Mishingo 18 - KBTP & GNTD

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.

In Corinth

1 After this, Paul left Athens and went on to Corinth. 2 There he met a Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, for Emperor Claudius had ordered all the Jews to leave Rome. Paul went to see them, 3 and stayed and worked with them, because he earned his living by making tents, just as they did. 4 He held discussions in the synagogue every Sabbath, trying to convince both Jews and Greeks.

5 When Silas and Timothy arrived from Macedonia, Paul gave his whole time to preaching the message, testifying to the Jews that Jesus is the Messiah. 6 When they opposed him and said evil things about him, he protested by shaking the dust from his clothes and saying to them, “If you are lost, you yourselves must take the blame for it! I am not responsible. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.” 7 So he left them and went to live in the house of a Gentile named Titius Justus, who worshiped God; his house was next to the synagogue. 8 Crispus, who was the leader of the synagogue, believed in the Lord, together with all his family; and many other people in Corinth heard the message, believed, and were baptized.

9 One night Paul had a vision in which the Lord said to him, “Do not be afraid, but keep on speaking and do not give up, 10 for I am with you. No one will be able to harm you, for many in this city are my people.” 11 So Paul stayed there for a year and a half, teaching the people the word of God.

12 When Gallio was made the Roman governor of Achaia, Jews there got together, seized Paul, and took him into court. 13 “This man,” they said, “is trying to persuade people to worship God in a way that is against the law!”

14 Paul was about to speak when Gallio said to the Jews, “If this were a matter of some evil crime or wrong that has been committed, it would be reasonable for me to be patient with you Jews. 15 But since it is an argument about words and names and your own law, you yourselves must settle it. I will not be the judge of such things!” 16 And he drove them out of the court. 17 They all grabbed Sosthenes, the leader of the synagogue, and beat him in front of the court. But that did not bother Gallio a bit.

The Return to Antioch

18 Paul stayed on with the believers in Corinth for many days, then left them and sailed off with Priscilla and Aquila for Syria. Before sailing from Cenchreae he had his head shaved because of a vow he had taken. 19 They arrived in Ephesus, where Paul left Priscilla and Aquila. He went into the synagogue and held discussions with the Jews. 20 The people asked him to stay longer, but he would not consent. 21 Instead, he told them as he left, “If it is the will of God, I will come back to you.” And so he sailed from Ephesus.

22 When he arrived at Caesarea, he went to Jerusalem and greeted the church, and then went to Antioch. 23 After spending some time there, he left and went through the region of Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening all the believers.

Apollos in Ephesus and Corinth

24 At that time a Jew named Apollos, who had been born in Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was an eloquent speaker and had a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures. 25 He had been instructed in the Way of the Lord, and with great enthusiasm he proclaimed and taught correctly the facts about Jesus. However, he knew only the baptism of John. 26 He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him home with them and explained to him more correctly the Way of God. 27 Apollos then decided to go to Achaia, so the believers in Ephesus helped him by writing to the believers in Achaia, urging them to welcome him. When he arrived, he was a great help to those who through God's grace had become believers. 28 For with his strong arguments he defeated the Jews in public debates by proving from the Scriptures that Jesus is the Messiah.