Priscilla and Aquila
Priscilla and Aquila (also: Priscilla and Aquila) are among the first Christians, and were missionaries of early Christianity in the range of a few churches in Asia Minor and Corinth. Their names were well known in the former Christendom and in the order - called both with Aquila and Priscilla with in the first place - remarkable for its time. Priscilla is in the Acts of the Apostles in the form of the name Priscilla (Greek: Πρίσκιλλα, Priscilla ), called in Paul's letters Prisca (Greek: Πρῖσκα, Priska ). Your feast day is July 8 ( Catholic) and 14 July or February 13 (Orthodox ) or 13 February (Protestant: LCMS ). In medieval legends of the saints their story was with the youthful martyr Prisca of Rome blended.
Life
Aquila was born in Pontus in Asia Minor Jew ( Acts 18:2 EU), who settled with his wife in her profession as a tentmaker as independent artisans in Rome. Priscilla - Priscilla and Priscilla is a diminutive of the Roman name Prisca - perhaps even came from the city. Their Roman name be likely that they were born free and had Roman citizenship. Presumably, they already arrived in Rome to faith in Jesus Christ.
When Emperor Claudius in the year 49 due to disputes over a certain " Chrestus " all Jews from Rome auswies - or at least those who believed in Jesus Christ, they moved to Corinth. During his second missionary journey, the Apostle Paul lived there with them and worked with them (Acts 18:1-3 ), but what was barely sufficient to earn his livelihood.
From Corinth, Priscilla and Aquila accompanied Paul to Ephesus (today an archaeological site in Selçuk ) and remained there while Paul moved on (Acts 18.18 to 19 EU). Here they worked independently as missionaries and attended by Apollos from Alexandria, later Paul's staff, in their home on. Since Apollos Although an ardent follower of Jesus Christ, Knower of the Tanakh and preacher was, but so far only knew the baptism of John, they taught him (Acts 18:26 ), probably the fact that the baptism in the name of Jesus Christ through the forgiveness of sins addition and the receipt of the Holy Spirit to others (cf. Acts 19.1 to 4; 2.38 ). In written from Ephesus first letter of Paul to the Corinthians and they sent their greetings (1 Cor. 16, 19).
In Romans 16.3 to 4 EU Paul describes it not only as its employees, but also those who have " risked their necks for my life ." He probably refers to the described in 2 Cor 1:8-10 EU threat, maybe the confrontation with Demetrius, the devotional objects at the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus in his later visit (Acts 19.23 to 40 EU). Priscilla and Aquila Paul thus supported during a pursuit and a prison, and thus brought himself also in danger. After the death of Emperor Claudius in the year 54, they returned to Rome. There was her house, as stated earlier in Corinth and Ephesus, meeting house church that greets Paul in Romans ( Rom. 16.3-4 ).
If the second letter of Paul to Timothy, was really written by Paul shortly before his death to his colleague Timothy in Ephesus, which is generally considered in the research is unlikely Priscilla and Aquila were at this time again in Ephesus (2 Tim 4, 19 EU).
Importance
That Priscilla is mentioned as a collaborator of Paul, so as proclaimer of the Gospel in front of her husband, suggesting that their contribution to the spread of Christianity was considered more important than that of Aquila. It is also an indication of the important role of women in early Christianity.
Adolf von Harnack suspected in Prisca and Aquila, the author of Hebrews, a hypothesis that hardly anyone followed.
Chronicle
Approximate round trip times in accordance with the Pauline chronology:
- 49 Expulsion of Jews from Rome by Emperor Claudius. Priscilla and Aquila left Rome.
- 50 establishing the church at Corinth by Paul with Priscilla and Aquila ( Acts 18 )
- 51 In Corinth, Gallio's decision, that the problems of Jews with Paul not a matter of Roman law were, on which he had to decide.
- 51 travel Priszillas and Aquila with Paul to Ephesus (Acts 18.18 to 19 )
- 54/55 Priscilla and Aquila sent from Ephesus with Paul greetings to the Corinthians ( 1 Cor 16:19)
- 56/57 Priscilla and Aquila were in Rome Greetings from Paul, who was in Corinth (Rom 16.3-4 )