Caregiving for Apostle Paul. The Dynamic Duo of Aquila & Priscilla. Sunday Musings

Acts 18:1-4 

On Easter Sunday evening of 1523 a man drove his wagon full of fish barrels into the courtyard of a nunnery in Germany, where 12 nuns secretly were waiting to flee. Many of them had been sold as young girls into the convent by their parents, some through destitution, others by neglect and others for profit. And so these 12 brave young nuns hid themselves quietly inside fish barrels, hoping they could escape their convent prison. Only their clothes & faith, shoeless so as not to make a sound. 

The next day they were met by a former German priest, now himself a protestant minister of the gospel of salvation by grace through faith, and not of works. He looked upon one of these freed young ladies. Most he married off to former priests, some went back to their families. But the one left began the first and most powerful dynamic duo for the gospel in the modern era. Martin Luther had met his young Catarina. He was 40, she 24. This was the first time in 500 years that anyone had seen a married pastor. Both hated: she divorced Christ to marry one who had divorced the church. 

Today we talk about the first Dynamic Duo of Christianity. Their names are mentioned 6x in 4 books of NT. His name means “eagle, her’s “old fashioned.” 

AP Journeys

Rome to Corinth: stay 2 years 

Corinth to Ephesus: stay 4 years

Return to Rome

800 miles Rome to Corinth, Italy to Greece, 2 languages & cultures

2100 miles Corinth to Ephesus (by way of Syria)—otherwise just 400 miles, Europe to Asia, 2 continents 

1200 miles Ephesus to Rome 

3 continents / 3 big cities / 4000 miles / across 5 seas & oceans / 4 very distinct land masses / multiple languages & cultures / enormous cost & effort to themselves (as family) / self-funded / with family? in 6 years 

Paul travels 50 miles from Athens to Corinth, while A 800 miles Rome to Corinth — for this divine appointment 

Curious: both Paul and Aquila BORN in Asia Minor (modern day west turkey). Tarsus—Paul. Pontus-Aquila. Homies! Ironies: both Jews, now Christians, travelers, teachers, workers in gospel, tent makers, evangelistic, leavers of rural hometowns to become cosmopolitan, manly masculine men. 

From Rome where there was a tent makers association. Then to Corinth due to expulsion because Jews. Met Paul. Later moved to Ephesus few years later, where confronted Apollos. Hosted Paul in home. They then move back to Rome. Prob killed by Nero after great fire in Rome in 64ad. 

Jesus said, id “seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things [food, clothing and drink] shall be added to you” (Matt. 6:33). The Apostle Paul describes Aquila and Priscilla as “fellow workers in Christ Jesus” (Rom. 16:3). We have seen that this couple was missions minded, they opened their home so that the believers could gather to remember the Lord, pray, and have fellowship as they were instructed in the Word of God (cf. Acts 2:42). They also were engaged in “secular” employment so that they were not a financial burden on the churches. Yet God blessed them with a very successful business so they could show hospitality to the saints by inviting the church in their home. 

There is no secular-sacred divide. Somebody has to pay for religious things. God can use every part of your work & home & family for His care of others. Your work is personal (Apollos) and corporate (fellow workers who risked lives for gospel) in 3 cities. 

Aquila and Priscilla were a married couple who owned and operated a tentmaking business. All six New Testament references to Aquila and Priscilla mention them together. 

They were known for their hospitality, hostin