Naravist

Person in the New Testament

Aquila

Aquila: the Jew of Pontus who works with Paul and teaches Apollos with Priscilla

Portrait of Aquila. An AI-generated artistic interpretation, not a historical likeness.

Portrait: an AI-generated artistic interpretation, not evidence of how Aquila looked.

Who Aquila is

Acts introduces him at Corinth as a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, lately come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had commanded all Jews to depart from Rome. Paul comes to them, and because he was of the same craft he stays and works with them, for by their occupation they were tentmakers. When Paul takes his leave of the brethren and sails into Syria, Priscilla and Aquila go with him, and he leaves them at Ephesus. There Apollos, an eloquent man and mighty in the scriptures, begins to speak boldly in the synagogue, and Aquila and Priscilla hear him, take him unto them, and expound unto him the way of God more perfectly. Romans greets Priscilla and Aquila as helpers in Christ Jesus who have for Paul's life laid down their own necks, and greets the church that is in their house. First Corinthians sends a greeting from Aquila and Priscilla much in the Lord with the church that is in their house. Second Timothy says, Salute Prisca and Aquila.

Cited passages: Acts 18:2, Acts 18:3, Acts 18:18, Acts 18:19, Acts 18:24, Acts 18:25, Acts 18:26, Romans 16:3, Romans 16:4, Romans 16:5, 1 Corinthians 16:19, 2 Timothy 4:19

Historical setting

He is the one of the pair given a birthplace, born in Pontus, and the move from Italy is explained by Claudius's command that all Jews depart from Rome, with no date attached. The craft of tentmaking is stated of him and his wife together and is the reason given for Paul staying with them. His own name is spelled the same way in every mention, while his wife's appears as both Priscilla and Prisca. The order of the two names varies across the six passages without explanation. The teaching of Apollos is credited to both of them in one sentence, and it is placed after the statement that Apollos knew only the baptism of John; no rebaptism is reported. Romans says the couple risked their lives for Paul and gives no account of when or how.

Cited passages: Acts 18:2, Acts 18:3, Acts 18:25, Acts 18:26, Romans 16:3, Romans 16:4, 1 Corinthians 16:19, 2 Timothy 4:19

How the story is told

The narrative introduces him first and attaches his wife to the introduction, and from then on the two move as a single unit through work, travel, teaching and greetings. His scenes are domestic and practical: a shared trade, a household, a man taken aside and taught, a church meeting in a house. The one teaching act Acts gives him is shared with Priscilla and aimed at a preacher already described as eloquent and mighty in the scriptures, and it is reported in a single clause without any argument or resistance.

Cited passages: Acts 18:2, Acts 18:3, Acts 18:18, Acts 18:24, Acts 18:26, Romans 16:5, 1 Corinthians 16:19

Story moments

  1. Lately come from Italy (Acts 18:2). Paul finds Aquila, born in Pontus, newly arrived from Italy with Priscilla.
  2. The same craft (Acts 18:3). Paul abides and works with him because both are tentmakers.
  3. Left at Ephesus (Acts 18:19). Paul comes to Ephesus and leaves the couple there.
  4. Teaching Apollos (Acts 18:26). Aquila and Priscilla hear Apollos speak boldly and take him aside to teach him.
  5. Necks laid down (Romans 16:4). Romans says the couple risked their lives for Paul and that the Gentile churches give thanks.
  6. A church in their house (1 Corinthians 16:19). Aquila and Priscilla send greetings along with the church meeting in their house.

Key passages

Acts 18:2

And found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, lately come from Italy, with his wife Priscilla; (because that Claudius had commanded all Jews to depart from Rome:) and came unto them.

Acts 18:18

And Paul after this tarried there yet a good while, and then took his leave of the brethren, and sailed thence into Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila; having shorn his head in Cenchrea: for he had a vow.

Acts 18:26

And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly.

Romans 16:3

Greet Priscilla and Aquila my helpers in Christ Jesus:

1 Corinthians 16:19

The churches of Asia salute you. Aquila and Priscilla salute you much in the Lord, with the church that is in their house.

2 Timothy 4:19

Salute Prisca and Aquila, and the household of Onesiphorus.

King James Version. 6 indexed passages in total.

For reflection

Aquila is described by his trade, his birthplace and his house before anything is said about his teaching. How much does the text let a person's ordinary work explain what they are able to do?

Books Aquila appears in

Related people

Names and references are adapted from STEPBible TIPNR. A person listed with a verse is named or indexed there; it does not mean they wrote or spoke it.