Who was Aquila in the Bible?

Aquila was a Jewish Christian tentmaker who, along with his wife Priscilla, became a close partner of the Apostle Paul. They are mentioned several times in the New Testament as fellow workers who hosted a church in their home (Acts 18:2, Romans 16:3-5).

Why are Aquila and Priscilla important in the Bible?

They were vital supporters of Paul's missionary work, providing both hospitality and skilled labor. Their correction and instruction of Apollos in Ephesus also demonstrate their deep understanding of Christian doctrine (Acts 18:24-26).

What key events involved Aquila in the Bible?

Key events include meeting Paul in Corinth after being expelled from Rome, traveling with him to Ephesus, and instructing the learned preacher Apollos. They are consistently noted for risking their lives for Paul and hosting a church assembly (1 Corinthians 16:19).

Aquila

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Aquila, along with his wife Priscilla, was a Jewish Christian who worked as a tentmaker and played a significant role in the early church, partnering with Paul in his ministry.

Aquila

Biography

Aquila was a Jewish Christian tentmaker born in Pontus, a region on the southern shore of the Black Sea, who became one of Paul's most trusted and enduring ministry partners. He and his wife Priscilla were expelled from Rome under Emperor Claudius's edict against Jews (around AD 49) and settled in Corinth, where Paul first met them (Acts 18:1-3). Sharing a trade, Paul lodged and worked with them, and the couple accompanied him to Ephesus, where they remained to nurture the church (Acts 18:18-19). It was in Ephesus that Aquila and Priscilla took the eloquent Apollos aside and instructed him more fully in the Christian faith (Acts 18:26). Paul later greeted them warmly in Romans 16:3-4, noting that they had risked their lives for him and that all the Gentile churches owed them gratitude.

Significance

Aquila and Priscilla together represent a model of lay Christian partnership that proved vital to the expansion of the early church. Their home served as a house church in multiple cities, Corinth, Ephesus, and Rome, making them itinerant pillars of the Pauline mission network. The fact that Priscilla is often named first when the couple is mentioned (Romans 16:3; Acts 18:18, 26) has led many scholars to suggest she held a prominent role, making Aquila also a model of collaborative and non-competitive ministry. By risking their lives for Paul and mentoring Apollos, Aquila and Priscilla demonstrate that the advancement of the gospel depends not only on apostles and evangelists but on devoted couples whose homes, skills, and relationships are placed fully in service of Christ.

Verse Appearances (6)

References

Orr, J. (ed.) (1915) The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Chicago: Howard-Severance Company. [Public Domain]
Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Individualised Proper Names with all References (TIPNR). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
Church of England (1769) The Holy Bible, Authorized (King James) Version. [Public Domain]

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Aquila

Biography

Significance

Verse Appearances (6)

Acts

Romans

1 Corinthians

2 Timothy

References