who risked their necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks but all the churches of the Gentiles give thanks as well.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse highlights that Aquila and Priscilla didn't just offer a casual contribution; they "laid down their own necks," a vivid idiom implying they literally risked their lives, a debt Paul felt so deeply he recognized the gratitude of all Gentile churches toward them.
who risked their necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks but all the churches of the Gentiles give thanks as well.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Paul is concluding his letter to the Roman church with a lengthy list of personal greetings. Before this, he's laid out his theological arguments, and now he's shifting to practical matters, sending his love and thanks to various individuals and communities he knows. This verse specifically highlights Priscilla and Aquila, acknowledging their profound service and the immense gratitude owed to them.
Paul mentions Priscilla and Aquila 'risked their necks' for him. What does that intense phrase really mean for their relationship and their faith?
Paul’s description of Priscilla and Aquila as those who 'risked their necks' for him is incredibly powerful. It’s not just a casual compliment; it speaks to a profound depth of commitment and courage.
A Figurative, Fierce Devotion
While we don't know the exact event Paul is referring to, the imagery is clear: they put themselves in mortal danger to save his life. Think of the neck being exposed to an executioner’s sword – that's the level of risk implied.
This wasn't just about personal loyalty to Paul, but about their deep commitment to the gospel he carried. His life was instrumental in spreading God's message to the Gentile churches, so protecting him was protecting the mission itself.
The Cost of Discipleship
This act highlights that following Jesus, especially in its early days, often came with immense personal cost. It wasn't always safe or comfortable. Priscilla and Aquila’s willingness to face such danger shows their faith wasn't just theoretical; it was tested and proven through action, even at the potential cost of their own lives.
Paul doesn't just thank Priscilla and Aquila himself; he says 'all the churches of the Gentiles' do too. What does this tell us about their impact?
The gratitude expressed in this verse extends far beyond Paul’s personal appreciation. It reveals the widespread impact of Priscilla and Aquila’s courageous actions.
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Preserving the Apostle
Paul was the 'apostle to the Gentiles.' His life and ministry were foundational to the growth of the church among non-Jewish people. When Priscilla and Aquila risked their lives for him, they were, in essence, safeguarding the very engine of Gentile evangelization.
Collective Debt of Gratitude
Because Paul’s life was so crucial to the spread of the gospel across the Gentile world, his preservation was a matter of profound importance to all the churches he had established. Their collective thanks underscore that their act of loyalty wasn't just personal; it had a ripple effect that benefited countless believers.
This shows us that acts of faithfulness, even those that happen behind the scenes or in dangerous circumstances, can have monumental consequences for God's kingdom.
The extraordinary courage of Aquila and Priscilla in risking their lives for Paul, an act possibly linked to the riot in Ephesus, earned them the deep gratitude of Paul and all Gentile churches, highlighting the vital role of ordinary believers in the early spread of the gospel.
c. AD 41
Claudius Expels Jews from Rome
Emperor Claudius issues an edict expelling Jews from Rome, likely due to disturbances related to 'Chrestus' (possibly a reference to Christ or early Christian agitation). Aquila and Priscilla, Jewish Christians, are forced to leave Rome.
c. AD 50-52
Paul ministers in Corinth
Aquila and Priscilla join Paul in Corinth, where they share his trade as tentmakers. Paul likely encounters them shortly after their expulsion from Rome and the subsequent events at Ephesus.
c. AD 52-55— this verse
Paul's ministry in Ephesus
Aquila and Priscilla move with Paul to Ephesus. It is during this period, or possibly the tumultuous events in Ephesus that follow, that they are thought to have risked their lives for Paul.
c. AD 53-55
Riot in Ephesus
A serious riot erupts in Ephesus, instigated by the silversmith Demetrius, who feared Paul's preaching would harm his trade in idols. Paul is threatened and possibly endangered during this event.
c. AD 55
Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians
Writing from Ephesus, Paul mentions 'fighting with beasts' (1 Corinthians 15:32), an experience that some scholars suggest may be linked to the danger Aquila and Priscilla helped him escape.
c. AD 62
Paul's Letter to the Romans
Paul, now in Rome and preparing for a potential mission to Spain, sends his letter to the Roman church, including this commendation of Aquila and Priscilla, who have apparently returned to Rome.
This passage describes the riot in Ephesus where Paul's life was in danger, a likely scenario where Aquila and Priscilla could have risked their lives to protect him.
1 Corinthians 15:30-32Paul mentions 'hazarding my life every hour' and 'fighting wild beasts' in Corinth, suggesting that such dangerous situations, where the lives of his companions might also be at stake, were a real part of his ministry.
2 Timothy 4:19This verse also mentions Aquila and Priscilla, showing their continued close relationship with Paul and their dedication to the work of the Gospel, underscoring their potential for great loyalty and bravery.
Philippians 2:17-18Paul speaks of himself being 'poured out as a drink offering' and encourages others to rejoice with him, reflecting a similar spirit of self-sacrifice and joy in service that Aquila and Priscilla embodied.
ellicottRomans 16:4: "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."
(4) Laid down their own necks. —Whether this expression is to be taken literally or figuratively we do not know, neither can we do more than guess at the event to which it refers. It may have something to do with the tumult at Ephesus, and with that “fighting with beasts” mentioned in 1Corinthians 15:32 .
jfbRomans 16:4: "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."
- who have for my life laid down—"who did for my life lay down"their own necks—that is, risked their lives; either at Corinth (Ac 18:6, 9, 10), or more probably at Ephesus (Ac 19:30, 31; and compare 1Co 15:32). They must have returned from Ephesus (where we last find them in the history of the Acts) to Rome, whence the edict of Claudius had banished them (…
This verse highlights that Aquila and Priscilla didn't just offer a casual contribution; they "laid down their own necks," a vivid idiom implying they literally risked their lives, a debt Paul felt so deeply he recognized the gratitude of all Gentile churches toward them.
Paul is concluding his letter to the Roman church with a lengthy list of personal greetings. Before this, he's laid out his theological arguments, and now he's shifting to practical matters, sending his love and thanks to various individuals and communities he knows. This verse specifically highlights Priscilla and Aquila, acknowledging their profound service and the immense gratitude owed to them.
Paul is concluding his letter to the Roman church with a lengthy list of personal greetings. Before this, he's laid out his theological arguments, and now he's shifting to practical matters, sending his love and thanks to various individuals and communities he knows. This verse specifically highlights Priscilla and Aquila, acknowledging their profound service and the immense gratitude owed to them.
"who risked their necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks but all the churches of the Gentiles give thanks as well." — This verse highlights that Aquila and Priscilla didn't just offer a casual contribution; they "laid down their own necks," a vivid idiom implying they literally risked their lives, a debt Paul felt s…
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Last reviewed October 2026