Greet Prisca and AquilaPrisca, also known as Priscilla, and Aquila are a married couple mentioned several times in the New Testament. They were Jewish Christians who played a significant role in the early church. Their names appear in
Acts 18, where they meet Paul in Corinth. They were tentmakers by trade, like Paul, which likely facilitated their initial connection. The couple is known for their hospitality and teaching, as they hosted a church in their home (
1 Corinthians 16:19) and instructed Apollos, an eloquent preacher, in the way of God more accurately (
Acts 18:26). Their mention in
Romans 16:3 indicates their continued influence and presence in the early Christian community.
my fellow workers in Christ Jesus
Paul refers to Prisca and Aquila as "fellow workers," highlighting their active participation in the mission of spreading the Gospel. This term indicates a partnership in ministry, suggesting that they were not merely supporters but active participants in evangelism and church planting. Their work in Christ Jesus underscores their commitment to the Christian mission and their role in the early church's expansion. This phrase also reflects the collaborative nature of early Christian ministry, where men and women worked together to advance the faith. Their dedication is further evidenced by their willingness to risk their lives for Paul, as mentioned inRomans 16:4, demonstrating their deep commitment to the cause of Christ.
Persons / Places / Events
1.
Prisca (Priscilla)Prisca, also known as Priscilla, is a prominent female figure in the early Christian church. She, along with her husband Aquila, is noted for her dedication to the ministry and her role in teaching and supporting the Apostle Paul.
2.
AquilaAquila is Prisca's husband, a Jewish Christian who, like Paul, was a tentmaker by trade. He and Prisca were instrumental in the early church, providing leadership and hospitality.
3.
Paul's MinistryThe Apostle Paul, who wrote the letter to the Romans, acknowledges Prisca and Aquila as his "fellow workers in Christ Jesus," indicating their significant contribution to his missionary efforts and the spread of the Gospel.
Teaching Points
The Importance of Partnership in MinistryPrisca and Aquila exemplify the power of partnership in ministry. Their collaboration with Paul demonstrates how working together can amplify the impact of the Gospel.
Hospitality as a Ministry ToolTheir willingness to host a church in their home shows the vital role of hospitality in fostering Christian fellowship and community growth.
The Role of Women in MinistryPrisca's active involvement alongside her husband challenges traditional gender roles and underscores the significant contributions women can make in ministry.
Mentorship and DiscipleshipTheir instruction of Apollos highlights the importance of mentoring and teaching others in the faith, ensuring the accurate transmission of Christian doctrine.
Faithfulness Across Time and PlacePrisca and Aquila's consistent presence in various locations and letters from Paul illustrates the importance of steadfastness and adaptability in serving God's mission.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1.What is the meaning of Romans 16:3?
2.How can we emulate Priscilla and Aquila's dedication to serving the church today?
3.What does Romans 16:3 reveal about the importance of partnerships in ministry?
4.How does Priscilla and Aquila's example connect with Acts 18:2-3?
5.Why is it significant that Paul calls them "my fellow workers in Christ"?
6.How can we support church leaders like Priscilla and Aquila supported Paul?
7.Who were Priscilla and Aquila mentioned in Romans 16:3, and why are they significant?
8.How does Romans 16:3 reflect the role of women in early Christianity?
9.What does Romans 16:3 reveal about Paul's relationships with fellow believers?
10.What are the top 10 Lessons from Romans 16?
11.What defines a home church?
12.Who were Priscilla and Aquila in the Bible?
13.Should women be silent in church?
14.What are multi-site churches?What Does Romans 16:3 Mean
Greet• Paul opens this verse with a simple command: “Greet.” In the body of Christ, greetings are more than polite words; they are acts of love that testify to our unity. Romans is a letter, yet Paul pauses repeatedly to acknowledge believers by name (Romans 16:16: “Greet one another with a holy kiss”).
• Scripture shows that greeting fellow saints is a tangible expression of fellowship (1 Thessalonians 5:26;1 Peter 5:14).
• Warm, intentional greetings remind us that no believer is anonymous in God’s family (Hebrews 13:1).
Prisca and Aquila• Prisca (Priscilla) and Aquila first appear inActs 18:2-3 as a Jewish couple Paul meets in Corinth after they were expelled from Rome. They shared the same trade—tentmaking—and quickly became close ministry partners.
• Their home was always open to the church (1 Corinthians 16:19: “Aquila and Prisca greet you warmly in the Lord, along with the church that meets at their house”).
• Years later Paul still treasures their friendship (2 Timothy 4:19). Their consistency across decades models steadfast devotion.
my fellow workers• Paul calls them “my fellow workers,” highlighting shared labor rather than hierarchy. Ministry is never a solo project (1 Corinthians 3:9: “For we are God’s fellow workers”).
• Aquila and Prisca once “risked their own necks” for Paul (Romans 16:4). Genuine partnership often involves sacrifice, hospitality, and hands-on service.
• Other believers also receive the same title—Timothy (Romans 16:21) and Epaphroditus (Philippians 2:25)—showing the value Paul places on teamwork.
in Christ Jesus• The phrase grounds everything: their relationship to Paul and to one another exists “in Christ Jesus.” Union with Christ defines identity, purpose, and mission (Romans 8:1;Galatians 3:28).
• Because they are in Christ, their varied backgrounds—Jew and Gentile, man and woman, apostle and tentmakers—blend into a single calling.
• All fruitful labor flows from this union (John 15:5). Ministry is not merely cooperative effort; it is empowered life together in the Lord.
summaryRomans 16:3 shows Paul’s heartfelt, Christ-centered appreciation for Prisca and Aquila. By urging the church to greet them, he underscores the warmth of Christian fellowship; by naming them as fellow workers, he honors their sacrificial partnership; and by locating their service “in Christ Jesus,” he reminds us that all genuine ministry springs from our shared life in Him.
(3)
Priscilla.--The correct reading here is Prisca, of which form Priscilla is the diminutive. It is rather remarkable that the wife should be mentioned first. Perhaps it may be inferred that she was the more active and conspicuous of the two.
Aquila was a Jew of Pontus, whom St. Paul had found with his wife at Corinth (Acts 18:1). They had there been converted by him, and afterwards appear in his company at Ephesus (Acts 18:18;Acts 18:26;1Corinthians 16:19). At the time when this Epistle was written they were at Rome, but later they seem to have returned to Ephesus (2Timothy 4:19). . . .
Verses 3-5. -
Greet Priscilla (al.
Prisca, which is but another form of the same name)
and Aquila my fellow-workers in Christ Jesus: who have for my life laid down their own neck: unto whom not only I give thanks, but also all the Churches of the Gentiles. And greet the Church that is in their house. For other notices of them, el.
Acts 18:2, 18, 26;
1 Corinthians 16:19;
2 Timothy 4:19; whence we learn that Aquila was a Jew of Pontus, who, with his wife Priscilla, had been settled at Rome, whence, when the Jews were expelled by Claudius, they had gone to Corinth, where St. Paul found them on his first visit to that city; that St. Paul abode with them there, working with Aquila at tent-making, which was the croft of both; that they left Corinth with St. Paul for Syria, and were for a time left by him at Ephesus, where they instructed Apollos on his arrival there; that, when St. Paul wrote from Ephesus his First Epistle to the Corinthians, they sent greetings by it, having then a congregation of Christians which assembled at their house; that, having returned to Rome when the Epistle to the Romans was written, their house there also was made available for the same purpose; and that, when St. Paul was for the last time a prisoner at Rome before his martyrdom, they were once more living at Ephesus. They were probably in good circumstances, having had both at Rome and Ephesus houses large enough to be used as churches; and they were evidently leading and active members of the Christian community. It would seem that Priscilla, the wife, was especially so, and she may have been, like Phoebe, officially employed; for though, when they are first mentioned (
Acts 18:2) as having lately come to Corinth, and when they themselves send greetings to Corinth (
1 Corinthians 16:19), Aquila's name naturally comes first, yet St. Paul in all other mention of them reverses the order. The occasion of their having apparently risked their own lives in defence of St. Paul is unknown. It may have been at Corinth at the time of the Jewish insurrection against him (
Acts 18:12), or at Ephesus at the time of the tumult raised by Demetrius the silversmith (
Acts 19:23, etc.), when St. Paul had been in imminent danger. The phrase, "laid down their neck" (not, as in the Authorized Version, "necks"), seems only to denote, figuratively, . "exposed their lives to danger." It appears, from the large number of greetings which follow, that there were now many Christians at Rome known to, or any rate known of by, the apostle. It does not follow that he was acquainted with all of them personally. He may have heard of them in the frequent inquiries he had doubtless made about the Roman Church (cf.
Romans 1:8). Many of them, however, he evidently knew, and with some had been associated. It was likely that many known to him in various quarters might have had occasion to resort to Rome. There are in all twenty-six individuals to whom greetings are sent, together with two households of slaves, and probably three congregations, as will appear below.
Salute (or, as before,
greet. The verb is the same as before, and so throughout the chapter)
my beloved Epaenetus, who is the firstfruits of Asia (certainly so, rather than
Achaia, probably introduced into the text from
1 Corinthians 16:15)
unto Christ.
Asia means the proconsular province so called, being the western part of Asia Minor, of which the capital was Ephesus. Epaenetus may have been St. Paul's own first convert there during his second missionary journey (cf.
Acts 16:6). The fact of the apostle having been then "forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the Word in Asia" does not preclude there having been converts thence.
Parallel Commentaries ...
Greek
GreetἈσπάσασθε(Aspasasthe)Verb - Aorist Imperative Middle - 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 782:To greet, salute, pay my respects to, welcome. To enfold in the arms, i.e. to salute, to welcome.PriscaΠρίσκαν(Priskan)Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 4251:Of Latin origin; feminine of Priscus, ancient; Priska, a Christian woman.andκαὶ(kai)Conjunction
Strong's 2532:And, even, also, namely.Aquila,Ἀκύλαν(Akylan)Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 207:Probably for Latin aquila; Akulas, an Israelite.myμου(mou)Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Singular
Strong's 1473:I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.fellow workersσυνεργούς(synergous)Adjective - Accusative Masculine Plural
Strong's 4904:A fellow worker, associate, helper. From a presumed compound of sun and the base of ergon; a co-laborer, i.e. Coadjutor.inἐν(en)Preposition
Strong's 1722:In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; 'in, ' at, on, by, etc.ChristΧριστῷ(Christō)Noun - Dative Masculine Singular
Strong's 5547:Anointed One; the Messiah, the Christ. From chrio; Anointed One, i.e. The Messiah, an epithet of Jesus.Jesus,Ἰησοῦ(Iēsou)Noun - Dative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2424:Of Hebrew origin; Jesus, the name of our Lord and two other Israelites.
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NT Letters: Romans 16:3 Greet Prisca and Aquila my fellow workers (Rom. Ro) 
