Lessons From The Lives Of Aquila & Priscilla
Acts 18:1-3,18,19,26; Romans 16:3-5; 1Corinthians 16:19; 2 Timothy 4:19
September 2024.
Dear Younger Self,
Later this month it will be seventeen years since the Lord called me to be an undershepherd at our church. I am writing to you knowing how you’ve longed for someone to walk with you, show you the ropes, and warn you of the pitfalls to leading a church.
Recently I was asked to give a report on the ministry. I think the report went well but based on the questions asked I realized that I had not specifically mentioned how Joyce (wife) participated and contributed to the ministry. It was an innocent oversight but an important reminder never to miss her partnership in the gospel. It is a known fact that our Oversight would be severely handicapped if their spouses were not bearing the additional load enabling us to serve freely.
It was the biblical example of Aquila and Priscilla that made the realization instructive.
While we have no idea if Aquila was an elder either in Rome or Ephesus where the church met in their home, what is evident is the partnership of Priscilla in the ministry. They are mentioned six times in the New Testament and each time they appear together. They are the P&B Jelly of the New Testament. That’s A&P for you. They add fresh meaning to “and” in Mr.& Mrs. in the context of ministry.
I want to share five lessons which I pray will bear well as you take on the office of the elder at our church.
“COMMIT TO HOSPITALITY— “PRACTICE AN OPEN DOOR AND A WELCOME TABLE.”
Aquila & Priscilla had recently moved to Corinth and were possibly still setting up business and their new home. That is when they meet Paul. Given the reason for their recent expulsion from Rome, Paul should’ve been the last person they would want to associate with. Additionally, setting up shop would mean this would not be a good time for long-term hospitality. To be clear, logic teaches that it is never a good time to have someone over for an extended time. However, A&P take Paul in gladly. Paul may have stayed a year and a half (18:11). Also, when Silas and Timothy arrive, they may have been housed there too (18:5).
The Bible is clear that a Christian life is a life of hospitality. It is a faith where God invites a sinner into His family.
Our God is a God given to hospitality and expects His children to be likewise. Both the Old Testament & the New Testament commend an open home. It even has stories like the Parable of the Good Samaritan that celebrate radical hospitality. Hebrews 13:2 is emphatic on hospitality. “Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.”
Rosaria Butterfield, in The Gospel Comes With A House Key, writes, “Let God use your home, apartment, dorm room, front yard, community gymnasium, or garden for the purpose of making
strangers into neighbors and neighbors into family. Because that is the point, building the church and living like a family, the family of God.”
Our mandate is clear. Practice hospitality and teach others to be hospitable. You may notice that many start with good intentions. However, having furnished their home to the hilt they end up not wanting anyone to ruin it. Don’t fall into that trap. Hospitality involves sacrifices and setbacks.
In practical ways, invite first-time visitors for lunch. Have folks from the church stay overnight. You might be giving them a surprising break, and on your part, you get to learn life lessons from them.
“COMMIT YOUR HEART TO SERVE THE LORD WHOLLY & ONLY”
A year-and-a-half later when Paul is ready to move on from Corinth, A&P are ready to move with him. However, when they get to Ephesus, Paul leaves them there, as he continues on to Syria (18:19). One might expect A&P to be dejected or disappointed at the very least. However, left to serve in a strange place, they serve gladly.
They serve where the need is. They even invite the church to meet in their house (1 Corinthians 16:19). Staying behind to serve was more important than following Paul in his journeys. Their Twitter Account had only one account they followed, The Lord. Serving anyone less would’ve been very disappointing. And Colossians 3:17 reminds us just that, “And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”
Paul, on his part, was intentional in leaving them behind. It was for the good of the church in Ephesus. When Paul established churches, he would often leave his trusted companions behind to complete the work. Other Examples are Timothy and Titus (1 Timothy 1:3; Titus 1:5).
COMMIT TO STAND BOLDLY FOR THE GOSPEL TRUTH.
Apollos was intimidating. Confronting Apollos would have been threatening. He was a native of Alexandria, the city with the largest Library in the Ancient world. It was a city of intellectuals. He was eloquent, competent in the Scriptures, instructed in the way of the Lord, and fervent in spirit. He spoke and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus.
The same could not be said of A&P. Some scholars believe, based on his name, that Aquila may have been a freed slave. We don’t read of Aquila preaching or teaching publicly. It is probable that he was not a public preacher. However, A&P were willing to confront error. And they used hospitality to disciple Apollos. The NIV elaborates the term “received him” as ‘invited to their home & explained’.
They did not engage in a public confrontation. Yes, it is true sometimes public confrontation is needed (Galatians 2:11). However, the first step is love that corrects privately (Matthew 18:15-16). Godly boldness is a leadership requirement (Titus 1:9), and if leadership is influence, then every Christian has to be bold for God and the things of God. Holy boldness in the gospel truth we stand for is the gospel truth our children get to live in.
COMMIT TO LABOR IN THE LOCAL CHURCH LIKE CHRIST DOES FOR THE CHURCH
Romans 16:5; 1 Corinthians 16:19
A&P lived in three different places: Corinth, Ephesus, & Rome. In two of those places, Ephesus & Rome, the church met in their home.
The first-century churches were home churches. Amid persecution and till Constantine made Christianity a state religion, church buildings were not the norm. It could be argued that not everyone was able to host the church. Only the better-placed families had larger homes big enough for the church to meet. However, the truth is that it is not the size of the house that matters; it is the largeness of the heart that does.
Couples who are involved in the local church are those who find the local church in their home. Couples who desire to make an eternal difference ensure they invest in what will last for eternity. The church is the universe’s greatest construction project, built by the Lord Himself and designed to last forever. Investing in the church is the wisest thing any couple can do.
THEY OFFERED THEIR LIVES AS A LIVING SACRIFICE
Paul does not clarify the incident. Somehow, somewhere, A&P put their lives at risk to save Paul’s. Two thousand years later, we remain thankful to A&P, for we are part of the “churches of the Gentiles” (16:4)
A&P were willing to count the cost. They imaged Christ. 1 John 3:16 reminds us, “By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.”
Nothing compels us like godly love.
Even today the Holy Spirit invites us to live like A&P. God is looking for modern-day A&P. Abraham Maslow, a rather well-known Psychologist for his hierarchy of needs (it doesn’t agree with biblical truth) once wrote, “A musician must make music, an artist must paint, a poet must write, if he is to be ultimately at peace with himself.” You cannot be at peace with yourself unless you are at peace with God. So, live like the Modern-day A&P. Be the P&B Jelly in your local church. Be the example of “and” in the community
“Be committed to the glory of God as you live & love the people of God.”
In summary, commit to a hospitable home, a serving heart, laboring hands, a gospel stand, and a life that is God-glorifying.
This is my prayer for you!
