Priscilla & Aquilla - Faithful Fellow Workers

Sometimes in life, we focus our attention on those who see to attract more attention than others. Usually, it is not that they are asking for more attention. Often because they are more visible. In football they would be the quarterback and those who carry the football. In hockey, they are usually the forwards or the goalie.

In the minds if some they are the only ones who are doing anything meaningful.

Restaurants - all of the folks who are part of the food delivery/service providers

Open kitchens - behind a long counter

Retail service providers - every member of the team is important and integral

The same is true in Gospel ministry - team ministry - we are only as strong as our weakest link.

Even those who might be perceived as weaker links are important and indispensible.

1 Corinthians 12:14–17 ESV

For the body does not consist of one member but of many. If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell?

1 Cor 12:

1 Corinthians 12:21–22 ESV

The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable,

1 Cor 12:

In Luke’s extended accounted of “Acts” - praxeis/praxis - the achievements of great men of God - i.e. the Apostles - he was careful to note others, like Aquila and Priscilla, whom God also used. And lest we think that Luke was the only one to note the integral contribution of Priscilla and Aquila, today we will also consider the Apostle Paul’s summary of their ministry impact. At the close of his Epistle to the Romans, Paul referred to them as “faithful fellow workers in Christ Jesus” -

Luke noted and Paul affirmed that Priscilla and Aquila were fellow:

John 1:12 ESV

But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,

Workers - 18:1-5

Corinth - Paul found them there - already believers - no doubt part of an existing congregation

Strategic Location

Commercial center in Greece on an isthmus - connecting two larger land masses - Pelopponesian Peninsula & the rest of Greece - separating two bodies of water - cc Panama, NB & NS

Acts: The MacArthur New Testament Commentary Chapter 11: Encouraging the Servant of God (Acts 18:1–17)

Because it was a 200-mile sail around the peninsula, some ships were put on rollers and pulled across the 4-mile bridge of land. In A.D. 67 Nero began work on a canal, but one was not completed until 1893.

Transitional moving population

Temple of Aphrodite - 1000 temple priestesses - ritual prostitutes

Jewish believers forced from Rome - 18:1-2

Edict of Claudius - Emperor of Rome - AD 41-54 - referred to

Acts: The MacArthur New Testament Commentary The Companionship of Friends

That decree is mentioned by Roman historian Suetonius, who wrote, “As the Jews were indulging in constant riots at the instigation of Chrestus, [Claudius] banished them from Rome” (Life of Claudius 25.4, cited in F. F. Bruce, The Book of the Acts, The New International Commentary on the New Testament [Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1971], 368). Since Chrestus differs in only one letter from Christus (Latin for “Christ”), it is commonly assumed that Suetonius refers to disturbances in the Jewish community sparked by the preaching of Christ. Writing seventy years after the fact, he wrongly assumed Chrestus (Christ) to have been in Rome instigating the riots.

Probably part of initial group of believers that formed the church in Rome.

Romans 1:7–9 ESV

To all those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is proclaimed in all the world. For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I mention you

Not listed among converts in Corinth

Potentially discouraging for Priscilla & Aquila. Also for Paul - thrown in prison in Philippi - - After reasonable success in Thessalonica - 17:4 - forced to flee to Berea - 17:10 - where many believed - but Paul had to flee again because of those who agitated and stirred up the crowds - 17:13-14 - arrived alone in Athens - 17:15 - some believed, some mocked him - 17:32 - would seem that mockers outnumbered believers.

In his Epistle referred to how fragile he felt - cc ; Acts 16:22-24

1 Corinthians 2:3 ESV

And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling,

1 Thessalonians 3:7 ESV

for this reason, brothers, in all our distress and affliction we have been comforted about you through your faith.

1 Thess

In Corinth found Priscilla & Aquila - Paul would have looked for tentmakers and the temple - a place to preach the Gospel. Were it not for them, Paul would have been alone - 17:16; 18:5

Therefore a Christian community there.

Tent makers - 18:3

Aquila from Pontus - Asia minor - south shore of Black Sea

Tent maker can also refer to leather worker - some tents made out of leather

Paul lived and worked with them - 18:3

Enabled Paul’s reasoning and testifying - 18:4-5

Every Sabbath in the synagogue

Jews and Greeks - Greeks proselytes to Judaism - while main faith connects are as much ethnicity and birth, some Greeks had embraced Judaism - faith and way of life including Sabbath worship in the synagogue.

Reasoning and persuading - preached plus some give and take questions and answers all focused on Jesus Christ and the Gospel.

1 Corinthians 2:1–4 ESV

And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power,

Persuading - encouraged belief - that Jesus Christ was Israel’s Lord and Messiah, the Saviour from sin and hell.

Paul was not talking hypothetical theories. He had embraced Judaism 110% came the conclusion knowing Jesus was all that was worth holding onto.

Philippians 3:4–11 ESV

though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless. But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.

Phil 3:

Behind the scenes support for Paul’s 1.5 years of ministry in Corinth - 18:5-12

Occupied with the Word - versus - pressed in the Spirit - KJV - all Greeks texts logos

Testifying to the Jews that the Christ was Jesus

Justus - worshipper of God - home next to the synagogue not a believer but open - term used of Lydia - 16:14

Crispus ruler of the synagogue believed

Unrest - 18:12

Paul afraid - The Lord said in a vision -

Acts 18:9–10 ESV

And the Lord said to Paul one night in a vision, “Do not be afraid, but go on speaking and do not be silent, for I am with you, and no one will attack you to harm you, for I have many in this city who are my people.”

Acts 18:9 ESV

And the Lord said to Paul one night in a vision, “Do not be afraid, but go on speaking and do not be silent,

Acts

1.5 years teaching the word of God - longest stay in any city except Ephesus - 3 years - - Rome - 2 yrs - 28:30

Reasoners/Instructors - 18:18-19; 24-28

Continued to enable Paul - 18:18-19

Traveled with Paul (sailing to Syria) from Cenchrae - east side of isthmus/Corinth on west side.

Speaks of a stable congregation with adequate leadership.

Phebe - servant - deacon of the church in Cenchrae - Rom 16:1

Paul’s Nazarite vow - pledge of separation and devotion to God - , ; ; ; Jn the Baptist - . In Paul’s day, rather than be a vow for life, it was for a specific period and the hair was cut when not in Jerusalem, the removed hair was to taken to the temple in Jerusalem - some say within 30 days.

Paul’s vow seems to be gratitude for God’s help during the turmoil in Corinth.

Sailed with Paul to Ephesus - left by Paul there - get settled and business.

Paul to synagogue - reasoned with the Jews.

Preached to the Jews first. It seems that when he took that approach, the Gentiles also welcomed him, but not visa versa.

Paul declined the invitation to stay longer - sailed from Ephesus - Caesarea - Antioch - Galatia & Phrygia

Went up & greeted the church - suggests Jerusalem - down to Antioch - beginning of 3rd miss’y journey

Continued by instructing Apollos - 18:24-28

While Apollos is understandably the focal point, mainly it seems because of his fervency and boldness in teaching, the fact of the matter was that while he was sincere, his theological training was not complete.

Apollos from Corinth - wished to cross to Achaia - Acts 18:27

;

Ministry strengths:

Eloquent

Competent in the Scriptures - competent - used only here - along with eloquence enabled him to refute the Jews.

Had been instructed in the way of the Lord.

Did not understand the basics of Jesus - death, burial, resurrection & Holy Spirit

What God expected His people to observe.

This term was used re Abraham, all of Israel, Samuel’s prayer for Israel - , David’s song of deliverance - ; ; ; ; ; ; ; , ; , ; Hos 14:9

Genesis 18:19 ESV

For I have chosen him, that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing righteousness and justice, so that the Lord may bring to Abraham what he has promised him.”

Judges 8:22 ESV

Then the men of Israel said to Gideon, “Rule over us, you and your son and your grandson also, for you have saved us from the hand of Midian.”

2 Samuel 22:22 ESV

For I have kept the ways of the Lord and have not wickedly departed from my God.

Judges 2:22 ESV

in order to test Israel by them, whether they will take care to walk in the way of the Lord as their fathers did, or not.”

2 Sam

2 Samuel 22:22 ESV

For I have kept the ways of the Lord and have not wickedly departed from my God.

Rejected by most.

Ezekiel 33:17 ESV

“Yet your people say, ‘The way of the Lord is not just,’ when it is their own way that is not just.

Ezek

Ezekiel 33:20 ESV

Yet you say, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’ O house of Israel, I will judge each of you according to his ways.”

Ezek

Taught accurately things of Jesus - the Messiah to come - though he knew only the baptism of John - repent and be baptised the kingdom of God is at hand.

Luke 1:16–17 ESV

And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God, and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.”

What Apollos taught, he taught accurately, but he did not teach all that aught to teach - not teaching baptism in the name of Jesus - Holy Spirit had not come on those whom he taught - 9:1-10

Taught the way of the Lord - 18:25 - versus the Way - 19:9 .

Priscilla and Aquila taught Apollos the way of God more accurately and APOLLOS ACCEPTED THEIR TEACHING.

THIS TELLS US MUCH ABOUT THESE THREE - Grace and truth with a 3 way commitment to the Word and best complete fully accurate theology.

Ministry of Apollos became even more effective - 18:27-28

Risk takers/givers - :

Risked their necks for Paul’s life - 16:4

Risked stability when approached Apollos

Hosted the church in Rome & Corinth - 16:5 - cc

House churches - purpose built worship structure not until mid AD 200’s.

Some means, huge commitment and sacrifice

Worthy of thanks - 16:4

Reflecting on Priscilla’s and Aquila’ strengthening, supporting, affirming and expanding the ministries both of Paul & Apollos, we do well to:

Take note of, affirm and graciously commend all fellow workers.

Those who serve faithfully.

Those who plug holes without being asked.

Those who see needs and address those needs.

Thank you’s, notes and records in minutes needed.

Everyone needs to be affirmed as integral parts of the body of Christ.

2. Insure all whom we know and with whom we serve understand the way of Lord totally accurately.

Grace and truth

The whole truth essential

We must tell others and each other all of the truth.

We must not allow others to innocently conclude that part of the truth is the whole truth.

Lord’s Table & Baptism

Lordship

3. Commit to offering and accepting correction from the Word of God with a perfect balance of grace and truth.

What do we need to understand?

What are we doing well? What do we need to do better?

Performance reviews

All of us must be willing to be judged and judge others

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