Blog 3---- 7 more short lessons on Aquila and Priscilla.

1.       A and P model for us the dynamics of married folk and single folk working together as a team for God’s kingdom. This doesn’t have to be weird folks, Paul who was single and yet worked  closely with A and P. Paul reminded the Corinthian Church that being single is a gift and being married is a gift.  Let’s be content in the situation we are in, and serve God whole heartily (1 Cor 7: 24-40). Being married or single are both good and add important dynamics and perspective and flexibility to church community and ministry.(Acts 18:3,18:26)

2.       They where strategic in their ministry. It’s seems to me that A and P where very strategic in their work, they were focused and new their part… they new the risks. They traveled with Paul at one point to Ephesus but then when they arrived they stayed, and Paul went on to Caesarea (Acts 18:18-22).

A and P where booted out of Rome by the Emperor who didn’t want any Jews around. Yet in the letter to Romans they are being greeted by Paul and commended by Paul for risking their lives for him and for the Gentile church that remained in Rome. So that means A and P strategically went back to Rome even though it was maybe somehow illegal for them to do so. This leads to my next point kind of already mentioned but worth reiterating …..

3.       A and P risked their lives for God and for his church. (Acts 18:2) (Roman 16:3-4)

4.       A and P where refugees, displaced Jews, but their circumstances didn’t slow them down from serving God. We first meet this couple at the beginning of Acts 18. Paul bumps into them shortly after they and many other Jewish folks and been run out of Rome. But it is not to long into the chapter that you see them working in business and ministry with Paul.  They travel to several cities between Asian and Europe to plant churches or encourage churches, they even hosted different people or churches in their home wherever they ended up living for while.

5.       They used their trade in tent making to support their ministry.  Many Christians are called into full time ministry and thus raise funds from individuals and churches to do so, especially if they are working outside the church in a local or overseas ministry. However another way to fund ministry is to utilize ones own salary from their trade, business or degree. (Acts 18:3)

6.       They where a influence to a least 3 different house church networks, in three different cities, in three different countries, in two different continents: Ephesus (Syria, Asia), Corinth (Greece, Europe), Rome (Italy, Europe). The guys are somewhat inconspicuous in the scripture but their authority and influence was wide and deeply respected. This leads to my next and final point.  

7.       They came, they stayed, they left… They discipled and entrusted, they mentored and sent.

It seems clear to me that that these two loved the church, more so loved God, I conclude this by seeing their involvement in the church in the NT scriptures, their risk for her seen in Paul’s commendation to them in Romans. (It is very evident that Paul loved and respected these two very very much). But these two where never to long one place, got too attached to wherever they where, or whoever they worked with, you always seem them here and there, coming and going, receiving and releasing people. It must have been hard, I always found that the hardest part about being in transit and overseas ministry. But these two took obedience to God seriously they went where and when he told them to “GO”.  They valued the growth of God’s family, and multiplication of his church. They didn’t just stay in one place to build up their own “Kingdom” and become “Mega Pastor Stars”, they build and grew a person or a church up then they moved on to something else. I think this again a great healthy and important model for ministry.

I have been really blessed by the presence of Aquila and Priscilla in the NT scripture, I hope you have too and like me have learned a few things, and will model them in your own Christian life.

Blessings in Christ from Rwanda,

Jody