Woman of Influence – Priscilla
Acts 18-19
Aquila and Priscilla – You can’t have one without the other
I’ve never really given this much consideration until I was reading to prepare for this post, but I think it is really cool that Aquila and Priscilla are always named together. To me, this signifies a beautiful partnership… a couple that was committed to each other and the calling they felt God had on their lives. Interestingly, in some cases you read ‘Aquila and Priscilla’ and in others ‘Priscilla and Aquila’. I wonder if there was any significance in listing one or the other first?
I wish we had some more details about Priscilla’s life, but here’s what we do know:
- She and her husband Aquila were some of the first missionaries and leaders of the early church
- They partnered with Paul and were entrusted to train and develop other leaders such as Apollos
- They were tent makers by trade
- They moved a lot. From Rome to Corinth to Ephesus and back to Rome.
- Priscilla traveled with the guys. It looks like it was just she, Aquila and Paul from Corinth to Ephesus. (Bless her! I’m not exactly sure what traveling was like in that day, but I’m sure it wasn’t glamorous, especially with two guys!)
I wonder:
- Did Priscilla have any girlfriends to confide in?
- What exactly was here role in the teaching and leading of the early church?
- Did she have any children?
- She influenced other church leaders. What kind of influence did she have with the women around her?
If you have any other insights on Priscilla, please share!
I did a study on her years ago. Here’s snippet.
Priscilla’s name is found first in Acts 18:18, Romans 16:3; II Tim. 4:19. It is unusual for the wife’s name to occur first. Why?
a. Her house. She is mentioned with the house.
b. She is more gifted.
HER GIFTEDNESS
Did not mean domination or headship.
Did not threaten him.
Did not mean only she served.
Did not make her overbearing.
C. PRACTICAL TAKE AWAYS
1. Don’t grasp after the spotlight in ministry.
2. Don’t leave the other out.
3. Don’t compete with your spouse but complement.
4. Don’t be a threat to each other, work as a team.
5. Use your God-given ability, don’t shrink from them.
6. Be free to minister for God together
As a leader and very married, this study reminded me alot that I need to be the best team at home first.. It doesn’t mean I cannot lead anywhere else. God needs my talents. But I need to have a strong focus on both.
It was a life changing study for me.
@Heidi – this is great! Thank you for adding so much more to the discussion!
“They were tent makers by trade”
this makes me wonder if it is too late to drop out of college and take up tent making as a trade. 😉
I think you shared everything I’ve ever known about her and more! Great insight.
Sometimes I think it would have been cool to have a book in the Bible written by Priscilla or another woman of influence in the Bible.
If you could pick any woman in the Bible to have written a book of the Bible who would you pick?
@Pete – great question! I’m gonna have to drum up a good response and post about that one.
LOVE HER!!! She has always been my favorite example of real submission. I never fit the stereotypical version of that, and loved that she was a leader that was included in the ministry. I did NOT know that she was a tent maker. That does seem to be a common occupation… along with tax collecting (but everyone hates you), fishing (you stink all of the time), and carpentry (you break a nail – yours I mean). So I see why she would pick that as a career to join her husband in :).
i would’ve been the worst priscilla ever! i love hangin with the guys. but not much into hard labor. 😉 kidding. sorta.
“What exactly was here role in the teaching and leading of the early church?”
i’m guessing she played a huge part… in that she was her husbands support. she clearly was “with” him…in everything. some leaders dont have wives and they do what they do well naturally on their own. some leaders have wives who are in complete support of them and do whatever they can for and with their husbands. then there are some who do not have supportive wives. in fact, i know a pastor who left the ministry 2 years ago because his wife didnt support him. she wanted ‘better’ things.