Priscilla (Prisca)

*This is not an image of Priscilla. However, it seems to be a 3rd century woman serving the Eucharist to other women from the Priscilla Catacombs in Rome.

Image source: Visual Museum of Women in Christianity

Prisca (Priscilla)

Co-Travelers with Paul

We first encounter Priscilla (or Prisca) in Acts 18 when she and her husband, Aquila, meet Paul in Corinth. Luke describes Aquila as “a Jew…from Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had ordered all Jews to leave Rome” (Acts 18:2, NRSVUE). While it’s ambiguous whether Priscilla was also Jewish, Paul clearly states that the couple was originally from Rome before moving to Corinth. In Corinth, Paul, Priscilla, and Aquila live and work together as tentmakers (Acts 18:3) for 18 months (Acts 18:11). At some point, Silas and Timothy join them in Corinth (Acts 18:5). When Paul travels to Ephesus, Priscilla and Aquila journey with him, though Paul leaves them there and continues traveling (Acts 18:19-21).

In Ephesus

Once in Ephesus, Acts and Paul’s letters testify to the dynamic ministry of Priscilla and Aquila. They are always mentioned together, usually with Priscilla’s name first. Lynn Cohick notes that “in the ancient world, the first named in a pair carried the greater honor. Thus it is likely Prisca was gifted as a teacher and speaker, yet both shared equally in their ministry.”[1] Acts clearly records Priscilla using her teaching gifts. At the end of Acts 18, the vibrant Jewish teacher Apollos visits Ephesus, preaching about Jesus in the synagogue. Priscilla and Aquila notice that Apollos does not have a complete understanding of baptism, so they “took him aside and explained the Way of God to him more accurately” (Acts 18:26, NRSVUE). Priscilla authoritatively teaches a male preacher, even correcting his theology. In his first letter to the Corinthians, Paul states that “The churches of Asia send greetings. Aquila and Prisca, together with the church in their house, greet you warmly in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 16:19, NRSVUE). This husband-and-wife team host a house church, revealing their hospitality and total involvement in ministry together.

In Rome

 By the time Paul sends Phoebe to deliver his letter to the Roman church, it appears Priscilla and Aquila have returned to Rome and have an active ministry there. Paul writes “Greet Prisca and Aquila, my coworkers in Christ Jesus, who risked their necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks but also all the churches of the gentiles. Greet also the church in their house” (Romans 16:3-5, NRSVUE). Priscilla and Aquila now host a house church in Rome. Scot McKnight refers to the couple as “itinerant missionary church planter[s].”[2] We also learn that the couple has somehow risked their own lives for Paul, for which he and all the Gentile churches are thankful. Finally, Paul calls Priscilla and Aquila his “coworkers,” one of his favorite terms for referring to his ministry partners. Paul uses this word 13 times in his letters, including in reference to Timothy (i.e. Romans 16:21), Titus (2 Corinthians 8:23), Luke and Mark (Philemon 1:24). Together, Priscilla and Aquila demonstrate partnership, dedication, and service to others in ministry. They teach, host, lead, and serve alongside the apostle Paul in expanding Christ’s church.

References

[1] Lynn Cohick, “Romans,” in The IVP Women’s Bible Commentary, ed. Catherine Clark Kroeger and Mary J. Evans (Downers Grove, IL: IVP, 2002), 644.

[2] Scot McKnight, Reading Romans Backwards (Waco, TX: Baylor University Press, 2019), 13.