Strife Behind The Pulpit Part 3- An Examination of Women In Ministry: Digging Deeper cont.

Priscilla and Aquila

God has a pattern for ministering to His church, a model that we would be wise to follow. God has put an older couple, Bruce and Catherine Benson in my life who have been faithful mentors and a guides to me over the years. Both of them have imparted a wealth of information to me through conversations and though their selfless love of each other. When I think of their life I am remind of a similar couple in the book of Act chapter 18, they are Priscilla and Aquila. They were a husband and wife team, mentioned several times in the New Testament. Priscilla and Aquila were Jewish tentmakers (Acts 18:2–3), and their business may have brought them into contact with Paul. While Acts does not reveal much about the life of Priscilla before she met and married Aquila, the text does make several mentions of her, always with her husband. Aquila.

Aquila was born in Pontus, but had recently come from Italy with Priscilla. They met Paul in Corinth after he had departed from Athens and they had fled Rome. The roman Emperor Claudius had commanded all Jews to leave that city (Acts 18:2). The three shared a common interest in tent making, as well as a love of Christ. They became dear friends, and Paul lived with them for a time.

While in Corinth, Paul spoke in the synagogue, reasoning with those who would listen to his Christian message, and converting many Jews and Gentiles. Priscilla and Aquila, who had been Christians longer than Paul, helped Paul found the Corinthian church and strengthen others there in the faith. God moved through their ministry. I believe that is was because they modeled what a godly home should be. Peter instructs the wife to be submissive to her husband.. and for the husband to love his wife as Christ (1 Peter 3:1-7). God has ordained the husband to be the Pastor, Provider, and the Protector of the home. Therefore the man MUST be the spiritual leader of his family in and outside the home. We see this modeled for us in the life of Priscilla and Aquila.

When Paul left for Ephesus on the next leg of his journey, Priscilla and Aquila went with him. In Ephesus, Paul left Priscilla and Aquila to go preach in the synagogue. The name of the Lord was greatly magnified as a result of the preaching and healing done (Acts 19:17). Priscilla would have gained the skills to be a missionary from Paul. She and Aquila are credited with being strong leaders of the Corinthian and Ephesian Christian communities. They were always mentioned together signifying that they were a team.