What can we learn from Aquila and Priscilla's hospitality towards Paul? A Snapshot of Welcoming Hearts “There he met a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently arrived from Italy with his wife Priscilla because Claudius had ordered all the Jews to leave Rome. Paul went to visit them,” (Acts 18:2). Aquila and Priscilla—freshly uprooted, strangers in Corinth—opened their lives to Paul. Their hospitality sparkles across Scripture and teaches timeless lessons. Hospitality Highlighted • Immediate generosity: They welcomed Paul the very day he “went to visit them,” likely offering lodging (cf. Acts 18:3). • Shared work and witness: All three were tentmakers; their shop became a base for gospel advance (Acts 18:3-4). • Ongoing partnership: They later sailed with Paul to Ephesus (Acts 18:18-19) and hosted churches in their home (Romans 16:3-5; 1 Corinthians 16:19). • Risking for the mission: Paul notes they “risked their own necks for my life” (Romans 16:4). • Teaching spirit: Their hospitable home in Ephesus became the classroom where Apollos received fuller instruction (Acts 18:26). Lessons for Open-Hearted Living 1. Shelter for God’s servants • Welcoming believers multiplies ministry (“We ought to support such men, so that we may be fellow workers for the truth,” 3 John 8). 2. Partnership through everyday vocation • A simple trade can underwrite kingdom work; our workplaces can become pulpits. 3. Courage after loss • Exiled from Rome, yet still giving—reminding us to keep hearts open even when life feels unsettled (1 Peter 4:9). 4. A home as a discipleship hub • Hospitality fosters deeper teaching and growth (Acts 18:26; Titus 1:8). 5. Reproducible generosity • In Rome, Corinth, Ephesus—everywhere they moved, their pattern of hospitality traveled with them. Legacy follows lifestyle. Scripture Connections • Hebrews 13:2 — “Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers…” • Matthew 25:35 — “I was a stranger and you welcomed Me.” • 1 Peter 4:9 — “Show hospitality to one another without complaining.” • Romans 12:13 — “Contribute to the needs of the saints and practice hospitality.” Taking It Home • Keep a spare seat—and heart—ready for God’s people. • View your trade, dorm room, or dining table as shared ministry space. • Let past hurt or upheaval deepen, not dull, your generosity. • Expect God to weave discipleship moments into ordinary hospitality. • Carry this spirit wherever life moves you; a welcoming heart never retires. |
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