Priscilla
Who she was
Priscilla, also referred to as Prisca, was a prominent Jewish Christian woman in the early church. She is consistently mentioned alongside her husband, Aquila, suggesting that they worked together as a team in ministry. Priscilla and Aquila were originally from Rome but had been forced to leave due to the emperor Claudius' edict expelling the Jews (Acts 18:2). They settled in Corinth, where they met the apostle Paul and worked with him as tentmakers (Acts 18:3). When Paul left Corinth, Priscilla and Aquila accompanied him to Ephesus (Acts 18:18). In Ephesus, they encountered Apollos, a learned Jewish Christian, and instructed him more accurately in the way of God (Acts 18:26). This event highlights Priscilla's knowledge of the Scriptures and her active role in teaching and discipleship. Priscilla and Aquila also hosted a church in their home, both in Ephesus (1 Corinthians 16:19) and later in Rome (Romans 16:3–5). Paul's warm greetings to the couple in his letters testify to their close friendship and partnership in the gospel ministry (Romans 16:3–4; 2 Timothy 4:19). Priscilla's example demonstrates the significant contributions of women in the early spread of Christianity and their active roles in the life of the church.
Family
Every mention
Acts 3 mentions
Romans 1 mention
1 Corinthians 1 mention
2 Timothy 1 mention
What the dictionary says
The wife of Aquila (Acts 18:2), who is never mentioned without her.
Sources
- STEPBible TIPNR · Translators Individualised Proper Names with all References · CC BY 4.0 · github.com/STEPBible/STEPBible-Data
- Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary (1869) · Public domain