Mishingo 18 - KBTP & CEVUS06

He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately.-2

The season of love is a time to reflect on stories of deep, enduring affection. While many love stories focus on romance alone, the story of Priscilla and Aquila in the Bible showcases a love built on faith, purpose, and shared ministry. Their relationship was not just about companionship; it was a divine partnership that impacted the early Church.

Love in Exile: A Journey Together

Priscilla and Aquila first appear in Scripture as Jewish tentmakers who had been forced to leave Rome due to Emperor Claudius’ decree. In Acts 18:2, Paul meets them in Corinth:

“There he met a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had ordered all Jews to leave Rome. Paul went to see them.” (Acts 18:2, NIV)

Despite their displacement, they remained together, demonstrating resilience through life’s challenges. Their love was not just for each other but for the work God had set before them.

A Love That Serves

Not only were they devoted to one another, but they were also deeply committed to God’s work. When Paul arrived in Corinth, he stayed with them and worked alongside them as a tentmaker (Acts 18:3). Their hospitality and willingness to serve made them an essential part of Paul’s ministry.

“And because he was a tentmaker as they were, he stayed and worked with them.” (Acts 18:3, NIV)

Priscilla and Aquila opened their home, not only to Paul but to many believers, turning it into a hub for ministry. Their love was one that served—both each other and the Church.

A Love That Teaches

One of the most beautiful aspects of their relationship was their shared commitment to discipleship. In Acts 18:24-26, they encountered Apollos, a gifted speaker who lacked a full understanding of the gospel. Instead of criticizing him publicly, they took him aside and taught him more accurately:

“He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately.” (Acts 18:26, NIV)

Their love was not selfish—it extended to mentoring and nurturing others in the faith. They worked as a team, showing that ministry can be stronger when done together.

A Love That Risks Everything

Priscilla and Aquila were not only teachers and hosts—they were courageous. In Romans 16:3-4, Paul acknowledges them as fellow workers who risked their lives for him:

“Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my co-workers in Christ Jesus. They risked their lives for me. Not only I but all the churches of the Gentiles are grateful to them.” (Romans 16:3-4, NIV)

Their love was sacrificial, willing to endure hardship and danger for the sake of the gospel. They stood side by side, not just in daily life, but in moments of great risk.

A Love That Builds the Church

Beyond their personal relationship, Priscilla and Aquila were dedicated to strengthening the Church. In 1 Corinthians 16:19, Paul mentions how the church met in their home:

“The churches in the province of Asia send you greetings. Aquila and Priscilla greet you warmly in the Lord, and so does the church that meets at their house.” (1 Corinthians 16:19, NIV)

Their home was not just a place of rest—it was a sanctuary for believers. Together, they created an atmosphere where faith could flourish.

A Love That Lasts

The final mention of them in 2 Timothy 4:19 shows that, years later, they were still serving the Lord:

“Greet Priscilla and Aquila and the household of Onesiphorus.” (2 Timothy 4:19, NIV)

Even in later years, their love for each other and for God’s work remained steadfast.

Conclusion

Priscilla and Aquila’s story is not just about romance, it’s about a partnership that glorifies God. Their love was deeply rooted in faith, service, and mission. This Valentine’s season, may their story inspire us to pursue relationships that are built not just on emotions, but on a shared commitment to something greater.

Would you like to cultivate a love that lasts? Follow their example, serve together, grow together, and keep God at the center of your love story.

Mu Korinta

1 Shule kwa ikoku, Paulo kabhuda mu Atene, ngono kayenda ku Korinta. 2 Ikoko kashangana ne Njuta unodang'wa kuyi Akhwila wakabe ezwagwa ku Ponto. Wakabe atjamboswika edwa ku Italiya ne nkadzi uwe Purisila, ngobe Kilaudiyo wakabe adwa Bajuta bose kuti babhude mu Roma. Paulo wakayenda kunobabona, 3 ngobe wakabe ali nthumi we dzitente sa ibo, wakagala kashinga nabo. 4 Sabata limwe ne limwe wakalebeleka mu ng'umba ye mitembezelo, egwisa kugadzamoyo Bajuta ne Bagiriki.

5 Kukati Silasi na Timoti bezha bedwa ku Makedoniya, Paulo wakabe akasimisila esumikila, epa butendeki ku Bajuta kuti Mesiya ndi Jesu. 6 Koga Bajuta bakati benyanyayidza Paulo ben'gongobola, kashashamula zwiambalo zwizwe kulakidza kusadumana nabo, ngono kati ku bali, “Butjilo gwenyu ngagube mu maboko enyu! Imi andina nlandu. Kudwa ngwenu ndowoyenda kuna Bezwitjaba.” 7 Paulo kadwa ipapo kayenda ku nzi we nlume unodang'wa Tito Jusito nnamati we Ndzimu. Nzi uwe wakabe uli pejo ne ng'umba ye mitembezelo. 8 Kirisipo, ntungamili we ng'umba ye mitembezelo wakagalamoyo muna She kose ne nsha uwe ngono Bakorinta banjinji bakati behwa Paulo bakagalamoyo.

9 Gumwe busiku She kalebeleka na Paulo mu mbono eti, “Usitje koga lebeleka, usinyalale. 10 Ngobe ndinawe, ngono akuna unowokumukila kakukubadza, ngobe ndina bathu banjinji mu nzi iwoyu nkulu.” 11 Ndizo Paulo kagala ikoko gole lina gaswa ebadiya dama le Ndzimu.

12 Galiyo kati ali nlauli we Akaiya, Bajuta bakashangana bakamukila Paulo, ngono bakanzhisa ku lubazhe. 13 Bakati, “Nlume iwoyu unotshindilidza bathu kunamata Ndzimu nge zila dzisingayendidzane nge nlayo.”

14 Koga kukati Paulo ali pejo ngolebeleka, Galiyo kati ku Bajuta, “Ikoku ha kwabe kuli ngekwe tjakabipa kene nlandu nkulu, kwabe kungahwika kuti ndimuhwilile Bajuta.” 15 Ngono se kuli ngekwe matama ne mazina nenge nlayo wenyu, pedzani ndebo imwi. Ndolamba kube nsumikilisi we zwithu zwakajali. 16 Ndizo kabatata mu lubazhe. 17 Ipapo bose bakashandukila Sositenesi ntungamili we ng'umba ye mitembezelo bakanloba mbeli kwe lubazhe. Koga Galiyo kasibe ne hanya.

Kubgwilila ku Antiyoki

18 Shule kwa ikoko Paulo kagala ikoko mazhuba manjinji. Ipapo kasiya zwikamu kayenda ku Siriya nge gungwa ana Purisila na Akhwila. Wakatesela mavudzi ku Kenikiriya, ngobe wakabe atuna. 19 Bakaswika ku Efeso Paulo kwaakasiya Purisila na Akhwila. Iye nge kukwe kangina mu ng'umba ye mitembezelo, ngono kalebeleka ne Bajuta. 20 Bakati benkumbila kuti agale nabo tjibakana kalamba. 21 Koga wakati eyenda, kagadzabgwe kati, “Ndowobuya akuli kuda kwe Ndzimu.” Ipapo kayenda nge gungwa kudwa ku Efeso.

22 Kati edeluka ku Sizariya, kanodumilisa gubungano kudwapo kadelukila ku Antiyoki. 23 Kukati Paulo agala tjibaka tjilefu mu Antiyoki, kamilika kudwa ipapo, ngono kayenda edwa mu bugalo gumwe engina mu gumwe mu ntuthu wose we Galatiya ne Firigiya esimisa badiyiwa bose.

Apolosi mu Efeso ne Korinta

Priscilla and Aquila: A Love Story Rooted in Faith and Purpose

24 Ipapo, Njuta unodang'wa Apolosi n'gali we Alekizanda, kazha ku Efeso. Wakabe ali nlume wakadiyika ana zibo hwulu ye hwalo. 25 Wakabe adiyiwa mu zila ya She, ngono kalebeleka akalonga meya ediya zubuyanana ngekwa Jesu nenguba akabe eziba kudubika kwa Johani koga. 26 Wakatangisa kulebeleka mu ng'umba ye mitembezelo akasimamoyo. Kukati Purisila na Akhwila benhwa, bakantola ngono bakantjenesela zila ye Ndzimu zubuyanana. 27 Apolosi kati eshako yenda ku Akaiya, zwikamu zwikankulumbidza zwikakwalila badiyiwa ikoko kun'amutjila. Kati eswika, kabe ne bhatsho hwulu kuna ibabo bakabe bakagalamoyo nge ngoni dze Ndzimu. 28 Wakanyanyayidza Bajuta kwakabangalala elebeleka mbeli kwe bathu, elakidza mu hwalo dze Ndzimu kuti Mesiya ndi Jesu.

Paul in Corinth

1 Paul left Athens and went to Corinth, 2 where he met Aquila, a Jewish man from Pontus. Not long before this, Aquila had come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Emperor Claudius had ordered the Jewish people to leave Rome. Paul went to see Aquila and Priscilla 3 and found out they were tent makers. Paul was also a tent maker, so he stayed with them, and they worked together.

4 Every Sabbath, Paul went to the synagogue. He spoke to Jews and Gentiles and tried to win them over. 5 But after Silas and Timothy came from Macedonia, he spent all his time preaching to the Jews about Jesus the Messiah. 6 Finally, they turned against him and insulted him. So he shook the dust from his clothes and told them, “Whatever happens to you will be your own fault! I am not to blame. From now on I am going to preach to the Gentiles.”

7 Paul then moved into the house of a man named Titius Justus, who worshiped God and lived next door to the synagogue. 8 Crispus was the leader of the synagogue. He and everyone in his family put their faith in the Lord. Many others in Corinth also heard the message, and all the people who had faith in the Lord were baptized.

9 One night, Paul had a vision, and in it the Lord said, “Don't be afraid to keep on preaching. Don't stop! 10 I am with you, and you won't be harmed. Many people in this city belong to me.” 11 Paul stayed on in Corinth for a year and a half, teaching God's message to the people.

12 While Gallio was governor of Achaia, some of the Jewish leaders got together and grabbed Paul. They brought him into court 13 and said, “This man is trying to make our people worship God in a way that is against our Law!”

14 Even before Paul could speak, Gallio said, “If you were charging this man with a crime or some other wrong, I would have to listen to you. 15 But since this concerns only words, names, and your own law, you will have to take care of it yourselves. I refuse to judge such matters.” 16 Then he sent them out of the court. 17 The crowd grabbed Sosthenes, the Jewish leader, and beat him up in front of the court. But none of this mattered to Gallio.

Paul Returns to Antioch in Syria

18 After Paul had stayed for a while with the Lord's followers in Corinth, he told them goodbye and sailed on to Syria with Aquila and Priscilla. But before he left, he had his head shaved at Cenchreae because he had made a promise to God.

19 The three of them arrived in Ephesus, where Paul left Priscilla and Aquila. He then went into the synagogue to talk with the people there. 20 They asked him to stay longer, but he refused. 21 He told them goodbye and said, “If God lets me, I will come back.”

22 Paul sailed to Caesarea, where he greeted the church. Then he went on to Antioch. 23 After staying there for a while, he left and visited several places in Galatia and Phrygia. He helped the followers there to become stronger in their faith.

Apollos in Ephesus

24 A Jewish man named Apollos came to Ephesus. Apollos had been born in the city of Alexandria. He was a very good speaker and knew a lot about the Scriptures. 25 He also knew much about the Lord's Way, and he spoke about it with great excitement. What he taught about Jesus was right, but all he knew was John's message about baptism.

26 Apollos started speaking bravely in the synagogue. But when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him to their home and helped him understand God's Way even better.

27 Apollos decided to travel through Achaia. So the Lord's followers wrote letters, encouraging the followers there to welcome him. After Apollos arrived in Achaia, he was a great help to everyone who had put their faith in the Lord Jesus because of God's gift of undeserved grace. 28 He got into fierce arguments with the Jewish people, and in public he used the Scriptures to prove that Jesus is the Messiah.