A First Century Valentine's Couple

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. 

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