In brief
Priscilla, also called Prisca, is the wife of Aquila. A Jewish woman driven out of Rome with him, she settles in Corinth, where she welcomes Paul and shares his trade of tentmaking. She goes with him to Ephesus, where she explains the way of God more accurately to the preacher Apollos. Paul greets this couple as his fellow workers in Christ Jesus, who risked their necks for his life, and whose house hosts the church.
What does the name Priscilla mean?
Priscilla is a diminutive of the Latin name Prisca, generally linked to the idea of what is ancient or venerable. Luke calls her Priscilla, while Paul uses the form Prisca. The Bible gives no direct explanation of this name.
The story of Priscilla
Priscilla and Aquila in Corinth
Acts 18:1-3Paul arrives in Corinth and finds there a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who has recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla. The Roman emperor had ordered all the Jews to leave Rome. Paul stays with them and works with them, for they practice the same trade: they are tentmakers.
The departure for Ephesus
Acts 18:18-21After spending more time in Corinth, Paul sails for Syria. Priscilla and Aquila go with him. Arriving at Ephesus, he leaves the couple there and enters the synagogue to reason with the Jews. Priscilla and Aquila carry on their life and their service in that city.
Apollos better instructed
Acts 18:24-28Apollos, an eloquent Jew from Alexandria, arrives at Ephesus and teaches with fervor, but he knows only the baptism of John. Priscilla and Aquila hear him, take him aside and explain the way of God to him more accurately. Apollos then becomes very useful to the believers.
Coworkers of Paul
Romans 16:3-5In his letter to the Romans, Paul greets Prisca and Aquila, his fellow workers in Christ Jesus. He says that they risked their necks for his life, and that all the churches of the Gentiles are grateful to them. He also greets the church that meets in their house.
Faithful to the end
1 Corinthians 16:19 ; 2 Timothy 4:19Writing to the Corinthians from Ephesus, Paul passes on the greetings of Aquila and Prisca, with the church that is in their house. In his last letter, to Timothy, he greets Prisca and Aquila again. Their faithfulness runs through the whole ministry of Paul.
What Priscilla teaches us
- Ordinary work can become a place of service to God, like tentmaking for Priscilla.
- A couple can serve together: Priscilla and Aquila teach and welcome side by side.
- Teaching with gentleness and truth helps a zealous brother understand the way of God better.
- A home open to the church is a place where faith is lived and strengthened.
- Serving God can be costly, and Paul highlights the courage of those who risked their necks for his life.
Key verses
Priscilla and Aquila take Apollos aside and explain the way of God to him more accurately. The text shows a woman who teaches with her husband, without any spirit of rivalry, to help a brother.
Paul greets Prisca and Aquila, his fellow workers in Christ Jesus, who risked their necks for his life. He expresses his gratitude and that of the churches of the Gentiles toward this couple.
Aquila and Prisca send their greetings with the church that is in their house. This mention shows that their home was a gathering place for believers, in Ephesus as in Rome.
Frequently asked questions
Who was Priscilla in the Bible?
Priscilla, or Prisca, is the wife of Aquila. A tentmaker like Paul, she welcomes him in Corinth, goes with him to Ephesus and teaches Apollos alongside her husband. Paul counts her among his fellow workers in Christ Jesus.
What does the name Priscilla mean?
Priscilla is a diminutive of the Latin name Prisca, generally linked to what is ancient or respectable. Luke uses the form Priscilla, Paul that of Prisca. The Bible itself does not comment on the meaning of this name.
Where can I find the story of Priscilla in the Bible?
She appears in Acts 18, which tells of the meeting with Paul and the teaching of Apollos. Paul then greets her in Romans 16, 1 Corinthians 16 and 2 Timothy 4, which shows how long their partnership lasted.