Prisca and Aquila are prevalent Christians in the New Testament. Paul greets and thanks them for their ministry. It is possible that took a leading role in contending for Paul’s gospel of grace in Rome.
Prisca (or Priscilla) and Aquila are notable members of early Christianity, a Jewish married couple that Paul first met in Corinth (Acts 18:1). They accompanied Paul to Ephesus, where he left them (Acts 18:19). While in Ephesus, Prisca and Aquila met Apollos, a man who was passionate about preaching the Scriptures but only knew a little bit about what God had accomplished. Prisca and Aquila brought Apollos into their home and taught him more about God (Acts 18:24-26). Eventually, Apollos was commissioned by the believers in Ephesus to sail to Achaia (southern Greece, including Corinth), where he helped the Christians there and skillfully proved to dissenting Jews that Jesus was the Christ through the Scriptures. Prisca and Aquila are fine examples of obedient, faithful believers who ministered well alongside and apart from Paul. When Christians live in faithful obedience, they have an impact on one another’s lives. The gospel is spread, believers are discipled, and needs are met.
Paul asks that they 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. Paul refers to a time when Prisca and Aquila risked their lives for him; Paul thanks them not only from himself personally but on behalf of all the Gentile churches, which is quite an acknowledgment. Prisca and Aquila’s ministry was incredibly impactful on the Gentiles. Paul says to also greet the church that is in their house, implying that they have moved to Rome and have started a church in their house. In his first letter to the Corinthians, Paul writes that Prisca and Aquila send greetings to the church in Corinth, since they were with Paul at the time (1 Corinthians 16:19), showing their partnership with Paul’s ministry. In his second letter to Timothy, Paul also writes a greeting to them (2 Timothy 4:19).
Given that the overriding purpose of this letter is to empower the Roman believers to resist the teaching of false competing “authorities,” mentioning prominent church leaders with whom he has personal experience with would be a persuasive move. It would also not be surprising if Prisca and Aquila sent word to Paul of the slander being spread about his gospel in Rome.
Paul says to greet Epaenetus, my beloved, who is the first convert to Christ from Asia on Paul’s third missionary journey (Acts 19:10). As the first Gentile convert under Paul’s ministry, Epaenetus would be a tangible reminder of Paul’s mission and authority in the gospel. Again, since this letter is a defense of Paul’s authority as an apostle and the gospel message he received from Christ, this mention would also add persuasion.
Though Paul’s ministry is the most famous in the early church of the New Testament, there were many Christians who helped him every step of the way, living as believers ought to, serving one another.
Biblical Text
3 Greet Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, 4 who for my life risked their own necks, to whom not only do I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles; 5 also greet the church that is in their house. Greet Epaenetus, my beloved, who is the first convert to Christ from Asia.
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