Discerning Hearts Ministry
  • Blog
    • Previous Posts
  • Home
  • About
    • Founder
    • Contact Information >
      • Connecting
    • Doctrinal Statement
    • Foundation
    • Values & Vision
  • Resources
    • Seminars & Workshops
    • Ellen Krahn
    • NextLEVEL Leadership
    • Following Jesus
  • Blog
    • Previous Posts
  • Home
  • About
    • Founder
    • Contact Information >
      • Connecting
    • Doctrinal Statement
    • Foundation
    • Values & Vision
  • Resources
    • Seminars & Workshops
    • Ellen Krahn
    • NextLEVEL Leadership
    • Following Jesus

A First Century Valentine's Couple

2/13/2017

0 Comments

 
Picture
Valentine’s Day is a great time to reevaluate our relationships, whether they be with our spouse, significant other, or friends in general. This past week I was studying Acts 18:24-28 for another writing project and was re-introduced to an amazing ministry couple, Aquila, and Pricilla.  This couple is mentioned in the New Testament six times, but each time the passages are very short. You don’t see one mentioned without seeing the other mentioned shortly after.  Pricilla and Aquila are a good example of how God sees men and women as equals.  Aquila is mentioned first, three times, as is Pricilla.  Remember, women were not given a place of honour during that time in history. 
 
I encourage you to read these passages several times and be sure to include the surrounding verses during one of your readings. 
  • Acts 18:2, 18 & 26
  • Romans 16: 3 & 4
  • 1 Corinthians 16:19
 
One of the first things I noticed is that this couple loved to travel together.  They were not afraid of adventure.  We are not told where Pricilla was born, but Aquila was born in Pontus, on the south shore of the Black Sea.  We are not told when he met and married Pricilla, but it seems that she was with him when he made all of his moves: Rome, Corinth, Syria, and Ephesus. Many of these travels were made as they accompanied the Apostle Paul.
 
Aquila and Pricilla were tentmakers together.  They worked together.  Some of you might be thinking “How could they work together every day?”  My husband Weyburn has been self-employed for many years, and I have worked part-time until my retirement recently.  I must say, I really enjoy our time together. We do make sure that the other knows what we are planning for the day.  I try to schedule my writing and creative time either early in the morning, or for when he will be out of the house.
 
They ministered and mentored together as a couple. We are not told what they did as they ministered with Paul, but through Paul’s words, we understand that they were deeply loved and appreciated.   As mentors, they must have been kind and gentle.  It is usually very awkward to offer to be a mentor to someone.  The person being asked may wonder why we think they need a mentor, or what we think we know that they don’t know. But Apollos, a very knowledgeable and gifted teacher and preacher, accepted their offer of help willingly and quickly.  He must have seen God’s Spirit and wisdom in them and wanted to learn all he could from them.
 
Pricilla and Aquila were risk takers together for Christ. We read:
 
3 Greet Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus,4 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.  Romans 16: 3,4  ESV (Prisca is the Greek variation of Pricilla)
 
We are not given the details of this event, but I sure wish we had been.  It must have been quite the experience. Notice, it was not just strong and tall (maybe, maybe not) Aquila coming to the rescue of Paul, Pricilla did her part.  We are not told the ages of this couple, but age did not seem to matter. They were willing and able.
 
  • If you have a Valentine, how do your relationship and joint ministry measure up to this great couple? 
  • If you are married, perhaps you will want to develop together in some of these areas.
  • If you are single and dating, you may want to consider these areas as you look for a lifelong partner.
  • For those who are following Christ without a partner, consider developing these aspects of life with Christ as your partner.
Whatever your circumstances, as you intentionally develop in these areas you may find new exciting meaning in your relationships. 

0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Debi Snider... more

    Go here to sign up for New Blog Notifications.

    Archives

    February 2021
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    December 2019
    April 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    October 2018
    August 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    October 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    September 2016
    May 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    November 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013

    Categories

    All
    Attitude
    Brave
    Christmas
    Courage
    Creation
    Despair
    Discipline
    Family
    Following Jesus
    Freedom
    Gifts
    Gladness
    Goals And Aspirations
    Hope
    Liberty
    Marriage
    Memories
    Mentoring
    Praise
    Promised Messiah
    Sacrifice
    Sharing The Gospel
    The Mind Of Christ
    Valentines
    Wise Men From The East

    RSS Feed

Connect with Debi
Proudly powered by Weebly