Priscilla

Info

• #coworker #benefactor #female
• Home:: Rome (originally), then Corinth, Ephesus, Rome again
• Other Locales:: Corinthian Church, Ephesian Church, Roman Church
• References:: Acts 18#18:2-3, Acts 18#18:18, Acts 18#18:26, Romans 16#16:3-5, 1 Corinthians 16#16:19, 2 Timothy 4#4:19

Notes

• Also called Prisca (the formal Latin form used by Paul in his letters)
• Wife of Aquila; named first in four of six NT references, suggesting her prominence
• Tentmaker by trade, same as Paul

Summary

Priscilla (called Prisca by Paul in his letters) is one of the most prominent women in the New Testament and, together with her husband Aquila, formed the most important ministry couple in the Pauline network. She appears in six New Testament passages. In four of them, her name is listed before Aquila's, a reversal of normal ancient convention that indicates she was the more prominent of the two in the Christian community.

Priscilla and Aquila were Jewish tentmakers expelled from Rome by Emperor Claudius's edict against Jews (c. 49 AD) and settled in Corinth (Acts 18#18:2). Paul, also a tentmaker, lived and worked with them during his eighteen months in Corinth (Acts 18#18:3). The shared trade became the basis for one of Paul's most enduring partnerships.

When Paul left Corinth for Ephesus, Priscilla and Aquila accompanied him (Acts 18#18:18). It was in Ephesus that they encountered Apollos, the eloquent Alexandrian teacher who knew only the baptism of John. Priscilla and Aquila "took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately" (Acts 18#18:26). That Luke names Priscilla first in this teaching scene is significant - she appears to have taken the lead in instructing a man who was himself a formidable biblical scholar.

Paul's commendation of the couple in Romans 16#16:3-5 is extraordinary: "Greet Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers (synergous) in Christ Jesus, who risked their necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks but all the churches of the Gentiles give thanks as well. Greet also the church in their house." The phrase "risked their necks" (ton heautōn trachēlon hypethēkan) refers to a life-threatening danger they faced on Paul's behalf, possibly during the Ephesian riot or another crisis. That "all the churches of the Gentiles" knew of their sacrifice indicates their reputation extended across the entire Pauline network.

Priscilla and Aquila hosted house churches in at least two cities: Ephesus (1 Corinthians 16#16:19) and Rome (Romans 16#16:5). Their mobility (Rome to Corinth to Ephesus and back to Rome) mirrors the itinerant pattern of the Pauline mission itself, and their homes provided the physical infrastructure for congregational life in each city.

The final reference to Priscilla comes in 2 Timothy 4#4:19, where Paul sends greetings to "Prisca and Aquila," confirming their continued active ministry late in Paul's career.

Priscilla embodies a pattern of female leadership in the early church that was neither exceptional nor controversial in the Pauline communities. She taught, hosted churches, traveled as an equipping servant, and was publicly honored by Paul as a coworker who had risked her life for the gospel.

References

• joreEquippingServantsEarly2025 - Includes Priscilla/Prisca in the analysis of early church servant-leaders and their itinerant ministry pattern.
• joreStudyChurchHer2022 - References Priscilla within Paul's coworker network.
• reedBILDEncyclicals2017 - Discusses Priscilla and Aquila's house church ministry in the context of early church structures.
• reedGathering2021 - Includes Priscilla and Aquila in the narrative of early church gathering patterns.
• rinehartGospelPatrons2014 - References Priscilla and Aquila as examples of gospel patronage.
• meeksFirstUrbanChristians2003 - Examines the social world of urban Christians including Priscilla's role.
• theodoretCommentaryRomansc425 - Theodoret of Cyrus's patristic commentary on Romans, with early church interpretation of Priscilla in Romans 16:3-5.
• mouleEpistlePaulApostle2015 - Moule's commentary on Romans covering Priscilla's mention in Romans 16:3-5.
• bruceRomans2014 - F.F. Bruce's Romans commentary addressing Priscilla in Romans 16:3-5.
• mcclainRomansGospelGod1989 - McClain's Romans commentary covering Priscilla in Paul's closing greetings.
• mooEncounteringBookRomans2002 - Moo's Romans survey covering the greetings context where Priscilla appears in Romans 16:3-5.
• wrightChallengeActsRediscovering2024 - Wright's study of Acts as theological history, covering Priscilla's role in Acts 18:2-26.
• polhillActs1992 - Polhill's Acts commentary covering Priscilla in Acts 18:2-26.
• paoActsIsaianicNew2002 - Pao's study of Acts through the lens of Isaiah's new exodus, providing theological context for Priscilla's narrative in Acts 18:2-26.
• addisonActsMovementGod2023 - Addison examines the Acts narrative as a movement model, including Priscilla's contribution in Acts 18:2-26.
• Priscilla and Aquila - Wikipedia
• Who were Priscilla and Aquila? - GotQuestions.org
• Priscilla: Valued Partner in the Church's Mission - Biblical Foundations