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Acts 18:1-4, 26
1 After this, Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. 2 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 Jews to leave Rome. Paul went to see them, 3 and because he was a tentmaker as they were, he stayed and worked with them. 4 Every Sabbath he reasoned in the synagogue, trying to persuade Jews and Greeks.
26 He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately.
New International Version (NIV)
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You were born again into a family. The Christian life was never meant to be lived alone. We may speak about personal salvation, but not just individual. The very moment we trust in Christ he ushers us into a community. The church community is as essential to the Christian life as a family is to an infant.
When Paul arrived in Athens, he found himself alone in that great city. Not so in Corinth. There he met Priscilla and Aquila. Making tents with Paul they shared in the work of making disciples with him. When he left Corinth, they moved to Ephesus. There they met the gifted apologist Apollos and corrected his misunderstandings about the gospel. Wife and husband together helped Apollos hone his understanding of Christ so that he might become more effective. Later we find them in Rome hosting a church in their home.
The church does not replace the family. Both are essential. We can and must make disciples in our homes. But the church aids us immeasurably in the work. I think of amazing husband-wife teams which have strengthened the work of the gospel in the churches I have served. Single adults, both women and men have offered indispensable leadership in each church I have served. Why does Luke mention Priscilla, the wife first? Paul does the same in his letters, even though this was highly unusual in the ancient world. Why does Luke say that Priscilla first with her husband explained to him the way of God more adequately? Isn’t this a woman teaching a man? I propose that Luke wrote it because it happened. Priscilla was not window dressing in the story, but a full partner in the work.
In fact, Priscilla was irreplaceable in the early ministry of the church. Once again Luke shows us that God’s Spirit has been poured out on all flesh: daughters and sons, filled with the Spirit use their gifts (Acts 2:17-18). This allows us to press the pause button on the complementarian-egalitarian debate. Hard and fast rules and regulations we derive from other passages do not withstand an examination of the whole counsel of Scripture. When women use their gifts this does not create or justify passivity in men. Likewise when men serve well, women must use their gifts.
Under his own authority, seeking permission from no one, God used both women and men equally in vital ministry in the early church. Women proclaimed the wonders of God alongside men at Pentecost. Philip’s four daughters served as prophetesses, hearing messages from God and speaking them to the church. Phoebe was Paul’s sister in Christ, a servant-leader (the Greek word diakones is the word for deacon) and a saint in the church at Cenchraea (Romans 16:1). When we are at our best, women and men share in this work together. Good thing: because we need each other to effectively proclaim the gospel and change the world.
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Pray with me:
Father, we thank you for your sovereign purpose in gifting the whole church to do your work. We pray that in relationships of mutual submission we will seek and find your purpose for each of us and all of us in the body of Christ. Forgive us for seeking hard and fast rules to confine the work of your Spirit. You are infinite. We are finite. Give us humility lest we find ourselves prohibiting what you are already doing. Bless your churches, Lord. Give us unity as we each contribute the gifts you have given us. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
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Join us in memorizing the Word. Scripture for this week:
Matthew 5:21-22
You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,' is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.
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| Our 2020 Every Day with Jesus readings will follow the Foundations New Testament reading plan. Copies of the reading plan are available at Tallowood Baptist Church, or download your copy at REPLICATE.ORG
We would love for you to join us as we read the New Testament through this year, five chapters a week. In addition I will continue my long-standing practice of reading one Psalm a day through the year. Use Robby Gallaty’s H. E. A. R. plan to study each chapter (also found at REPLICATE.ORG). Highlight verses which speak to you, explain what they mean in your own words in a journal, apply them to your own life, then respond by doing what God tells you to do.
Joyfully,
Duane
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