I was thinking about my fellowship with God and with other believers. And about speaking the Word with and to others, and being an example to others at the coffee shop and in our neighborhood. And I thought about our new neighborhood and our new house. And for some reason, I thought, what if Alicia and I moved right next to Aquila and Priscilla’s house.
Aquila and Priscilla are two wonderful believers. Apostle Paul knew them and wrote about them.
In Romans 16:3-5, Paul writes, “3 Greet Priscilla and Aquila my helpers in Christ Jesus. 4 Who have for my life laid down their own necks. Unto whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles. 5 Likewise, greet the church that is in their house.”
Paul speaks so highly of these two fellow believers. They were important to Paul. He called them “my helpers.” Using my Blue Letter Bible app, we see that “helper” in Romans 16:3 is the Greek word “synergos,” meaning fellow worker, a companion in work, and a workfellow.
This is the first occurrence of this snyergos-workfellow word. Right here in Romans 16:3. So, these two people are the first examples of what synergos-workfellows are. We can learn how to be helpers or fellow laborers in Christ by understanding more about Aquila and Priscilla.
When I was recently reading about Aquila and Priscilla, I learned a little bit more about myself and my wife. This wonderful married couple were fellow workers with the Apostle Paul.
(1) They lived and worked with Paul. I live and work with my wife.
(2) They helped Paul start new fellowships. My wife and I can help start new fellowships.
(3) They hosted home fellowships. My wife and I can host fellowships and classes.
Please turn to Acts 18, and let’s take a look at how Aquila and Priscilla lived and worked with Paul. (1) They lived and worked with Paul. (2) They helped Paul start new fellowships. (3) They hosted home fellowships.
Acts 18:1-2 reads, “1 After these things, Paul departed from Athens (Greece), and came to Corinth (Greece). 2 And found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus.” (Aquila was a Jew, born in Pontus, in what is now Turkey. He emigrated to Rome, where he met and fell in love with Priscilla in Italy.) Verse 2 continues… “Lately come from Italy, with his wife Priscilla; (because that Claudius had commanded all Jews to depart from Rome:) and came unto them.”
So Aquila and Priscilla travel “lately” from Italy to Corinth, Greece. They meet Paul in Greece.
Acts 18:3 says, “3 And because he was of the same craft, he (Paul) abode with them, and wrought: for by their occupation they were tentmakers.” So, (the first point I wanted to share) Paul, Aquila, and Priscilla lived and worked together. They fellowshiped with each other. Daily. They believed together. They rejoiced together. They strengthened each other with love and respect for each other. They were united.
Aquila and Priscilla were forced to leave their home in Rome, Italy. They could have become discouraged. They could have quit. They were uprooted from their home. But they stayed focused, held fast, were united, and spiritually energized. And they are written down, in the Word, as great examples of two people, a married couple, who stuck together, and were fellow believers and are great examples.
Not only did they know Apostle Paul, they lived with Paul, worked alongside him, and ate meals together. They sailed on ships with Paul (Acts 18:18). They were Paul’s helpers in Christ (as we just read in Romans 16:3). They ran fellowships (as we read in Romans 16:5). And they stood faithful with Paul throughout his ministry (as they’re saluted to in 2 Timothy 4:19). What a great team of believers. What a great fellowship they had with each other and with God. When we team up with fellow believers and other disciples, we help each other build our belief and fellowship with God and stay steadfast on God’s plain, simple, and good path in life.
(2nd point I wanted to share) Aquila and Priscilla helped Paul start new fellowships. Corinth, Greece, was one of those areas where they started a fellowship. But when Paul left and sailed to Syria, Aquila and Priscilla sailed with him. Acts 18:18-19 says, “18 And Paul after this tarried there yet a good while, and then took his leave of the brethren, and sailed thence into Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila; having shorn his head (got a hair cut) in Cenchrea: for he had a vow. 19 And he came to Ephesus, and left them there: but he himself entered into the synagogue, and reasoned with the Jews.”
Paul, Aquila, and Priscilla sailed from Corinth, Greece, to Syria. Then they all went to Ephesus. Priscilla and Aquila stayed in Ephesus. And Paul continued on his voyage to other places. When Paul returned, the Word grew mightly in that area in the space of two years to the point where, as it says in Acts 19:10, “And this continued by the space of two years. So that all they who dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews (Judeans) and Greeks (Gentiles).” Aquila and Priscilla were with Paul during this time. They were really spreading the Word together as coworking-fellowshipping believers to the point where everyone in Asia heard the Word.
(3rd point I wanted to share) Aquila and Priscilla hosted home fellowships in both Rome, Italy and in Ephesus (western coast of Turkey). Romans 16:5 says, “Likewise greet the church that is in their house (Aquila and Priscilla’s house).” And 1 Corinthians 16:19 says, “The churches of Asia salute you. Aquila and Priscilla salute you much in the Lord, with the church that is in their house.” So, they had fellowships in their home. That’s one of the reasons Paul was so thankful for them.
(1) Aquila and Priscilla lived and worked with Paul. (2) They opened new areas of outreach with him. (3) And they hosted home fellowships.
These two believers, Aquila and Priscilla, learned a lot from Paul as he shared and taught the Word. Paul taught about the great mystery, the Grace Administration, the hope of Christ’s return, the accomplishments of Jesus Christ, and the one body of Christ. Being “synergos” or fellow workers with Paul, brought great benefits to Aquila and Priscilla, as they were willing to serve by speaking the Word to others.
For example, when Aquila and Priscilla were in Ephesus, they met Apollos, and “expounded unto him, the way of God more perfectly.” Acts 18:24-26 says, “24 And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures, came to Ephesus. 25 This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John. 26 And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly.”
Aquila and Priscilla took the time to speak the Word and teach the accurate Word to Apollos and to others. They learned enough from Paul to teach others in their home fellowships.
Aquila and Priscilla are great examples of fellow laborers. (1) They lived and worked with Apostle Paul. (2) They helped open new areas of outreach. (3) They hosted home fellowships.
They learned a lot. They spoke the Word, and taught others, what they knew, to bring them, to a knowledge of the truth. Not only was Paul thankful for them, but, as Romans 16:4 says, “unto whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles.”
Just like Aquila and Priscilla, we too can have an impact on spreading the Word as fellow believers. And that’s what I wanted to share.
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