Your Faith Journey with EWTN
As we deepen our relationship with the Eternal Word, Jesus Christ, we grow in grace and are transformed by His love and mercy.
First century
Patron Saints of Christian married couples, lay ministry, hospitality, evangelists
Sts. Aquila and Priscilla exemplify the role of lay married couples in the history of the Church. Their lives, recorded in the Acts of the Apostles and in St. Paul’s letters, reveal a faithful partnership of service and missionary zeal.
Aquila, a Jewish native of Pontus, and his wife, Priscilla, lived in Rome until their expulsion by Emperor Claudius around 49 A.D. After relocating to Corinth, they encountered Paul. As fellow tentmakers, they welcomed Paul into their home and worked alongside him in their trade and in their missionary efforts, making their home a center of Christian fellowship and a base for evangelization.
Aquila and Priscilla traveled with Paul to Ephesus, where they continued to spread the Christian Faith and hosted a house church. In a notable moment of their ministry, they encountered Apollos, an eloquent preacher who lacked a full understanding of Christian teaching. With humility and wisdom, they instructed him more accurately in the Faith, strengthening his ability to proclaim the Gospel.
St. Paul had great respect for the couple, calling them his “co-workers in Christ Jesus” and expressing deep gratitude for their sacrifices on behalf of the Church. Their names appear multiple times in Scripture, a testament to their importance in the early Christian community.
Sts. Aquila and Priscilla exemplify the power of faithful witness within marriage. Through their hospitality, courage, and dedication, they helped lay the foundation of the early Church.
In the early Church, before dedicated church buildings existed, Christians gathered in private homes for worship, teaching, and fellowship. Aquila and Priscilla opened their home as one of these “house churches” in Ephesus. These gatherings were vital to the growth of Christianity, providing a place for believers to celebrate the Eucharist, hear apostolic teaching, and support one another. Their contribution underscores their generosity and leadership within the early Church.
In the book of Acts and St. Paul’s letters, Priscilla’s name sometimes appears before Aquila’s. In the Greco-Roman world, it was highly unusual to mention a wife before her husband, making this intentional reversal significant in highlighting her contribution to the early Church. Many scholars believe this may indicate her prominence in teaching or leadership within the Christian community. It may suggest that she played a significant, active role in their shared ministry, particularly in instructing others, such as Apollos. This detail highlights the important contributions of women in the early Church and underscores the collaborative nature of their mission as a married couple.
While Scripture does not provide detailed accounts of their deaths, early Christian tradition holds that Aquila and Priscilla eventually returned to Rome after the death of Emperor Claudius. Some accounts suggest they continued their missionary work there and may have suffered martyrdom for the Faith. Although historical details remain uncertain, their enduring legacy lies in their faithful service and their close collaboration with St. Paul. Sts. Aquila and Priscilla’s willingness, as a married couple, to risk their lives for the Gospel reveals their unconditional fidelity to Christ.
Jesus is the essence of humility, and He called us to be humble. In fact, humility is a virtue that’s common to the saints. But how can we grow in humility?
This eBook sheds light on this virtue and helps you to reflect on areas where pride may have crept into your life. Inside, you’ll find the Litany of Humility, reflections from Sacred Scripture, and meditations from the saints.
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As we deepen our relationship with the Eternal Word, Jesus Christ, we grow in grace and are transformed by His love and mercy.
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