Topical Encyclopedia
Prisca, also known as Priscilla, is a prominent figure in the New Testament, recognized for her significant role in the early Christian church. She is often mentioned alongside her husband, Aquila, and is noted for her dedication to the ministry and her partnership with the Apostle Paul.
Biblical References:Prisca is first introduced in
Acts 18:2-3: "There he met a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had ordered all the Jews to leave Rome. Paul went to visit them, and because he was of the same trade, he stayed with them and worked with them, for they were tentmakers by trade."
Prisca and Aquila are depicted as a devout Christian couple who played a crucial role in the spread of the Gospel. They are mentioned six times in the New Testament, with Prisca's name often appearing first, which may indicate her prominent role in their ministry.
Ministry and Influence:Prisca and Aquila were instrumental in the early church, providing support and hospitality to Paul and other believers. In
Acts 18:18-19, they accompany Paul to Ephesus, where they remain to continue the work of the ministry: "Paul stayed on in Corinth for some time. Then he left the brothers and sailed for Syria, accompanied by Priscilla and Aquila. Before he sailed, he had his hair cut off at Cenchrea because of a vow he had taken. They arrived at Ephesus, where Paul left Priscilla and Aquila."
One of their most notable contributions was their mentorship of Apollos, an eloquent speaker and knowledgeable teacher of the Scriptures.
Acts 18:26 records, "He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. But when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him in and explained to him the way of God more accurately." This act of discipleship highlights their deep understanding of Christian doctrine and their commitment to nurturing new leaders in the faith.
Paul's Commendation:Paul holds Prisca and Aquila in high regard, as evidenced by his greetings and commendations in his epistles. In
Romans 16:3-4, he writes, "Greet Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, who have risked their lives for me. Not only I but all the churches of the Gentiles are grateful to them." This acknowledgment underscores their bravery and the significant impact they had on the early church.
In
1 Corinthians 16:19, Paul mentions their house church: "The churches in the province of Asia send you greetings. Aquila and Priscilla greet you warmly in the Lord, along with the church that meets at their house." This indicates their role as leaders and hosts of a house church, further emphasizing their dedication to the Christian community.
Legacy:Prisca's legacy is one of faithfulness, hospitality, and leadership. Her partnership with Aquila and their collaboration with Paul highlight the vital role of women in the early church. Prisca's account serves as an example of how laypeople, through their skills, resources, and commitment, can significantly contribute to the growth and strengthening of the church. Her life and ministry continue to inspire believers to serve with humility and courage.
Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary
Priscaancient
Smith's Bible Dictionary
Prisca(ancient), (2 Timothy 4:19) orPriscilla (a diminutive from Prisca), the wife of Aquila. [AQUILA] To what has been said elsewhere under the head ofAQUILA the following may be added: We find that the name of the wife is placed before that of the husband in (Romans 16:3;2 Timothy 4:19) and (according to some of the best MSS.) in (Acts 18:26) Hence we should be disposed to conclude that Priscilla was the more energetic character of the two. In fact we may say that Priscilla is the example of what the married woman may do for the general service of the Church, in conJunction with home duties, as Phoebe is the type of the unmarried servant of the Church, or deaconess.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
PRISCA; PRISCILLApris'-ka, pri-sil'-a.
SeeAQUILA.
Greek
4251. Priska --Prisca, a Christian and the wife of Aquila...Prisca, a Christian and the wife of Aquila. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
Transliteration: Priska Phonetic Spelling: (pris'-kah) Short Definition:
Prisca...4252. Priskilla -- Priscilla, the same person asPrisca.
... Priskilla. 4253 . Priscilla, the same person asPrisca.... Word Origin dim. of Priska
(indicating endearment) Definition Priscilla, the same person asPrisca....
207. Akulas -- Aquila, a Christian
... ak-oo'-las) Short Definition: Aquila Definition: the Greek way of writing the Latin
Aquila, a male proper name; the husband of Priscilla (Prisca), and a Jew...
Library
Introduction on the Number of the Canons.
... thePrisca, those by Dionysius Exiguus and Isidore, as well as the Codex of
Luna"only recognize the first four canons of the Greek text, and the fact that...
Apollonius
... Apollonius, [2448] an exceedingly talented man, wrote against Montanus,Prisca and
Maximilla a notable and lengthy volume, in which he asserts that Montanus...
Concerning Those, Whether of the Clergy or of the Laity...
... But the variation adopted by thePrisca alters, on the contrary, the whole sense
of the canon: thePrisca has not to koino, but only episkopo : it is in this...
Priscilla and Aquila
... another example. She is sometimes calledPrisca, which was her proper name,
and sometimes Priscilla, an affectionate diminutive. The...
Index.
... Appian Way. See Via Appia. Aqueduct of Damasus, 121. Aquila andPrisca, 110; their
house and oratory, 111, 126. Arae compitales, 33. See Altars....
Christian Churches.
... The large number of churches in Rome."The six classes of the earliest of
these."I. Private oratories."The houses of Pudens andPrisca."The evolution of...
Bishop Hosius Said: this Also it is Necessary to Add...
... But, according to Isidore and thePrisca, the right or the duty of bringing the
affair before Rome, also belonged to the neighbouring bishops....
Saint Helena and the Time of Constantine
...Prisca and Valeria, the wife and daughter of Diocletian, were certainly catechumens,
though they sacrificed to the heathen deities when the emperor gave his...
The Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Romans
... Paul had many friends in Rome before he visited it. And among these friends are
Prisca and Aquila (xvi.3), who certainly stayed at Ephesus, where St....
As Many as were Called by Grace, and Displayed the First Zeal...
... This canon (which in thePrisca and the Isidorian version stands as part of canon
11) deals, like it, with cases which had arisen under the Eastern reign of...
Thesaurus
Prisca (3 Occurrences)... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia
PRISCA; PRISCILLA. pris'-ka, pri-sil'-a. See
AQUILA. Multi-Version Concordance
Prisca (3 Occurrences).
...Priscilla (7 Occurrences)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia.PRISCA; PRISCILLA.... (WEB KJV DBY WBS YLT NIV). 2
Timothy 4:19 SalutePrisca and Aquilas, and Onesiphorus' household; (See NIV)....
Aquila (7 Occurrences)
... ak'-wi-la (Akulas), ("an eagle"): Aquila and his wife Priscilla, the diminutive
form ofPrisca, are introduced into the narrative of the Acts by their relation...
Greetings (48 Occurrences)
... Greetings. (WEB NAS NIV). Romans 16:3 Greetings toPrisca and Aquila my fellow
labourers in the work of Christ Jesus-- (WEY). Romans...
Epaenetus (1 Occurrence)
... the question of the destination of Romans 16:3-16, for it is argued that they are
addressed to the church in Ephesus owing to the fact thatPrisca and Aquila...
Aq'uila (6 Occurrences)
... Romans 16:3 GreetPrisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, (See RSV)....
2 Timothy 4:19 GreetPrisca and Aquila, and the house of Onesiphorus....
Greet (46 Occurrences)
... Greet no one on the way. (WEB NAS NIV). Romans 16:3 GreetPrisca and Aquila, my
fellow workers in Christ Jesus, (WEB KJV WEY WBS NAS RSV NIV)....
Salute (48 Occurrences)
... salute Festus. (KJV ASV DBY WBS). Romans 16:3 SalutePrisca and Aquila my
fellow-workers in Christ Jesus, (ASV DBY YLT). Romans 16...
Prior (6 Occurrences)
Onesiph'orus (2 Occurrences)
... 2 Timothy 4:19 SalutePrisca and Aquilas, and Onesiphorus' household; (See RSV).
Onesiphorus, Onesiph'orus. One-tenth . Reference Bible.
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