“Greet Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, who risked their necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks but all the churches of the Gentiles give thanks as well. Greet also the church in their house. Greet my beloved Epaenetus, who was the first convert to Christ in Asia.” -Romans 16:3–5
In a culture that fairly often tended to dismiss women as being insignificant, Paul is not ashamed to identify the faithful women who served Christ as his fellow laborer. First, he commends Phoebe, now Paul commends Pricilla (Prisca) and her husband Aquila, whom he calls “fellow workers in Christ Jesus.”
The most we find in Scripture about this couple comes from Paul’s historian, Luke, in his volume, The Acts of the Apostles.
“After this Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. 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, and because he was of the same trade he stayed with them and worked, for they were tentmakers by trade. And he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and tried to persuade Jews and Greeks.” -Acts 18:1–4
The Roman Historian, Tacitus, tells us the Jews were put out of Rome because they were causing a stir in the city over someone named chrestus. Most scholar suspect he meant Christ Jesus. In any case, Paul commends this couple as having risked their lives to save his. For this he give thanks, and then further acknowledges that all the churches give thanks for this couple as well. Likely, Paul was not the only Christian they helped.
Finally, Paul greets the church that is meeting in Priscilla and Aquila’s house and also, Epaenetus who was a first fruit in his Asiatic ministry. The English word convert here is the Greek word,ἀπαρχὴ (Apache), which literally means first-fruit. Paul is inclined to honor the first-fruits of his ministry in the various regions where he preached. See also 1 Corinthians 16:15:
“Now I urge you, brothers—you know that the household of Stephanas were the first converts in Achaia, and that they have devoted themselves to the service of the saints—”
What minister of Christ does not know the joy of the first person to come to Christ under their labor? There is great rejoicing and gratitude.
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