SERMON XVI

AQUILA AND PRISCILLA.

ROMANS, xvi. 3, 4, 5.

Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my helpers in Christ Jesus; who have for my life laid down their own necks; unto whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles. Likewise greet the church that is in their house,

The excellent persons, whom the apostle characterizes in this passage, have been several times mentioned with commendation in the scriptures. It is true there is not much said of them; but the little, that is recorded, presents them in a very interesting light. It seems, that they, with other Jews, were expelled from Rome by a decree of the Emperor Claudius. This event was probably regarded by them as a great misfortune; but God seems to have overruled it for peculiar good to them and others. They were just quietly settled in the city of Corinth, when Paul, retiring from Athens, where he had preached the gospel with but little succes s

found this Jewish couple, and took up his residence in their family. It is said of Aquila by the ancients, that he was a learned man; and we know that Paul had been educated with the best advantages afforded to any of his countrymen. Yet it is remarkable, that the circumstance which first brought them to live together was, that they wrought at the same craft, for by their occupation they were tent-makers.

Though brought together by a circumstance so inconsiderable, a lasting and holy friendship was formed between them. It was a 'christian friendship, and, I believe, never interrupted for a moment by any of the trying scenes, through which they were called to pass. It seems most probable, that this excellent couple, whose names are imperishably associated with the records of our faith, were ignorant of christianity, till their acquaintance with Paul. But the precious opportunities afforded by their daily intercourse in the family and in their labour, were not lost. The heart of that apostle was always full of one great subject; of Christ and him crucified. The narration concerning Aquila and Priscilla is too concise to furnish particulars; but we have reason to believe, that they became converts to the gospel under Paul's instruction. Every sabbath he reasoned in the synagogue and persuaded the Jews and Greeks. With the Jews generally he was unsuccessful. And when they "opposed themselves, and blasphemed, he shook his raiment, and said unto them, Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean; from henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles." For the greater

convenience of receiving the Gentiles, he left the family of Aquila and Priscilla, and dwelt in the same city with a devout Gentile by the name of Justus. But if they lost the daily conversation of the apostle, they seem to have enjoyed his ministry for eighteen months, and to have become enlightened disciples of Jesus. And when Paul left Corinth for Ephesus, they accompanied him thither, and remained to profit that church by their instructions and example, while he went to Jerusalem. Their gifts and bright example were no doubt of great effect. To them, Apollos was indebted "for understanding the way of God more perfectly;" the same, who was one of the most eloquent of christian preachers, mightily convincing the Jews, and that publicly, showing by the scriptures, that Jesus was the Christ." From Ephesus they returned to Rome, and were there when Paul wrote his epistle to the Christians in that city; and how deep a sense he entertained of their kindness to him, and of their christian worth, appears by the warm encomiums he expresses in his salutations in the text. In writing to the Corinthians from Philippi, it appears, that these were with him, and he mentions them in the most respectful and affectionate manner,- -"The churches of Asia, salute you. Aquila and Priscilla salute you much in the Lord, with the church which is in their house." And in the epistle which he wrote to Timothy, just tyrdom, he desires him to salute, in his behalf, those honored individuals. Thus we see the strength of affection, which he felt for these beloved converts, ever after his first acquaintance with them, or their

before his mar

conversion to christianity. In the text, in his epistle to the Roman church, he sends his special greeting to them; acknowledging the important assistance he had received from them, in advancing the cause of Christ. He particularly mentions his personal obligations to them, in this strong language-" who have for my life laid down their own necks"—meaning that they had exposed their own lives, in times of persecution and danger, to rescue that of the apostle. For which zeal and kindness, not only he, but all the church of the Gentiles, gave them thanks. At the same time, he intimated the excellence of their domestic character, by greeting the church in their house. The recorded circumstances of the lives of Aquila and Priscilla, and particularly those noticed in the text, cannot fail to be interesting, from their connexion with the early fortunes of christianity, and the pattern they furnish of faithful duty in the most interesting relations.

I. A prominent trait, which arrests our notice, is their mutual strength of affection and union of counsels.The one is never mentioned in the scriptures without the other. They were united alike in the cares of common life, and in those of religion. Did the decree of the emperor become the occasion of banishment to one. The other attended, the alleviator of care, and comforter of exile. Thus sharing in common the allotment of common life, they together embraced the faith. of the gospel; and walked together in all the statutes and ordinances of the Lord, blameless. Their religious union is particularly mentioned on a very im

portant occasion-that of expounding the way of God, more perfectly, to the eloquent Apollos, and of engaging his holy zeal and powerful talents in the cause of Christ. And it cannot be doubted, that they were perfectly united in the religious conduct of their family. If they had children, they united in bringing them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord; they kept the precious task daily in hand, carefully instructing them in the great truths of the gospel, and initiating them in obedience to all its holy precepts, exciting and restraining them, as they required, with a firm and gentle discipline. And how comparatively easy was this task, while they were "joined together in one mind and judgment." The instructions of one were confirmed by the other; the one planted, the other watered, and God gave the increase. But I shall again touch this subject under another head of the discourse. Such was their exemplary harmony and affectionate concert, in temporal and spiritual concerns. We observe,

II. That the apostle acknowledges them "his helpers in Christ." This they doubtless were, by their hospitality, by their constant attendance on his ministry, by their conversation, by their prayers, and by hazarding their lives in his behalf.

By their hospitality. When Paul first came to Corinth, they at once received him to their house. Although very probably he was not chargeable to them, as he wrought with his own hands, this countenance and friendship tended to his comfort and the furtherance of the gospel. It conciliated the Jews to give him a pa