Bible Dictionaries
Aquila and Priscilla

Holman Bible Dictionary

were a married couple who came from Italy to Corinth after the emperor Claudius ordered Jews expelled from Rome, became Christians, and assisted Paul in his ministry. They were tentmakers by trade (2 Timothy 4:19 ). They came into contact with Paul, who was a tentmaker, in Corinth (Acts 18:2 ). It is not clear whether they became Christians before or after meeting Paul; but, they became workers in the gospel, and accompanied Paul to Ephesus (Acts 18:19 ). There they instructed Apollos in the Christian faith (Acts 18:25 ). A church met in their home, and they joined Paul in writing to the Corinthian church (1 Corinthians 16:19 ).

Aquila and Priscilla were apparently influential among the “churches of the Gentiles” (Romans 16:3 ). This reference in Romans probably indicates that Priscilla and Aquila moved back to Rome. Some scholars think the church at Ephesus received a copy of the last chapter of Romans. The reference to the couple in 2 Timothy 4:19 may indicate the couple was in Ephesus.

Paul thanked Aquila and Priscilla for risking their own lives for him (Romans 16:4 ). The circumstances of this incident are unknown, although it may have occurred during Paul's trouble with Demetrius the silversmith (Acts 20:23-41 ).

Taylor Field