SUMMARY
When ApollosEloquent Jewish Christian from Alexandria who worked with Paul. More, an enthusiastic believer from Alexandria, comes to Ephesus, he receives instruction from Priscilla and her husband, AquilaA co-worker with Paul and the husband of Priscilla. More.
ANALYSIS
Although Apollos is eloquent, enthusiastic, and “well-versed in the Scriptures,” his teachings only go so far. He requires further instruction. The married couple Priscilla and Aquila teach Apollos so that he might speak “more accurately.” This passage shows Priscilla as a leader. The mention of her name before the name of her husband (also in Acts 18:18; Romans 16:3; 2 TimothyThe companion on Paul's later journeys for whom two pastoral epistles are named More 4:19) suggests that she is the more prominent teacher and minister.
Priscilla (also known as PriscaThe wife of Aquila and a leader of the early Church More) and Aquila worked with PaulA Christian missionary who once persecuted the church More in Corinth and carried on without him when he moved on in his journey. The couple had been part of the early Christ assembly in Rome, until Emperor Claudius expelled all Jews (including Jewish believers in Christ) from the city in 49 C.E. They resettled in Corinth where they continued to ply their trade as “tentmakers” or leatherworkers. They became natural hosts for Paul when he came to Corinth, not only because of their shared faith in Christ, but because Paul himself also worked as a tentmaker (Acts 18:1‒3).
Priscilla and Aquila became two of Paul’s most valued associates, who even “risked their necks for my life,” according to Paul’s testimony in Romans 16:3‒4. They moved from Corinth to Ephesus and then back to Rome (after Claudius’ death), hosting “house churches” in each city (see 1 Corinthians 16:19; Romans 16:3‒5).
