Romans 16:3 – Helpers in Christ

^“3Greet Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, ⁴who for my life risked their own necks, to whom not only do I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles.” (Romans 16:3-4 NASB)

Paul had a particular fondness for this husband and wife team. He first met them in Corinth. This husband and wife team whose names are always used together, had a good understanding of the message of grace that Paul was teaching. They were Jews that the Caesar at the time kicked out of Rome when he began to persecute Jews. ^“1After this Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. ²And 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.” (Acts 18:1-2 ESV).

They then traveled with Paul and saw firsthand his messages and his preaching.  ^“Paul, having remained many days longer, took leave of the brethren and put out to sea for Syria, and with him were Priscilla and Aquila…” (Acts 18:18 NASB).

“They came to Ephesus, and he left them there (Acts 18:19 NASB). Priscilla and Aquila remained in Ephesus where they later met Apollos. He was a preacher who knew the Hebrew scriptures and was an eloquent preacher. He was only acquainted with the baptism of John—in other words, the law. “And he began to speak out boldly in the synagogue. But when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately (Acts 18:26 NASB). They knew the message of Paul—the message of grace.

Paul adds Aquila and Priscilla’s greeting to his from Ephesus. ^“The churches of Asia greet you. Aquila and Prisca greet you heartily in the Lord, with the church that is in their house” (1 Corinthians 16:19 NASB).

It’s interesting to note, that when the scriptures mention their names six times, half are Priscilla and Aquila, and half are Aquila and Priscilla. Prisca is the shortened form of her name. The name she probably went by.

Paul called them his helpers. The word means co-laborer, companion in labor, fellow helper, laborers together with, or fellow workers. These people apparently helped Timothy in Ephesus. They had a church in their house. They had risks their necks—very lives in the cause of Jesus and the message of grace.

What a title to have behind your name. They were in Christ and were co-labors in the work to spread the good news around the world. I suspect they trained and sent out many people under their ministry.