Austin Bible Church
In marriage, the husband is the initiator and the head and the wife is the responder. Thus, in the matter of Christian service or the exercise of spiritual gifts, those had by the husband are the initiatory gifts and the woman’s are those of the responder and reflector, like the gift of helps. The gift of helps is a flexible gift which enables the woman the reflect her husband’s spiritual gift. An illustration is provided of how two spiritual gifts can function in a marriage and have a great spiritual impact.
Aquila and his wife lived in Rome until deported by Claudius the Emperor and left a lucrative business. Aquila was a tentmaker and had a tent factory in Corinth. Paul and Aquila had something in common, tent making. They were fellow travelers. Acts 18:2-3; Acts. 18:18.
"And he found a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, having recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to leave Rome. He came to them, and because he was of the same trade, he stayed with them and they were working, for by trade they were tent-makers." (Acts 18:2-3, NASB)
"Paul, having remained many days longer, took leave of the brethren and put out to sea for Syria, and with him were Priscilla and Aquila. In Cenchrea he had his hair cut, for he was keeping a vow." (Acts 18:18, NASB)
At Ephesus Aquila and Priscilla heard Apollos ministering. Aquila and Priscilla heard him knowing that he did not have a complete picture of the whole counsel of God. Aquila had the spiritual gift of exhortation and Priscilla had the gift of helps. Obviously Aquila and Priscilla were in agreement of what Bible doctrine needed to be communicated to Apollos. This doctrine they had both learned from Paul.
"Now a Jew named Apollos, an Alexandrian by birth, an eloquent man, came to Ephesus; and he was mighty in the Scriptures. This man had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit, he was speaking and teaching accurately the things concerning Jesus, being acquainted only with the baptism of John; and he began to speak out boldly in the synagogue. But when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately." (Acts 18:24-26, NASB)
In Romans 16:3-4, “risked their own necks” is an idiom which means to place under, to lay down, to risk their own lives. A man and woman traveling team, without children, exercising their spiritual gifts.
"Greet Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, who for my life risked their own necks, to whom not only do I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles;" (Romans 16:3-4, NASB)
The church at Ephesus was started in the home of Aquila and Priscilla. 1 Corinthians was written from Ephesus. In 1 Corinthians 16:19 and 2 Timothy 4:19, “greet” is ἀσπάζομαι (aspazomai) in the Greek and means to salute one, to greet, bid welcome, wish well to, to receive joyfully. They hosted a local church in their house. Up to the last, Paul remembered this support team of Aquila and Priscilla.
"The churches of Asia greet you. Aquila and Prisca greet you heartily in the Lord, with the church that is in their house." (1 Corinthians 16:19, NASB)
"Greet Prisca and Aquila, and the household of Onesiphorus." (2 Timothy 4:19, NASB)