Study One. Aquila.
Bible readings will be from: Acts 18:2, 18, 26; Romans
16:3; 1 Corinthians 16:19; 2 Timothy 4:19, and other readings.
Date: About a.d.
50.
Name: Aquila
(“eagle”).
Greatest
Accomplishment: He and his
wife Priscilla were close friends and co-workers of the apostle Paul.
1. Aquila’ life and times.
The Revell Bible Dictionary provides a good summary of Aquila’s life
and times. Acts 18 identifies Aquila
as a Jew. Like other Jews living outside of Palestine, he and his wife adopted Roman
names in addition to their Jewish names, which are not given in Scripture.
Expelled from Rome
by edict of the Emperor Claudius (about a.d.
49), they settled in Corinth.
Paul, who shared their trade of tent making (that is, leather working), stayed
with Aquila and Priscilla there.
Aquila was apparently well off:
he owned property, and the couple were free to travel with Paul to Ephesus (Acts 18:24-26). According to 1 Corinthians 16:19, a house-church was
established in their home. Later, after Claudius’s edict expelling Jews were revoked
in a.d. 54, the couple apparently
returned to Rome and became leaders of the Christian community there (Romans 16:3–5a).
What is perhaps most fascinating
about references to Aquila in the New
Testament is that in each case his wife is mentioned with him, and in half the
references Priscilla is named first. What an appropriate reminder that in
ministry as in life husbands and wives are to be partners and that in some
partnerships the wife’s gifts may be greater than those of her husband.
2.
Aquila: An Example for today.
We know little about Aquila. Yet we know enough to view him as an example for
Christian men today.
1. Aquila was a businessman
who used the flexibility of business ownership to minister.
Aquila
provided work for the apostle Paul. Aquila and his wife relocated to Ephesus to
be part of Paul’ missionary team. Aquila is a
good example of a person who sees ministry rather than profit as his objective,
and who uses his business to create opportunities to serve God.
2. Aquila was a husband who
was not threatened by having a wife with gifts and abilities that may have
exceeded his own. Their partnership in life and ministry challenges every man
to re-evaluate his attitude toward women and especially toward his spouse.
Conclusion:
We need more people like Aquila,
to assist us in our faith today!
