And he found a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to leave Rome. And he went to see them,
English Standard Version (ESV)
The phrase "lately come from Italy" might suggest they were just arriving, but the Greek word used implies they had been in Rome for a while. This exile wasn't a brand new event for them; it disrupted an established life that had already been shaped by their presence in Italy.
And he found a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to leave Rome. And he went to see them,
English Standard Version (ESV)
While in Corinth, Paul encounters Aquila and Priscilla, a Jewish couple who recently arrived from Rome. They had been forced to leave the capital because Emperor Claudius had expelled all Jews from the city, likely due to disturbances stirred up by disputes over Jesus as the Messiah. Paul, being of the same trade—tentmaking—finds lodging with them and begins working alongside them.
Sometimes, the biggest turning points in life aren't planned. They come from outside forces, like an emperor's decree, pushing you onto a new path. But what if that detour leads you exactly where God wants you to be?
The text tells us Aquila and Priscilla, a Jewish couple, left Rome because Emperor Claudius had 'commanded all Jews to depart.' This wasn't a choice they made; it was an expulsion.
The Weight of an Edict
Claudius’s decree, as noted by historians like Suetonius, likely stemmed from unrest within the Jewish community in Rome, possibly related to early Christian teachings being debated or causing disturbance. The Roman authorities often blurred the lines between Jews and Christians, seeing them as part of the same troublesome group.
Providence in Displacement
While this was a harsh and disruptive event for Aquila and Priscilla, it serves as a powerful reminder of God's sovereign hand. Their forced departure from Rome became the very reason they ended up in Corinth, where they would meet the Apostle Paul. This encounter would prove profoundly fruitful for the early church, with Aquila and Priscilla becoming vital companions and co-workers with Paul.
Aquila and Priscilla had names that hinted at Roman connections. They were skilled artisans. But their true identity was about to be forged in a deeper way. What does it mean for our identity when we step into faith?
The New Testament introduces Aquila and Priscilla with names that sound distinctly Roman. Aquila, meaning 'eagle,' is a Latin name, suggesting a significant period of living and working within Roman culture. Priscilla, a diminutive of Prisca, also points to Roman social circles.
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Cultural Adaptability
As Jews from Pontus, who had lived in Italy and Rome, they were part of the 'dispersion' – Jewish people scattered outside of Israel. Their ability to adapt to different cultures, take on new names, and likely engage in the trade of tent-making (a skill shared with Paul) shows their resilience and integration into the wider Roman world.
A Shared Craft, A Shared Faith
Paul finds them and immediately connects with them because they share the same trade: tent-making. This practical connection allowed Paul to lodge with them and work alongside them. But their shared identity was about to transcend their profession. While the text doesn't explicitly state their conversion moment here, the context strongly implies their subsequent embrace of Christianity, becoming invaluable partners to Paul. Their skills and cultural understanding, once tools for navigating the Roman world, would later be used to serve the burgeoning Christian community.
Understand the original words
Ioudaios · Greek Noun
A person of Jewish descent, belonging to the covenant people of God through Abraham. Theologically, it signifies one who belongs to the nation chosen by God to receive His revelation and be the conduit of the Messiah.
The expulsion of Jews from Rome by Claudius wasn't just a political event; it directly scattered Jewish communities, including Aquila and Priscilla, creating opportunities for the gospel to spread as they later encountered Paul and became integral to the early church.
c. 41 AD
Claudius Becomes Emperor
Claudius, nephew of Emperor Tiberius, ascended to the Roman throne. Initially, he maintained a policy of relative tolerance towards the Jewish population in Rome.
c. 49 AD— this verse
The Edict of Claudius
The Roman emperor Claudius expelled all Jews from Rome due to disturbances and unrest, likely related to internal conflicts among Jewish factions or disputes involving early Christians.
c. 49-52 AD
Aquila and Priscilla Flee Rome
As a consequence of Claudius's edict, Aquila and his wife Priscilla, who were Jewish tentmakers, left Rome and eventually settled in Corinth.
c. 50-52 AD
Paul Arrives in Corinth
The Apostle Paul arrived in Corinth during his second missionary journey, where he encountered Aquila and Priscilla and began working with them as a fellow tentmaker.
c. 54 AD
Death of Claudius
Claudius died, and his successor, Nero, reversed many of his policies, which likely allowed the Jews, including Aquila and Priscilla, to return to Rome.
c. 57 AD
Paul Writes 1 Corinthians
While Paul was in Ephesus, he wrote his first letter to the Corinthians, and Aquila and Priscilla sent their greetings from Corinth, indicating they had returned there or were still based there.
c. 62 AD
Aquila and Priscilla in Ephesus
Later, Aquila and Priscilla are found in Ephesus, where they host a house church and play a crucial role in instructing a gifted orator named Apollos.
This passage lists people from Pontus among the crowd in Jerusalem at Pentecost, showing that Jews from that region, like Aquila, were scattered throughout the Roman Empire and often traveled to Jerusalem.
Romans 16:3-4Paul sends greetings to Priscilla and Aquila, referring to them as his 'fellow workers in Christ Jesus' who 'risked their own necks' for him, highlighting their deep commitment and active service in the early church beyond their initial encounter with Paul.
1 Corinthians 16:19Aquila and Priscilla are mentioned as sending greetings to the Corinthian church, indicating they were with Paul when he wrote this letter and were active members of the Christian community wherever they settled.
ellicottActs 18:2: "And found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, lately come from Italy, with his wife Priscilla; (because that Claudius had commanded all Jews to depart from Rome:) and came unto them."
(2) And found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus. —The name presents some interesting associations. Strictly speaking, the Greek form is Ahylas, but this is undoubtedly the transliterated form of the Latin Aquila (= Eagle). The name appears in a yet more altered form in Onkelos, the tra…
pooleActs 18:2: "And found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, lately come from Italy, with his wife Priscilla; (because that Claudius had commanded all Jews to depart from Rome:) and came unto them."
Pontus; a country between Cappadocia and the Black Sea, Acts 2:9 , whither the progenitors of Aquila, in one of the dispersions, might flee from Judea to inhabit there. Claudius; the Roman emperor, who, at the beginning of his reign, gave liberty to the Jews freely to exercise their religion, b…
The phrase "lately come from Italy" might suggest they were just arriving, but the Greek word used implies they had been in Rome for a while. This exile wasn't a brand new event for them; it disrupted an established life that had already been shaped by their presence in Italy.
While in Corinth, Paul encounters Aquila and Priscilla, a Jewish couple who recently arrived from Rome. They had been forced to leave the capital because Emperor Claudius had expelled all Jews from the city, likely due to disturbances stirred up by disputes over Jesus as the Messiah. Paul, being of the same trade—tentmaking—finds lodging with them and begins working alongside them.
While in Corinth, Paul encounters Aquila and Priscilla, a Jewish couple who recently arrived from Rome. They had been forced to leave the capital because Emperor Claudius had expelled all Jews from the city, likely due to disturbances stirred up by disputes over Jesus as the Messiah. Paul, being of the same trade—tentmaking—finds lodging with them and begins working alongside them.
"And he found a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to leave Rome. And he went to see them," — The phrase "lately come from Italy" might suggest they were just arriving, but the Greek word used implies they had been in Rome for a while. This exile wasn't a brand new event for them; it disrup…
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Last reviewed October 2026