Priscilla’s story appears only briefly in Scripture, yet her influence reached far beyond the few verses in which she is mentioned. Together with her husband, Aquila, she was a trusted co-worker of the apostle Paul, and an active participant in the mission of the early church.

Priscilla and Aquila were tentmakers. After being forced to leave Rome, they settled in Corinth, where they met Paul and worked alongside him (Acts 18:1–3). Their circumstances could easily have been viewed as an interruption to their lives; instead, through their journey, God included them as part of his mission, and invited them to participate in what he was doing.

Priscilla’s most significant recorded ministry was with Apollos. He was an eloquent and gifted teacher who knew the Scriptures and spoke boldly about Jesus, but his understanding was incomplete. Priscilla and Aquila did not publicly embarrass or dismiss him. Instead, they invited him into their home and explained God’s way to him more fully (Acts 18:24–26). This is a beautiful picture of discipleship. Priscilla understood that ministry was not about proving how much she knew but about helping another person grow in understanding and effectiveness. Priscilla did not need to build a ministry around herself, rather she participated, through the Holy Spirit, in the continuing ministry of Jesus by helping another servant of God become better equipped.

Priscilla and Aquila’s home also became a place where the church met (Romans 16:3-5). Their hospitality was more than entertaining friends: their home became a place of Christian community, encouragement and instruction. The church is not a building or an institution, but people coming together in Christ. Wherever believers welcome others, share their life, encourage faith and point people towards Jesus, the ministry of Christ is being expressed. As a result, Paul calls Priscilla and Aquila his ‘fellow workers in Christ Jesus’ (Romans 16:3). Priscilla was not merely standing on the sidelines while others did the important work; she was actively participating in Christ’s mission.

Pricilla’s story shows us that we don’t have to be famous or hold an important position to faithfully join with Jesus in his mission to the world. Often a conversation, a welcome, an encouraging word or patiently helping someone understand the gospel becomes part of God’s work in ways we cannot see. Priscilla’s story is not about what an extraordinary woman accomplished for God. It is about what God accomplished through a woman willing to participate in Christ’s work. May we, like Priscilla, make ourselves available to Jesus, trusting the Holy Spirit to use our ordinary lives for his extraordinary purposes.

Local congregation:
Grace Communion West Hampstead 
Sidings Community Centre
150 Brassey Road
West Hampstead
London
NW6 2BA

Meeting time:
Sunday 12.30 pm

Local congregational contact:
Gordon Brown
gordon.brown@gracecom.church

Word of Life contact:  
wordoflife@gracecom.church