April 22: Priscilla: Teaching with Boldness

Jewel Meikle,
George Town SDA Church

Theme: Partnering in ministry and using your gifts to instruct others. 

Scripture: Try to do good, not evil, so that you will live, and the Lord God All-powerful will be with you, just as you say he is – Amos 5:14

 I had to do a Google search on Priscilla of the Bible, and I discovered a wealth of information. I cannot share all the details that I have learned, but I will share some of the core ideas of the article, Why is Priscilla Significant in the Bible, written by Hope Bolinger on the Crosswalk webpage. You can check out the complete article at https://www.crosswalk.com/faith/bible-study/why-is-priscilla-significant-in-the-bible.html.

  When we think of Priscilla, we also think of Aquila (her husband), and Paul, the apostle. We also think of tent-making, hospitality and house-meetings. But there is so much more that God wants us to learn from the lives of this tent-making power couple who were faithful friends of Paul.  Their names and story have been chronicled in scripture for our good as a legacy of godly living and faithfulness.  

So, who was Priscilla? A.K.A Prisca? Aquila was a Jew, but Priscilla was not. They were wealthy and learned. Nonetheless, when Emperor Claudius issued the decree that all Jews had to leave Rome, Priscilla accompanied her Jewish husband to Corinth. Talk about moving from riches to rags!  It is in Corinth where they met Paul, and their friendship blossomed because of their common skill of being tentmakers. They ultimately sailed together to Antioch, and then onto Ephesus, where they fully established themselves as missionaries in the Way.

 Priscilla and Aquila used their teaching talents to redirect and correct the theology of the apostle Apollos; they established a church in their home and “throughout their ministry [they exemplified] kindness, hospitality, and hard work, no matter where God planted them. You can read about Priscilla and Aquila in Acts 18, 1 Corinthians 16: 19 and 2 Timothy 4:19. 

 What then are we to learn from the life of Priscilla? The message that I desire to share is that God can use the talent(s) of anyone to bring others to Him. Therefore, ask yourself: What is my talent? What am I passionate about? What talents do I have that I can partner with God in ministry to serve and reach others for Him? 

 Priscilla and Aquila used their skill of tentmaking as the avenue to meet people to share the gospel with them. They used their home as a meeting place for the new believers to learn more about Jesus and salvation.

 Perhaps you do not need to look far and wide for your talent. God can use our work skills and competencies and our natural abilities to be of service to others. He can use the resources we have access to or the people we know to be of service to others. Are you getting the message? 

 Yes, God just wants persons who are willing to partner with Him to bring others to the knowledge of His saving grace. 

 Prayer: Lord, thank you for the ministry of Priscilla and Aquila who despite being forced to leave their home in Rome and were threatened to death, still used their talents to preach the gospel with boldness. Help us to use our talents to bring others to You, we pray. Amen.