Aquila and Priscilla are the example God gives of a like-minded married couple believing together to move His Word in the Grace Administration. In Romans 16 Paul sends greetings to this wonderful couple of the first-century Church.
Romans 16:3-5:
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….
God makes the point in verse 4 that not only Paul was thankful for Aquila and Priscilla, but also all the churches of the Gentiles were thankful for them. Let’s consider two aspects of marriage that helped Aquila and Priscilla have this impact in the first-century Church: they were like-minded with one another, and they took believing action together. We’ll see that as like-minded husbands and wives believe the Word and act on it together, they can have a powerful impact on the movement of God’s Word.
Being like-minded helps a married couple move the Word dynamically together. In fact, being like-minded produces results for any two believers, whether married or not. What does God’s Word say will happen when two agree on the Word?
Matthew 18:19:
Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.
Wow! Now that’s an emphatic promise. When two people ask God for something that they’ve agreed upon from His Word, it shall be done! In Greek the word translated “agree” is sumphōneō, which is used literally of sounds and musical instruments being in accord. If two people agree, they are in accord, in harmony. That’s a powerful duet! The believing energy of two who agree is a dynamic advantage when witnessing, ministering, and moving God’s Word in all other ways.
Ephesians, chapter 5, describes the special kind of agreement that a husband and wife have with each other.
Ephesians 5:31:
For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.
The words “be joined unto” mean to be glued together. “One flesh” describes the like-mindedness that a husband and wife can have together as they continue to grow closer to God and to each other.
Aquila and Priscilla’s like-mindedness exemplifies the one-flesh relationship of a married couple moving God’s Word. In each of the six occurrences in which Aquila and Priscilla are mentioned in the Bible, they are always mentioned together, never as individuals. They were like-minded and moved as one unit—they were “glued” together. They witnessed together; they coordinated household fellowships together; they supported their leadership together—they moved the Word together!
Aquila and Priscilla had such a tremendous impact on the first-century Church because they were like-minded and they believed the Word and acted on it together. A married couple who believes the Word and acts on it together can move the Word together.
One great benefit of two people working together can be seen in Ecclesiastes.
Ecclesiastes 4:9:
Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.
Two people working together have more than just a reward—they have a good reward. Consider the example of the seventy whom Jesus sent out two by two.
Luke 10:1,17:
After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come.
And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name.
Jesus gave these seventy specific instruction and goals. Going in pairs enabled them to help and inspire each other, to remind each other of Jesus’ instructions, to believe together, and to stay on track. They returned with joy because their believing together produced results! When like-minded believers take action on God’s Word together, their believing can produce good results also.
Aquila and Priscilla believed the Word and acted on it together, and good results followed them also. One example shows how they spoke the Word to Apollos.
Acts 18:26:
And he [Apollos] began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly.
Apollos received their instruction and went on to help many Judeans believe that Jesus was the Christ (Acts 18:27,28). Aquila and Priscilla’s like-minded believing action had a lasting effect on this man’s ministry. Apollos was able to go on to help others even more effectively.
Aquila and Priscilla’s witnessing to Apollos is just one example of the impact they had in the Grace Administration. Aquila and Priscilla are recorded in God’s Word as witnessing together, hosting home fellowships together, supporting their leadership together—moving the Word together. Their lives are great examples to us of the impact that a like-minded married couple can have as they believe together to move God’s Word.