Die frühe KircheCo-workerTentmakerChurch leaderMentorMissionary?
Originally from Pontus on the Black Sea, Aquila was a Jewish believer who, together with his wife Priscilla, was expelled from Rome when Emperor Claudius ordered the expulsion of Jews around 49 AD. The couple settled in Corinth, where they shared both their home and tentmaking workshop with the apostle Paul. Over the years, Aquila and Priscilla became among Paul's most trusted coworkers – they accompanied him to Ephesus, guided the eloquent Apollos into a deeper understanding of the gospel, and opened their home as a gathering place for believers in several cities. Paul commends them for having risked their lives on his behalf and calls them his fellow workers in Christ Jesus, which testifies to the great trust and love between them.
2There he found a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had ordered all the Jews to leave Rome. Paul went to see them,
18Paul stayed on in Corinth for many days. Then he said farewell to the brothers and sailed for Syria, together with Priscilla and Aquila. Before sailing, he had his hair cut off at Cenchreae, because of a vow he had made.
26He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained the way of God to him more accurately.
In what is considered one of Paul's last letters, he sends greetings to Priscilla and Aquila, testifying to their lasting importance and close relationship with the apostle.