Sermon on Priscilla and Aquila (Acts 18:1-3; 18-19; 24-26; Romans 16:3-5)

Sermon on Priscilla and Aquila (Acts 18:1-3; 18-19; 24-26; Romans 16:3-5)
Given 11 February 2018 at Studley Parish Centre

Where do you see yourself in five years’ time?

How many times have you heard that question? If you’ve ever filled in an application or attended an interview, chances are that you’ve been asked your five-year plan. As for me, I’ve always been a planner. Forget five years, that’s far too short a time – 10, 15, 20, I had it all figured out. I always knew exactly where I was going to end up and what I was going to be doing… and then I fell in love with an Englishman…

Sure, it wasn’t the end of the world. English people make plans too. We were just going to need a joint five-year plan. But Alexander and I had it all figured out. We were going to teach in Germany. That was the beginning of our five-year plan. And we did become teachers… in Jakarta, Indonesia. It was fine. We’d just switch the location of our plan, our five-year plan… After one year we moved to Poland. We decided we’d just need to settle in Poland and then start a family in the next five years. Fifteen months later we were moving to England because I was pregnant with Franklin. We had planned for Franklin, we just didn’t anticipate he would arrive so soon. But we had figured out how to roll with the punches. We’d get back to a modified five-year plan. I can remember watching Alex take down Franklin’s bedside cot and telling him we could get it out for the next baby in five years’ time… you’ve all met Andrew?

They say life is what happens when you’re busy making other plans. I can just imagine Priscilla and Aquila starting their marital life filled with plans for the future. Perhaps they were hoping to expand their business throughout Rome. Then they were exiled. Once they set up shop in Corinth, they probably planned to establish themselves there. Then along came Paul. On their arrival in Ephesus, perhaps they planned to live a quiet life, worshipping as just the two of them. Then they heard Apollos speaking, and instructed him in the ways of the Lord.

Jeremiah 29:11 is a verse I cling to when life isn’t going the way I planned. It says, “’I know the plans I have for you’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’” At the end of the day, our five-year plan does not matter in the least! It is the eternal plan of our Father in heaven that will get us to where we need to be. Life may not look how we expect it to, but if we trust in the Lord with great faith we can overcome any obstacles along the path.

Priscilla and Aquila are models for this strong Christian faith. They were exiled from their home, from all that they knew, and managed to continue their trade as tent-makers. This enabled them to meet Paul who grew and strengthened their faith. The three of them had such a close bond that they travelled together. On their travels, Aquila and Priscilla met Apollos and, although he was a highly educated man, they were able to teach him a deeper understanding of the sacrifice of Christ. Through faith, Priscilla and Aquila went from refugees to Christian leaders.

The fact that Priscilla and Aquila were tent-makers is an interesting little nugget when looking closer to the New Testament. Eskenosen is a Greek word meaning “to have one’s tent”. And Eskenosen is the word used in John 1:14 when it says Christ dwelt among us. The Greek translation is literally that He made His tent among us. Why a tent? What are the characteristics of a tent? Firstly, a tent can be constructed anywhere. When saying Christ built His tent among us, we could be referring to a physical location, as in Bethlehem, Nazareth, or anywhere else. But as Christians, Christ has also built His tent in our hearts. He is with us always, in all ways.

Another facet of a tent is that it is oftentimes temporary. We only had Christ on loan on this earth. He was never meant to stay. His body was a temporary vessel sacrificed for us so that we might find our permanent home with His Father, our God, in Heaven.

Because tents can be easily erected anywhere, they make an easy home for people living as refugees. This theme of refugee and exile can be found throughout the Bible. As in the story of Aquila and Priscilla, the Jewish people have often been forced into exile. Even Jesus Christ himself had to flee as a baby for fear of execution under King Herod. But, in times of adversity and struggle, God’s love has a way of shining through and strengthening us.

As for Aquila and Priscilla, they were strengthened not only as individuals, but also within their marriage. Each time they are mentioned, Priscilla and Aquila are always mentioned together. Furthermore, the order of the names is interchangeable – this speaks volumes! At that time, wives were viewed as the property of their husbands, but since Priscilla’s name comes first as often as Aquila’s name, she is obviously viewed not as property, but as a genuine partner. They shared a real love, with a God-centred marriage. And because they were God-centred, their faith sustained them through challenging times.

We’ve all had different journeys, but every one of us has had hard times to overcome. Everything from health failures, to financial crises, to schoolground bullying, to whatever else mars the human condition – we’ve all been there at one time. Some of us are struggling right now. But whatever burdens you, nothing is too big or too small for Jesus. Through Christ’s love, we can overcome all obstacles.

In closing, let us take a moment to reflect on the obstacles we need to overcome. Lay your worries on Christ. Lay your pain on Christ. Open your heart to Him and lay yourself before the Cross. Let us put all that burdens us before God. And with His love, we shall overcome. Amen.