Priscilla, Aquila, and Apollos: Unity Through Humility (Acts 18:1-11, 24-28)
This Sunday is the first week of public worship services for our friends at Branches Church of Humboldt, led by our former worship pastor, Justin Fox. We're so excited for them! Would you please pray for their launch this weekend?
Bringing a new church to a community should be a thing to celebrate, but too often it can feel threatening or invasive to already established churches.
That's why this week's passage from Acts 18 is so refreshing. In it, we meet Priscilla and Aquila, a remarkable ministry couple who have been through enormous difficulties for their faith. When we meet them in Corinth, they've already been exiled from Rome because of Christ, yet are continuing to serve and lead the church in Corinth - before, during, and after Paul's time there. Then, another charismatic leader rolls in - Acts 18 describes what happened when a brash and ill-informed minister named Apollos comes to town.
But rather than let envy or rivalry get in the way, Priscilla and Aquila delight in Apollos' success, help him to grow and advocate for him in the future.
It's amazing what can happen when we don't care who gets the credit.
Looking forward to seeing you Sunday at Grace!
In Christ,
Pastor Bob
After this Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. 2 And he found a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to leave Rome. And he went to see them, 3 and because he was of the same trade he stayed with them and worked, for they were tentmakers by trade. 4 And he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and tried to persuade Jews and Greeks.
5 When Silas and Timothy arrived from Macedonia, Paul was occupied with the word, testifying to the Jews that the Christ was Jesus. 6 And when they opposed and reviled him, he shook out his garments and said to them, “Your blood be on your own heads! I am innocent. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.” 7 And he left there and went to the house of a man named Titius Justus, a worshiper of God. His house was next door to the synagogue. 8 Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed in the Lord, together with his entire household. And many of the Corinthians hearing Paul believed and were baptized. 9 And the Lord said to Paul one night in a vision, “Do not be afraid, but go on speaking and do not be silent, 10 for I am with you, and no one will attack you to harm you, for I have many in this city who are my people.” 11 And he stayed a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.
- Acts 18:1-11, 24-28