sorely tried on this journey. He had been forced to flee from Philippi, Thessalonica, and Berea. Brethren from Berea had escorted Paul to Athens. He waited for Silas and Timothy for a while in that city to join him, but Athens was not a receptive city for the gospel. He traveled on to Corinth in the province of Achaia where ultimately they did join him. The exhortation God gave him in a night vision indicated that Paul was discouraged. God said, “Be not afraid but speak and hold not thy peace for I am with thee, for no man shall set on them to harm thee; for I have much people in this city” (Acts 18:9-10).
It was in Corinth that Paul first came into contact with Aquila and Priscilla. The historian Luke records that he “found a certain Jew named Aquila, a man of Pontus by race, lately come from Italy, with Priscilla, his wife, because Claudius had commanded all Jews to depart from Rome; and he came unto them and because he was of the same trade, he abode with them, and they wrought; for by their trade they were tentmakers” (Acts 18:2-3). Possibly they met in the synagogue in Corinth for both Aquila and Priscilla as well as Paul were accustomed to attending Sabbath synagogue services. Paul sought to teach people and he was often given opportunity to preach there about Jesus. There is no definite statement that the couple were already Christians when Paul met them, but the narrative “sounds” as though they were.
The couple had come to Corinth from Rome, but initially Aquila was from Pontus, a distant province from Judaea. However, although a long distance from Jerusalem, devout Jews from Rome traveled to Jerusalem and were there on Pentecost when the church began (Acts 2:9). It is possible that Aquila had been there himself. We do not know. At any rate, if they were not already Christians when they met Paul, it was not long before they were.
After Paul had spent 18 months in Corinth (Acts 18:11), he traveled to Jerusalem. His journey would take him through Ephesus, and Priscilla and Aquila accompanied him. They remained there while Paul journeyed to Jerusalem, and in his absence an eloquent man named Apollos came to Ephesus and preached about Jesus in the synagogue. He was deficient in knowledge, knowing only the baptism of John. Priscilla and Aquila “took him unto them and expounded the word of the Lord more perfectly unto him.” After several months Paul returned to Ephesus and spent three years preaching in that city. Some time after Paul had returned to Ephesus, Priscilla and Aquila returned to Rome and were there when Paul wrote this letter and spoke of the danger they had taken upon themselves on Paul’s behalf.
The Scriptures never reveal the circumstance to which Paul referred when he said this couple had “laid down their own neck for him,” but their good example is a great lesson to Christians. They had become disciples of Christ, and faithfully served Him in whatever capacity they might wherever they found themselves. They welcomed Paul into their home in Corinth and partnered with him in making tents. When his life was in peril, they risked their own lives to protect him. They helped to kindly correct a teacher who was deficient in knowledge, and whose increased knowledge made him of greater worth to the cause of Christ. And when once more they had returned to Rome, they did not cease from their devotion to Christ. Paul salutes “the church that was in their house.” What a wonderful example this couple set for Christians of all ages! May we emulate their example.
Jim McDonald