The Story Behind a Marriage On MIssion

The Story Behind a Marriage On Mission

The Story Behind the Story, part 3

Aquila and Priscilla

Great marriages give themselves to a cause. You were not meant to just look into one another’s eyes, go on carriage rides and visit bed breakfast. We were brought together to give ourselves to a cause bigger than ourselves. For Believers, the cause we give ourselves to always involves the Lord and His Church.

Aquila and Priscilla give us a vision of a marriage on mission. Paul met this couple while on his second missionary journey. He traveled through Philippi, Thessalonica, Berea, Athens and then when he came to Corinth he met this couple.

Some notes on Corinth:

• Ancient Corinth had been a city state.
• In 44BC Julius Caesar rebuilt it and made it a Roman Colony.
• It also housed a military fortress and two seaports.
• It was a wealthy city. In Paul’s day it was probably the wealthiest city in Greece.
• It was a major multicultural urban center. It was home to a massive stadium. Every two years Corinth hosted the Isthmian games. (Second only to the Olympics in prominence.) It also had a large theater that seated over 18,000, a concert hall that seated 2,000 and markets where farmers sold their produce in town.
• Corinth was a religious city. In Corinth was the temple of Aphrodite, goddess of love. Greek geographer Srabo claimed that over a thousand cult prostitutes worked at the temple. The Greek word meaning, “Corinthian girl” became slang for, “Loose woman.” The temple to the sun god Apollo was also in Corinth.
• It was also an immoral city. In five hundred years, the verb “korinthiozesthai” or “to Corinthianize,” meant to be sexually immoral.

I. Aquila and Priscilla stayed sweet when life

• Acts 18:1-2 tell us that Paul met them because they had been kicked out of their home in Rome.
• The historian Suetonius wrote, “Claudius banished from Rome all the Jews, who were continually making disturbances at the instigation of one Chrestus.” Some scholars think this may be the first mention of Jesus by an extrabiblical text, and Suetonius just spelled the name wrong. Claudius may not have kicked “all” Jews out. It may be that he kicked out all the Jews who were for Christ; i.e., Christians.
• Your marriage will take some turns you don’t anticipate/ How you handle the hard bumps in the road life deals will determine not just the survival of your marriage: But the impact you will have in this life and all eternity. (Did I just make the stakes too high there?)

II. Aquila and Priscilla Gave Deeply

Acts 18 describes Paul’s ministry in Corinth. When he left, Aquila and Priscilla went with him, traveling to Ephesus. Paul didn’t stay in Ephesus, but Aquila and Priscilla seemed to settle down there for a season.

Acts 18:24 describes a Jew named Apollos coming to Ephesus. The text says he was “eloquent” and knew the Scriptures, and was even “fervent” for the cause of Jesus; but he did not know about Believers Baptism.

Acts 18:26, Instead of tearing Apollos apart, Aquila and Priscilla brought him in under their wing.

Some notes on that:

• To mentor others, as a couple they needed to know their Bible. They walked together in the Lord.
• The result of their mentorship was an increase in his ministry.

III. Aquila and Priscilla were

• Around AD57 they were back in Rome. They had probably been kicked out of Rome the first time for their faith in Jesus. You’d think they might be tempted to play it safe this time; not be so bold for Jesus.
• Romans 16:5 says to greet the church that meets in their house. Not only are they still following Jesus, they’re still giving their resources to him!
• Paul evens ays they ricked their “necks” for him. (Romans 16:4)
• Some couples spur one another toward greed, others encourage one another toward generosity.

IV. Aquila and Priscilla They Joined

• Around AD 66-67, Paul wrote his last letter. 2 Timothy is written from Rome as Paul waits to be executed. Timothy was back in Ephesus.
• Notice who else is in Ephesus: 2 Timothy 4:19, Aquila and Priscilla! They once again left Rome, probably by choice this time, and returned to their ministry ground, this time to help young Timothy pastor the church in Ephesus. I don’t know how this went down. But can I imagine it? Paul in prison. A&P ministering to him, live near by. Disciples coming to the prison to visit. Paul tells Timothy: I need you go back and pastor that church at Ephesus that I started. There’s prayer. Lay hands on him. That night, A&P talking. You know: We know that area. We can’t send that kid down there alone. One gets a little bright eye. “We might be old, but let’s go! Go help him. Let’s start this church.”
• Anywhere God was at work, they want to be part of what He was doing.

This week: Have a marriage time.

Some pastoral questions to review:

1. Are you joining God where he is at work?

2. How generous are you with the work of Christ?

3. Are you investing in the next generation of Christians?

4. Are you in the Word together?

5. Is your goal stability, or Purpose?

6. Young Christians: Are you purposefully bringing older Christians into your life?

Starts here: You run hard toward Jesus!